What are the Deacons Up To?

Deacons at Calvin Presbyterian Church are called to be loving servants to the body of Christ. Their job is to facilitate a family quality among the congregation through a ministry of sympathy, encouragement, witness, and caregiving.

Prayer

The Deacons start each monthly meeting in prayer for the people of the church. To be able to pray well, they do their best to stay aware of what’s going on in people’s lives. Sometimes that means catching up with individuals on Sunday morning. Other times, prayer needs are made known throughout the week.

The Deacons are also dedicated to individual prayer as well as corporate prayer with the Elders once per month.

Meeting Needs

The Deacons are often the first to learn about opportunities to provide care for those dealing with sickness or other difficulties within the congregation. They are then able to make others aware and coordinate the help that's needed.

“Not everybody wants to say, ‘I need help!’” explains Deacon Debbie Miller. “So we try to look out for people who might have needs. In this way, we are loving the body of the church and being Jesus’ hands and feet.”

The Deacons also do their best to be aware of new visitors at Calvin to make them feel welcome.

Sunday Lunches

The people of Calvin often enjoy lunch together after church on Sundays, and for the past year, the Deacons have taken up organizing the setup and cleanup for these lunches. If you’d like to help, please let Deacon Doug Oxsen know!

Church Facilities

Taking care of the church facilities is a new responsibility for the Deacons this calendar year.

Deacon Tom Taylor organized a thorough inspection of the church building, which produced a long list of minor issues to address in order to keep the building in good working order, as well as a few major issues that will need to be addressed within the next two years. 

Many of the minor, exterior issues will be addressed before Elder Tim Eby paints the church at the end of the summer.

The Deacons have been given the freedom to take care of these smaller maintenance projects, while more significant renovations (including our recent plumbing repair) remain the responsibility of Session.

One church-wide cleanup day took place in the spring, and another will be scheduled for the fall.

Preparing Communion

Finally, current and former Deacons work together to ensure that the bread (lovingly baked by Pastor Zach) and grape juice are prepared each week for communion.

Whether they are praying quietly for a church member, welcoming a first-time visitor, organizing a fellowship meal, maintaining the church building, or preparing the Lord’s Table, the Deacons faithfully serve behind the scenes in countless ways. Their ministry reflects Christ’s heart for His people and helps make Calvin Presbyterian Church a place where every person is cared for, encouraged, and welcomed as part of the family of God.