Church Groups

DEACON’S CORNER

     January is a month of new beginnings.  Not only is it the first month of a new year, but it is also a time for reflecting on the past year and making resolutions for the coming year.  Hopefully, your resolutions will include helping others, praying for our shut-ins, or using your talents to serve in new ways.

     I would like to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped the Deacons in December.  Thank you to those of you who went Christmas caroling to our shut-ins on December 10th.  Thank you for your contributions of food, help, and fellowship at the bereavement luncheons/receptions.  Also, thank you to those members who contributed to our College Care packages.  We sent $25.00 worth of fast food gift cards to 13 college students.  We’ve gotten feedback that they were greatly appreciated.  Finally, a big thank you to Judy Krugh who organized the Shoe Box ministry project and to those who donated, filled and wrapped shoe boxes for needy children inReynoldsburg.  The work of the Deacons is greatly enhanced by the loving and talented members of our congregation.

     The Deacon for the month of January is Chris Hoffman.  Her telephone number is 837-6875.

WOMEN OF THE CHURCH

Thank you Parkview for sharing with the adopted family!

December 8 delivery of the generous gifts which Parkview congregation provided the adopted family was made by Louise Jacobs and Connie Borden. They were appreciatively received. Judy Krugh not only led devotions, organized the delicious pot luck luncheon, decorated the tables, provided table favors, but also moved that we send Helping Hands a check for $110. The motion passed.

Our treasurer Connie reported a balance of $1982. With blanket raffle ticket sales and donations our income has been $196. Fanfare” Ta Da! The queen-sized floral tie blanket drawing winner was Barbara Goldberg. The Thomas Kincade wall hanging size tie blanket drawing winner was Neysa Woolf.

Sharon Krebs, Louise Jacobs, and Donna Rutherford joined in along with eight regular attendees. Ample tasty food and fellowship were shared. From memory Nancy Clouse played Christmas carols on the piano and we sang along.

Due to potential weather problems in January we are not inviting a guest speaker, but will gather at our usual time January 12. Our march “Babies in Need Shower” meeting is open again for congregational participation. So there follows a suggested list of items for donation to assist theMt.CarmelEastHospitalnurses and outreach program A container for them will appear in the narthex.

Baby Shower Items

Crib sheets

Diapers – newborn or size 1

Sleep sacks

Wash cloths

Bottles

Burp cloths

Onesies

Baby mirror – freestanding or for crib

MISSIONS

Additional Food Pantry – An additional food pantry will be opening in November – called HEART. HEART is sponsored by the Reynoldsburg Ministerial Association and has been in the planning for over 2 years. HEART will be located in the same location as Joseph’s Coat and will have space free of charge for the first year.

The reason for the additional food pantry is Helping Hands is unable to meet the growing hunger needs in our area. Attempts were made to consolidate Helping Hands and HEART, but those attempts were not successful.

The HEART service area will be larger than Helping Hands which is limited to the Reynoldsburg school district only. There are more than 50,000 people living in the HEART service area, and of that number 15,000-20,000 live within the Federal Poverty level; many of these folk are children; and 50% of the Reynoldsburg School District are eligible for Free and Reduced-rate lunches.

Helping Hands is a privately run service that receives no government food assistance. HEART, after proving it can survive for 3 months, will begin to receive food from the Mid-Ohio Food Bank and Second Harvest. However, during those first 3 months, HEART needs food and financial donations.

The Session does not feel that we, as a congregation, can regularly support both Helping Hands and HEART  with regular monthly donations and thus recommends that we continue in that regard to support only Helping Hands. However, if – over and above your welcome donations to Helping Hands – you would like to assist HEART, you may do so in the following ways:

1.    By providing designated food supplies during the first 3 months in particular (for example, Pastor Steve is donating all the macaroni needs for those first 3 months). If you would like to participate at this level, let Pastor Steve know so that he can determine what is specifically needed and not covered by other individuals or churches.
2.    By being a sustaining financial contributor at whatever level you choose – and a direct deposit option will be available soon.
3.    Providing food contributions even after the first 3 months, but you would need to get the food directly to HEART yourself.

Thanks for your generous hearts.

Your Mission Committee