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The "Spare Change" project is ongoing. The quarters, dimes, nickels, and pennies may have been overflowing on your dresser, in your desk drawer, or in an unlit area of your kitchen counter. Your help with this project is more important than usual, because at this time of the year the mission committee needs as many additional funds as possible for Christmas-related activities for the needy. Please stop off at one of the tables at the sanctuary entrances and pick up a "Spare Change for a Big Change" cardboard box. After you've filled it (or partially filled it), simply drop it into a collection plate during a Sunday service. Thank you for your support! If you have any questions, please contact me. ~ Jim Bauman |
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One of the goals that emerged from the Many Voices, One Vision process was to “improve church structure and communication.” One of the ways we are trying to fulfill this goal is by re-creating a committee/team structure. Though committees/teams bring many challenges, they also bring many opportunities. They provide an avenue for people to use their gifts and skills, to be involved in the church’s decision making, to get to know others in the congregation, and to stay informed.
Both our session and our board of deacons are now structuring their work through teams. There are four session teams and four deacon teams. All eight teams meet on the third Monday of every even month for a time of worship, fellowship, and work. The “governing boards” (session and board of deacons) now meet on the third Monday of every odd month.
The eight teams are listed below, along with the elders/deacons in charge of each team and their responsibilities.
We encourage you to look over these descriptions, find some place you’d like to share your gifts, and then contact one of the elders/deacons in charge of that team. It takes all of us working together to continue RCLPC’s mission and ministry. |
DEACON TEAMS
Welcoming Team
Coordinates RCLPC’s hospitality ministries, making sure newcomers feel welcome and become integrated into the life of the congregation.
Deacons: Laurie Pohl, Dorothy Vick, Dave Steele
Staff Liaison: Richard Floyd
Responsibilities:
- Recruiting, training, and scheduling greeters
- Coordinating visitor follow-up program and communication
- Prompting and supporting new member classes
- Assisting newcomers in becoming integrated in the life of the congregation
Caring Team
Creating and maintaining networks of care so that people may live out Jesus’ command to “love one another.”
Deacons: Barb McCreary, Karen Hutchings, Tom Walters
Staff Liaison: Richard Floyd and Teri Peterson
Responsibilities:
- Maintaining regular contact with members of the congregation for the purpose of updating information and determining if there are any issues, needs, questions, etc.
- Assisting the pastors in providing pastoral care for people in need (including phone calls, cards, visits, etc.)
- Providing special, limited-term services for people with special needs, such as meal preparation (including meals for funeral receptions), home repair, transportation, cleaning, yard work, etc.
Fellowship Team
Plans and hosts social and community-building activities for the entire church family.
Deacons: Doug Begley, Cindy Borre, Linda Peel
Staff Liaison: Teri Peterson
Responsibilities:
- potlucks (including Easter brunch)
- ice cream social
- meet-n-eats (dinners out at local restaurants)
- church picnic
- fall bonfire
- drop-n-shop (fun for kids while parents do last-minute Christmas things)
- coffee hour each Sunday after each service
- Game nights
- other fun (past events include Mother’s Day tea, Valentine dance, Gourmet Group, progressive dinners, etc)
- WEAVE (Wednesday evening dinner and activities)
Mission Team
Promoting opportunities for mission outreach both locally and globally.
Deacons: Rick Johnson, Joy Martin, Ann Legg
Staff Liaison: Richard Floyd
Responsibilities:
- Coordinating moments for mission and missions of the month
- Distributing mission funding
- Promoting local and global mission opportunities
- Coordinating special offerings
- Christmas Joy
- One Great Hour of Sharing
- Pentecost
- Peacemaking
- Maintaining mission partnerships
- Providing education and, when appropriate, advocacy on social issues
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SESSION TEAMS
Worship Team
Supports the overall worship and music ministries of the church.
Elders: Lori Thompson, Dale Prindiville, Jodi Iddings
Staff Liaison: Richard Floyd
Responsibilities:
- Setting overall worship policy (with session approval, when necessary)
- Setting worship calendar, special services (Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, etc.), communion celebrations (with session approval)
- Coordinating worship infrastructure:
- Ushers
- Liturgists/Readers
- Communion preparers and servers
- PowerPoint-ers
- Sound
- Video recording
- Assists with special worship activities or events (candles for Christmas Eve, etc.)
- Coordinates worship environment (through worship environment team)
- Constantly learns, studies, develops, and visions for worship life
Education Team
Supports Christian education, discipleship, and spiritual growth ministries for all ages.
Elders: Karl Dencker, Connie Rasmussen, Jim Pracht
Staff Liaison: Teri Peterson
Responsibilities:
- Overseeing Sunday Morning Children’s Education program (pre-K-12th grade)
- Overseeing Youth Ministries (6th-12th grade)
- Overseeing WEAVE (pre-K-adult)
- Creating adult education opportunities on Sunday morning
- Recruiting volunteers for our various education ministries, including Bible Study leaders, small group leaders, Sunday School teachers, youth leaders, and adult education discussion facilitators.
- Ensuring that our Child Protection Policy is up to date and is being followed carefully by all who are in ministry with our children and youth.
- Overseeing nursery.
- Encouraging members to take part in educational opportunities.
Stewardship Team
Provides opportunities for people to share their time, talents, and money to support RCLPC’s mission and ministry.
Elders: David Dees, Sally Weller, Jim Bauman
Staff Liaison: Richard Floyd
Responsibilities:
- Planning and executing fall pledge drive
- Planning and executing spring time & talent drive
- Maintaining volunteer database
- Developing and maintaining “opportunities to serve” document
- Holding periodic stewardship education events
Administration Team
Tends to the overall organization life of RCLPC.
Elders: Dan Schweers, Debi Keyzer
Staff Liaison: Richard Floyd
Responsibilities:
- Coordinating with treasurer on financial issues
- Coordinating with buildings and ground committee on property issues
- Coordinating with personnel committee on personnel issues
- Coordinating fall budgeting process
- Developing and maintaining “policy and procedures manual”
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On November 1st, PBS produced a documentary entitled, “Way of the Warrior”. Through firsthand interviews and accounts from comrades and loved ones, the stories are told against the backdrop of positive and negative themes familiar to Native Americans – the warrior ethic, prejudice, forced assimilation, poverty, cultural pride and redemptive acts and healing.
The documentary explores what it was like to be an Indian soldier, noting that Native Americans were often singled out for the most dangerous assignments due to the ascribed stereotypes of possessing an innate sense of direction or superior hearing and eyesight. Consequently, Indians often suffered higher injury and casualty rates. One example was the Red Arrow Division in WWI which held a high proportion of Native soldiers and lost nearly 60 per cent of its force.
WOTW also looks at the experiences of women who served on the home front during WWII. When the war ended, returning white soldiers displaced these women and Native American men as well. The war’s end brought many changes says Arizona State University’s Prof. Donald Fixico, a Seminole-Creek in the Dakota/Lakota Journal. Change occurred in technologies, national leadership and the geography of the world. But a change that didn’t occur was in attitude. Indians were still outside of the American mainstream. I wonder what changes will be seen with the returning soldiers from Iraq? To look further at this documentary, check out http://www.pbs.org/wayofthewarrior/ ~ The Native American Connection
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