by Linda Cutshall

Through prayer and conversation, our deacons realized that the neighborhood or parish model - where each deacon has about 30 households under their wing - looks great on paper, but isn’t helping us meet real needs. The truth is people rarely call a deacon for help, except for meals when a baby is born or there’s an illness in the household.

So lately deacons are exploring how to serve out of the wide variety of gifts, personalities and callings that God has created us with. Our central calling is “to minister to those in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any that may be in distress.”

Here are just a few ways God is leading us:

• Sara Nagel sara.nagel@gmail.com, connects with Bethany’s Single Mom’s Group to coordinate home cooked meals when these ladies meet together. Sara would enjoy having the help of more cooks!
• Bethany has many mid 30’s -50’s singles, some who live far from family and would enjoy being invited over for coffee, or a meal and good conversation. Contact Linda, lindac@bethanypc.org to get to know some great people.
• If you’d enjoy making friends with someone who’s 60+ contact Carole Gordon carmar78@hotmail.com who coordinates visits with and activities for our seniors. Wisdom and humor abound in these saints!
• Deanna Stelling is creating a database of People Willing to Help People using skills and abilities that you’re willing to share. She’s ready to add you to her list or coordinate help for you, stellings@comcast.net
• Laurel Mackintosh lolo_mack@msn.com is looking for friendly people to help new people get acquainted between Sunday services.

So much more to say, but I’m out of room. We’re eager to see how God will lead us.