Deacons
WHAT IS A DEACON?
A Deacon is an officer of the church who is sympathetic to the needs of others and whose service is based on the example of Jesus Christ. Deacons minister to those who are sick, those who are in need, and to any who are distressed. Deacons are organized as a board. They meet once a month to report on the deacons’ activities and discuss new needs within the church.
Moderator
Chairs and moderates the monthly Deacon meetings. This includes meeting with the Pastor who oversees the Deacon Ministry to develop the agenda, review budget, provide close communication with the Deacon Board and BPC office staff, attend Session meetings as a non-voting member, review minutes from meetings and is a member of the Nominating Committee. Coordinates the Deacon's Fund.
Vice-Moderator and Secretary
Records monthly minutes at each board meeting, and works closely with the Moderator in preparation to assume Moderator the following year.
Visitation and Hospital Visitation
Coordinates the visitation schedule for deacons. This ministry serves members of our church who are in the hospital and request visitation. A team will be on-call for 1 week per month to visit short-term in the acute hospital setting. Other deacons and/or team members will visit members of our church in other health-care facilities, those homebound, those ill at home, or in crisis. An important part of these visits is to pray with and for the person who is in need. Homebound visits and/or calls are usually made weekly. To request a visit with a Deacon, email deacons@bidwellpres.org.
Prayer Deacon
The Prayer Deacon receives prayer requests that come through the prayer email and sends out requests to the all church email or to the prayer phone tree (prayer cordon). To submit a prayer request, email prayerrequests@bidwellpres.org.
Vespers and Communion Ministry
Coordinates both Vespers and Communion ministries. The Vespers deacon and team members provide one service each month, usually on communion Sunday, at Windchime, Sierra Sunrise, and the Courtyard assisted living residences. This includes a sermonette of that Sunday's sermon, music, and worship. Communion is served to those who desire to share in the Sacraments of bread and juice. The Communion Ministry and team visits and offers communion and prayer to those who are homebound or in other assisted living residences. If you would like to be a part of this ministry, please contact deacons@bidwellpres.org.
Correspondence Deacon
This ministry sends out cards and notes of encouragement, sympathy, illness or surgery recovery as well as keeping in touch. The purpose is to correspond with members of our church who may be in need of God's loving touch. This person will communicate directly with the church office and email prayer ministry. To have a card sent to someone, email cards@bidwellpres.org.
Share the Care Ministry
If a member of the Church has a long-term care need and has family, friends, and/or a Real Life Group to assist them, this deacon serves to coordinate all their efforts and have only one person to go through.
Care Ministry Coordinator
Oversees the Care Ministries. This position coordinates the small group caring ministries which involves recruitment, selection and training of leaders, advertising the groups available, and on-going support of the ministries. This deacon serves as a liaison with Stephen Ministry and meets with the pastor monthly.
Meals Deacon
Coordinates the meal ministry for families of BPC. This deacon establishes and coordinates teams who provide timely meal assistance to those in need of support during difficult or stressful times (i.e. illness, new moms, after surgery/hospitalization, or a death of a family member). This deacon serves also as a liaison to prayer and baby blanket ministry. To volunteer to provide meals or to request meals for someone in need, email deacons@bidwellpres.org.
Additional responsibilities for all Deacons
* Serving communion on scheduled Sundays
* Prominent presence on Sundays wearing nametags
* Visitation responsibilities
* Attending New Member classes on scheduled days to hear participant's faith journey.
* Pray for the church daily.
* Communicate needs.
* Available to address concerns.
* Be eyes and ears.
* Serve at the Care Ministry table on scheduled Sundays.
Deacon Roster
Shannon Christopher, Pastor of Congregational Care; Tom Hughes, Elder
Class of 2012: Raven Frye-Eber, David Skinner, Jill VanderHeiden, Marolyn Weibel, Frank Bloomfield
Class of 2013: Robin Kiuttu, JoAnne Edwards, Don Heithecker, Jordan Colby, Diana Dean
Class of 2014: Sarah DeForest, Brenda Zavala, Andrea Werth, Ed Johnson