Westminster Presbyterian Church

Diaconate Meeting

February 8th,  2004

“Snow Make-Up” Day

 

Attending:  Shayne, Elena, Bill S, Barbara, Kay, Barb VDB, Bobby, Doug W., Rebecca, Mickey, Sara, Haywood, Carol C.  All missing members were accounted for.

 

Shayne called the meeting to order at 12:15 PM.  Barb VDB offered an opening prayer. 

 

Concerns and Celebrations:  We checked in via phone with Dan Milam, who was in an auto accident this week.  Bruised and battered but unbowed, Dan vows to return to work on Monday.  It is unclear how he will get there!  You are in our thoughts and our prayers of thanksgiving, Dan.

 

The minutes of the 12/28 meeting were approved with the exception and caveat that we research and amend the amount of money purported to be in the Deacon’s Discretionary Fund; reported in the minutes at $14,000, it was generally agreed that this figure is incorrect, but no one was able to precisely clarify the amount.

 

The Deacons spent a lot of time and ink signing thank you cards, get well cards, etc for Dana to send out on behalf of the Diaconate and IHN thank you cards for Sara’s use.   Please let Dana know if there is someone who should get a thank you from the deacons acknowledging his or her work on a mission on behalf of our church.

 

New Business:

  1. Housing for New Hope:  Chip Reinhardt is organizing and putting on bus trips thru the HFNH facilities, one such tour went yesterday and was well received.  Doug W will explore with Chip the possibility of piggybacking visits to Genesis Home and IHN and DCRC with the next HFNH trip.  Details to be forthcoming; it is hoped that many Deacons will be able to make one of the trips.
  2. Easter Offering:  One half of the Easter service offering traditionally goes to One Great Hour of Sharing (a hunger ministry) and the Deacons voted to give the other half to the Hyde County Hurricane Relief project.
  3. The Diaconate voted to have Barbara Rynerson be the Deacon representative on the Nominating committee.
  4. Shelter Meal Coordinator Dana Lange requested help for February’s meal and indicated the need to have someone trained to follow her in the coordination of this important ministry.
  5. Currently towels are being collected for Genesis House and HFNH.  Next month’s collection will be some item for all 4 agencies.
  6. The Diaconate voted to purchase 2 YMCA family passes to Presbyterian Point to be available for use by our church members for camping.
  7. IHN comes to WPC on 2/22-2/29.  Please consider helping out with this ministry.

 

As a result of the discussion that took place about the Jan 11th Deacons Lunch, the Lunch for Feb 15th is postponed.  The Mission Focus committee will bring a new date and topic for the next one to the Feb 22nd Deacon Meeting, where responsibilities for putting it on will be assigned (hint: don’t miss the meeting).   Debriefing on the Jan 11th program produced the following points for future Deacon Sunday program planning: the program needs to be more concise; lunch food should be more “conducive” to the program; specific needs for the “showcased agency” should be outlined and help requested at the event; child care should be provided; and persuasive and pervasive advertising for the luncheon should be set out well in advance of the week.

 

The 30th annual Crop Walk is the last Sunday in March.  Plan to walk with your families in the Deacon group.  Mickey recognized the tremendous job Kay Rosenmarkle did with the Crop Walk last year.  Thank you Kay!

 

Shayne offered a closing prayer and adjourned the meeting at 1:10 PM.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Sara T Pottenger

Substitute Scribe