Knowing Christ. Making Christ Known through Caring for others

and Creating Communities that Care.

 “Love one another as I have loved you.”

John 13:34

Caring Ministries
Our Ministry of Caring is for anyone in our congregation and the surrounding community who is in need of God’s reassuring love and comfort.  We are teams of Deacons, trained Stephen Ministers and Paoli Presbyterian Church Members who provide Christ-like care to those in need.  Be a part of our Caring Ministries!

Deacon Flock Leaders
Care Team
Bereavement Team
Communion Preparation Team
Extended Communion Team
Flower Delivery Team
Funeral Reception Team
Lovin’ From the Oven Team
Music Outreach Team
New Angel Baby Ministry Team
Nursing Home/Homebound Care Team
Post High School Care Team
Stephen Ministry Team
Prayer Chain Email Team

Deacon Flock Leaders
Each Deacon has been assigned to a grouping of congregation members known as a Flock. The list of Flocks can be found in the link below.  Deacons are arranged in Teams as Flock Leaders and in this role, they maintain contact with their Flock via phone calls, cards, or visits. Members are encouraged to share their concerns and joys with their Deacon so that prayers and the assistance of appropriate Deacons and Care Teams can be initiated.
Deacon Moderator:   Ling Chamberlain
Vice Moderator:        Doris Rickards

Care Team
Reaches out from the church to the homes of those in need of support and care.  Phone calls, emails, notes, personal visits and keen attention to a person’s needs during a time of illness, crisis or stress.  Many joys and concerns are a part of this team’s ministry. When a person is in the hospital they call this team. When someone needs food, a visit or a call, this team is there to be the loving extension of God’s grace.                                                  
Leaders:  Doris Rickards & Jeanne Helmers

Communion Preparation Team
Multiple small teams who provide set-up and/or clean-up of the holy sacraments for special communion services and communion served to our congregation during worship services . 
Leaders:  Linda Zink & Lois Grieshober 

Bereavement Team
Members share God’s love with those experiencing grief because of the loss of a loved one by listening and by sharing their gifts of compassion, caring, and serving.                          
Leader:   Carly Phillips

Extended Communion Team  (Must be ordained Elder, Deacon, or Pastor to serve)
This team serves communion to those members of our church who are unable to attend church on a regular basis. Whether it is at home, in a care facility or hospital, this team delivers Christ’s message of love and grace.
Leader: Phyllis Duncan

Flower Delivery Team
Delivers the Sunday morning sanctuary flowers and flowers from special events at the church to members of the congregation who are homebound or in nursing care facilities.  In the course of a year a team member would deliver flowers 6 to 8 times.  The time commitment is about one hour per visit.                          
Leader: Joy Dodge

Funeral Reception Team
Works with the office staff, the pastors and the families to provide light refreshments for funeral receptions for family and friends held at our church.  Team members help set up the room, provide floral table decorations, finger foods and beverages and assist with cleaning up when the reception is over.                                               
Leader:  Jane Thomas

Lovin’ from the Oven
Provides food for individuals who are in need of a meal during times of illness, a crisis or a celebration. Team members cook the meals at home and bring them to the church in freezable containers.  Meals are labeled and marked with Lovin’  from the Oven stickers to note the content and the number of portions.  Meals are delivered by Deacons and any of the members of our congregation who know of someone who would benefit from a prepared meal.
Leader: Ling Chamberlain

Music Outreach Team
Provides music for worship services held at Nursing homes in the area.   Additional venues are added as this team of singers and musicians seek to bring the good news of the Gospel wherever they go.   They have a passion for singing and wish to share that joy with those who are homebound.                                     
Leader: Judy Smaltz

New Angel Baby Ministry
Helps celebrate new born infants in our Congregation, as well as congratulate the lucky parents. This team lets the Congregation know of "New Angels" in our midst, and assures these Angels that God loves them and PPC loves them too!
Leader: Karen Bittenbender

Nursing Home/Homebound Care Team
Reaches out to those who are home bound or in Care Facilities and are no longer able to get to church.  Team members are assigned a person to visit on a regular basis and in keep close contact as they celebrate special events, undergo medical procedures and remain close to the church through their visits.  Team members are often connected with people who live near them.
Leader: Lori Gordon

Post High School Care Team
Connects with our college age students whether at home or away by writing to them during the course of the year and sending encouraging notes, letters, cards and the occasional care package around the academic year. Parents are encouraged to keep the church up to date with a student’s address.                                    
Leaders:  Leona Brittingham

Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is a nationally based ministry of trained members at PPC who meet one on one with individuals who are dealing with crisis situations or changes in their lives that are difficult to manage. A Stephen Minister receives over 200 hours of training and continuing education to provide for those in need of compassion, love and care. They are dedicated to confidentiality and the benefits of sharing our burdens with one another.  Stephen Ministers meet twice monthly to continue to learn effective ways to  be the best they can be for the Care Receivers.                              
Contact:  Ruth Jensen
 
Prayer Chain Email 
This team receives prayer requests via email as they come into the church office. They are asked to pray for the individuals on the prayer list during their daily prayer devotion. In addition to this prayer chain there are other opportunities to meet at the church to pray for these same individuals in small groups. These team members are devout in their prayer life and passionate about the healing power of prayer.     
Contact:  Paoli Presbyterian Church Office

“By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35