Ministry Updates, page 2

The Diaconate

"In Christ we covenant to care for and serve those who are in need, both within and beyond the community of faith, and to equip others to minister with us."

The ministries of the Deacons include:

• Visits to members who are in the hospital or home-bound
• Audio tapes of worship services to members who cannot attend
• Preparing communion for those who attend worship services and delivering it to the homes or hospital rooms of those who cannot
• Care teams of volunteers who share the care for individuals or families in need by offering short-term practical, emotional, and prayer support
• Serving funeral luncheons for grieving families
• Serving coffee between Sunday worship services
• Scheduling greeters for worship services
• Writing greeting cards
• Cooking homemade soup and meals for those returning from the hospital
• Making Care Packages for homeless visitors to the church
• Providing Blizzard Boxes to elderly who may get shut-in by a storm
• Transporting patients to doctor appointments
• Telephone calls to lonely shut-ins
• Loans and financial counseling
• Medical equipment loaned from the Deacons' closet
• Handyman jobs for members who are unable to do for themselves

As Central's congregation has grown, there are more needs than the 15 Deacons can serve by themselves. But because Central's congregation has grown, there are now more ministers available to serve those needs. The Deacons seek to connect members with gifts to members with needs. Some may feel called to visit, some to pray, some to work, some to cook, etc. We are all different parts of Christ's body, the church. If you feel God's call to be a part, come visit us at the Deacon's Desk in the Concourse between services. Whatever God has given you, we'll find the need in our congregation that requires your particular gift.

Paraclete Ministry

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord,
"plans to prosper and not to harm you,
plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

When this past new year began, I had no idea how much I would cling to the truth of this promise in the months ahead. Truly the Lord has done an amazing work, and will bring "beauty out of ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." This is true not only in my personal life but also in the life of the ministry as well. With God's strength we have continued serving others through the one-to-one work of the Stephen's Ministry, and will be starting a new training class mid-January. We are working to revitalize the Marriage Mentoring program, and are considering adding new grief/loss classes to Sunday school teaching in the spring. Thankfully God's mercies are new every morning - great is His faithfulness!

Equipping Ministry

For the Equipping Ministry, 2003 has been a year of great starts.

For instance in 2003 you saw and experienced the Equipping Ministry when you...

• participated in the Ministry Fair during the 40 Days of Purpose
• were introduced to the 46 people who became members this year (Or better yet, you became a new member!)
• heard about or visited the Open Door Guest Reception
• were served at our Welcome Center
• picked up or gave away to a friend or guest one of our new "Profile" brochures
• came as a ministry leader to our first "Filling Station" leader meeting.

On Sunday, November 16th, in the News & Views, you may have read about the contribution the growing Equipping Team is making at Central. As this team grows and its influence grows at Central, what is being planned and seen only in small amounts through some of the things listed above will be experienced all around Central.

It is the Equipping Team's vision that every growing, maturing believer at Central would be pursuing Christ to find their unique spiritual gift or gifts and be growing in them as they walk with God. Then out of that walk and gifting they would express those gifts in loving service to the body of believers at Central. What an amazing picture that would be, not only to each other at Central, but also to the community around us! Christ himself said, "They will know that you are my disciples by the love that you have for one another."

It is our hope that the culture-the atmosphere-of Central would be one where it is completely natural for people to be in ministries, intentionally serving others. It is our hope, as new people enter Central, there would be deep, inviting momentum to find out your gift and own it, claiming who you are as God's child and reaching out to others.

Our Mission statement reads, "The Mission of Central Presbyterian Church is: Moving people towards Christ... " The Equipping Team's desire is to be a key component of "how" someone at Central is moved toward Christ.

In order to continue the work we've begun, we look with great eagerness ahead to 2004. Some of our larger goals include...

• More leadership at "Filling Station" events on Feb 3rd and May 4th.
• Our next membership class on January 31st.
• Getting a "Spiritual Design" class re-established.
• Helping the Small Groups Ministry to train leaders and start their "Alpha" program.
• Working with Pastor John to move Central to be an equipping church.