Diaconate Agenda

February 26, 2006, 7:00-9:00 pm
WPC Room 105

Attending: Sharon Barnes, Elena Cleary, Michael Reich, Dorene Palermo, John Lockhead, Bill Scott, Bill McAvoy, Jeff Sutton, Walt Beckwith, Rick Overholt, Bruce Capehart, Holly Borden, Jim Tatum, Nancy Safrit, Duck Rufty, Carol Cunningham, Dave Calderwood, Rebecca Mattern-Mielcarek, Sally Keener

Moderator Elena Cleary opened the meeting at 7:00 with a welcome and a devotional from the Pursuit of God. Reading excerpts from “The Speaking Voice,” the message theme was that God communicates with us all the time, all around us, but we must listen so we will hear the speaking voice of God. She concluded the devotional with a prayer.

Concerns and Celebrations: Requests for prayers were for Shannon Cunningham who is traveling in Thailand; Mary Beck’s mother who is very ill in the hospital, and for Mary Beck’s travels to Georgia to be with her mother; Elena’s father who is ill and for her mother with the weary burden of a caregiver; and for the women soon to be traveling to the coast for disaster ministry. Celebrations were shared for Lynn Chesnut and her new baby Campbell.                                         

Sally asked for Approval of the January minutes, which were unanimously approved.                               

Assimilation Committee Update:                                     

Sally Keener and Rebecca Mattern-Mielcarek reported that the committee continues to call visitors each week, and Michael confirmed that the web revision committee is meeting often, working hard, and nearing the point to make recommendations. In February, Assimilation launched an after services Meet and Greet Coffee time which will be held every Sunday. Soon the committee will design a sign-up model so volunteers can host for early or late service and serve three times a year, much like ushering sign-up is managed. In the meantime, the committee is fine-tuning a checklist of guidelines and directions for hosts, organizing supplies in the Assimilation cabinet, and checking on possibilities for urns to be kept in the parlor kitchen, etc. If any Deacons have misc. spare coffee mugs to donate, it would be appreciated so hosts don’t have to borrow from Fellowship Hall. It was suggested we offer hot chocolate and tea. The committee will soon be revising the Time and Talent cards that Stewardship designed. If anyone has ideas of volunteer opportunities that have been left off or other ideas for the T/T pledge card, contact either Rebecca or Sally. The committee is also designing a generic card to be stocked in the pews behind the other inserts so anyone can respond immediately to information given in the announcements or minute for mission to ask questions or get involved by simply using a slip and dropping a quick note in the offering plate.

Congregational Care Committee Update:                                             

Bill Scott reported the committee had met again and the training of 12 care leaders is about to begin. The care leaders will be commissioned at church on March 12^th.

The care leaders will make contact with the time and talent volunteers.

Fellowship Committee Update:                                                    

Bill McAvoy reported that he had placed an item in the newsletter regarding supper clubs and who to contact to get involved. Great assimilation follow-up! He, Dana Lange and ten others are to meet to formulate policy for the kitchen operation. Ash Wednesday we will host a Pancake Supper; Bill sent around a sign-up sheet with the encouragement that this was “microwave technology” so anyone can jump in and help. In an effort to accurately capture guidelines and instructions for future events and future Fellowship Committee chairs, he reviewed the Christmas Eve supper; foremost to consider was the number of hams to buy; discussion led to the conclusion that 4 hams might be about right and that there should be more than two servers for this event. In the same vein, the assessment of the Soup luncheon for the congregational meeting was that the amount of food was sufficient without too much leftover, and that everything was really good. Bill ran through up-coming events for the Fellowship Committee. See table below.

Global Missions Committee Update:

Bruce Capehart reported that because of lots of contributions and hard work, two shower trailers have gone to the coast. There is continued interest and dedication in helping hurricane victims. Betty will lead a women’s mission trip in March, and the Youth are going to the coast this summer. The Bread for the World initiative sponsored a successful letter-to-your-government-representative drive. Approximately 100 handwritten letters will be sent to remind representatives to fulfill U.S. promises to the world’s hungry and poor. On February 19^th WPC hosted Fresher Maphiri to learn about the M’tendere Presbyterian Church School in Zambia and Fresher’s work there. Sally added that the boys at Durham Nativity School will be starting a pen-pal relationship with some of the students in Zambia. Bruce asked about receiving summary reports from the church survey relating to suggestions for global mission so the committee can respond an support the congregational interests. Doug Wellemeyer, representing the Session, clarified that Brian Nicoll is working on creating reports that share important information and still respect the confidentiality that is appropriate. The reports will be routed to the committee chairs.

CROP Walk (March 19):                                                   

Carol Cunningham reported that the sign-up is underway and urged everyone to walk or sponsor a walker (any of the Youth, among others). The goal is to “win the Gold for Haywood” indicating the Gold Sneaker Award, which will mean raising about $10,000. She will talk to Sam Bryan about adding on-line donations.

Local Missions Committee Update:                                            

Jeff and Sharon reported that they have divided the time and talent data into areas and given the names to the appropriate leaders and asked them to make contact with those on their specialized list who have volunteered.

Katrina Evacuee Task Force: WPC continues to support Kendrick Lewis, the Katrina evacuee, and will add on the support of his brother Sammy who lives with him and his mother Lucy, who is living in Cary. Unfortunately, due to his poor attendance record, Kendrick has lost his job. Jeff reported that on March 9^th Kendrick will begin the nine-week Jobs for Life training to gain the soft skills he needs to be a desirable employee. As the focus and mission of our adoption program is to help evacuees become independent, we will continue to support this family until the end of June. Hopefully by then we will have successfully given them life skills, connections/contacts and necessities to be on their own.

IHN – February: Carol Cunningham reported that there is a shaky period of transition going on at IHN with a new director and many changes. It was down to one person by the time guests were due at Westminster, and she was a no-show (more than once) and dropped from the program. The good news is that two churches will be partnering with us to help when we have IHN here. Both St. Lukes and Immaculate Conception will participate with us the weeks we have families.

Hispanic Ministry: Morris Griffin reported that the church is doing very well. There will be an open house at the church on March 26^th at 12:00-2:00 pm (Northgate Presbyterian Church, 2504 North Roxboro Street), which will provide a wonderful opportunity to get to know Emanuel Hispanic Presbyterian Fellowship and their programs. See attached report that provides insight into their purpose and programs.

Mission Focus 2006 – Implementation:                         

Michael Reich reported that the initiative to End Homelessness in 10 Years in Durham County is still in the difficult conception and development stages. Terry Allebaugh (Housing for New Hope), who is shepherding this program, is re-inventing the process, using due diligence in the design and roll-out. He still hopes WPC will provide a model for all churches for support in this program once it is launched. A description of the plan is to be presented at City Hall on March 14^th. After discussion, the deacons chose to use the next deacons’ meeting to decide how WPC’s support might be designed and implemented. Michael hopes to have Terry come to our March meeting to discuss this program and answer questions and concerns. In the meantime, there are ways we can work with Housing for New Hope, especially through grounds/landscaping work at Andover House, and eventually through sponsorship of an apartment(s) at Andover House II, which will be opening in the fall. Sponsorship of an apartment is about $5,000. Andover I and II serve homeless people with mental disabilities and other challenges. Doug Wellemeyer is in charge of construction for Andover House II. Our Spring Work Day could be devoted to Andover House, but the need is really for a longer-term involvement. In the meantime, Michael will draft a one-page information sheet of specifics that we can do now and quantify WPC’s involvement so we can get a picture of what we can do this year. He hopes to email this document to the deacons within the next two weeks.

Deacon’s Corner:                                                                            

Sally will enter announcements about helping with the Lenten lunch by contacting Bill McAvoy or Nancy Safrit; sponsoring the Crop Walk; and promote the Meet and Greet Coffees every Sunday.

Next meeting:  March 26           

Sally shared a Closing Prayer and we adjourned at 8:50 pm.                                                                           

Respectfully submitted: Sally Keener, clerk

Emanuel Hispanic Presbyterian Church of Durham-Chapel Hill

Rev. Julio C. Ramirez-Eve

Monthly Report

2/23/06

Define the Target (Evangelism)

The Session designated a promoter of evangelism. In a recent vigil, he requested volunteers to serve as leaders. Five additional people were dedicated to serve as evangelism leaders, each of whom is to lead a group of three to make home visits. He also requested that members submit the names of families known to them whom they would like for the church to visit.

The Session also designated a promoter of stewardship, who has organized weekly sales of homemade food before and after Saturday worship services. This is drawing crowds of visitors every week, in addition to raising funds.

We invited friends and visitors to the Golden Corral for Valentine’s Day after a Saturday worship service. The church paid for the visitors’ meals, and members paid a slightly reduced rate. Julio organized a humorous gift-unwrapping game for entertainment. This helped to build community within the congregation and to diversify the types of activities we sponsor to include social events.

Programs which are attracting significant numbers of new visitors are the monthly series of parent workshops (“Hijos Exitosos en los Estados Unidos” – “Successful Children in the United States”), and the music school in conjunction with Northgate (which recently attracted record numbers of new students through a radio ad).

Define the Purpose of the Evolving Congregation

(Christian Education and Worship)

Julio is preparing laypersons to lead Bible study (in pairs if they prefer) and preachers. One member who had never preached before recently preached for the first time, and several members are scheduled to lead Bible study in the near future. Our vision is to make each member a leader, and Julio is helping members to identify their talents, motivating and training them to take responsibility, and providing support and follow-up. Julio developed this slogan expressing the purpose of the church (from Matthew 28, “Ir y hacer discípulos” (“Go and make disciples”):

HACER:

Hacer de cada miembro un líder (Make of each member a leader)

Adorar a Dios en espiritu y verdad (Worship God in spirit and truth)

Compartir con todos en el amor de Cristo (Share with all in the love of Christ)

Evangelizar a todas las naciones, creando puentes (Evangelize all the nations, creating bridges)

Restaurar vidas a través de multiples ministerios (Restore lives through multiple ministries)

The point of this is to hold before the congregation the challenge to become more than just a group of people holding worship services, to help the congregation and community learn to dream and to make those dreams come true by building bridges and taking on leadership responsibility to improve the community for all.

We will hold the first leadership retreat on Sunday, March 5^th. The purpose is to provide instruction about the Presbyterian church, its theology and polity, to provide training in the areas on which we are currently focusing, evangelism and stewardship, and to continue discussing our vision and how to make it a reality.

Care for the Congregation and Serve the Community

Julio is leading a weekly support group for five at-risk Hispanic 5^th grade boys at Forest View Elementary School. He accompanied the counselor to the funeral of one boy’s mother, and is providing follow-up support to this young orphan, whose father is dead and his older brother (and legal guardian) is in Mexico burying his mother.

We are still in contact with the family recently helped by University Presbyterian Church to furnish their apartment. The girls are doing well in school, and they seem to be in a stable situation economically.

Julio continues to provide pastoral care to one individual and several families, some on a regular weekly basis

Julio led a workshop about taking advantage of crises to make them work for us for a Hispanic diabetic support group at Lincoln Community Health Center.

Our monthly series of parent workshops continues to draw a sizeable crowd, including many parents of children taking music classes at Northgate. January’s session focussed on how to help one’s children with academic areas in which they are weak. This week’s session will provide information about the More at 4 and Head Start programs, and next month’s will focus on the process of special education referrals for preschool and school-aged children.

Strengthen Connections w/Other Churches and the Community

Bilingual Talk Time was held in January and February. In January we had a very good turnout. We need to make it clear to people that children are welcome to participate in addition to adults. We have had several children and teenagers who have participated along with their parents and enjoyed the program a great deal.

Julio attended the annual DCIA awards dinner, and Julio and Martha attended the annual Durham Human Relations Department banquet, at which Julio was asked to give the invocation and benediction in Spanish.

Requests for Collaboration

Please promote our open house on Sunday, March 26^th at Northgate (flier attached to this message). Encourage representatives from your congregation to attend to meet members of the Hispanic ministry, sample some Latin food, and learn about our programs and ways they may wish to get involved as volunteers and supporters.