b. Deacons Report – Barbara Conti

Worship

Special thanks to all of the volunteers who made opening our church possible during the past year: Ron Carson – Special Decorations Kathy and Ross Mulder - Communion Susan Smith – Flowers Carol Young – Creative insight for Special Services Volunteers – Ushers Mary Kay Thurston - Congregational Nurse Cindi Moulton - Congregational Nurse Everyone who ushered Richard Cook – Buildings and Grounds Natalie Mealey - Organist Jeffrey Anthony– Chancel Choir Chancel Choir

2022 GOALS Continue to refine and grow our Traditional Worship Service. Work with Chris Haidet on the development of a Contemporary Service. Develop a viable team of Ushers. Provide safe services, both on Sundays and special services throughout the year, in person, and via live streaming.

Respectfully submitted, Ed Nichols Worship Elder

Deacons

BOARD OF DEACONS Elder: Barbara Conti

MISSION STATEMENT Deacons are called to provide an intentional, coordinated, and proactive ministry of care and compassion to our church family and friends. Our ministry, through example and witness, is intended to inspire and encourage members to demonstrate the care of Christ in their families, in their neighborhood, and our congregation. The Deacons of the Board serve on Ministry Teams in one of four ministry areas.

ADMINISTRATION MINISTRY Deacons: Laurann Cook (Moderator and Secretary) and Jim Shields (Treasurer) Purpose: To be responsible for managing organizational functions including, but not limited to, managing finances, providing meeting minutes, communications to Session, member retention, and the assimilation of new members into the life of the church.

2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Held regularly scheduled Deacon Meetings meeting every other month. Submitted minutes and communications to monthly Session meetings. Elected Jim Shields, Treasurer of the

Board of Deacons. Worked with Pastor Brett Everett to help organize monthly home bound communion. 306 people were served homebound communion by the Pastors, Deacons or Elders.

2022 GOALS Continue to recruit Deacons for the remaining vacancies. Work to assimilate new members into the life of the church. Reach out to members who have not been active recently.

CARE MINISTRIES Deacons: Nancy Clarke, Kurt Koch, and Deb McDermott

Deacons

Purpose: To provide ministry organization and oversight to specialized care ministries for individuals and groups within our congregation and surrounding community. These include but are not limited to: Walking Beside Ministries, Parish Shepherds, FaithBased Grief Support Group, and visitations by pastors, congregational nurses, and deacons.

2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Began mid-year with the initial objective being to visit with each ministry under Care

Ministry to gain a deeper understanding of each. Met with Pat Nichols on the Grief Support

Ministry initiatives and with Pastor Brett about potential Divorce Care programs.

2022 GOAL To continue to gain a deeper understanding of the other Care Ministries.

EQUIPPING MINISTRY Deacons: Rolene Dinsdale, Su Fong, Amy Woods Monday Prayer Team: Rolene Dinsdale, Cathy Hoxie, Nan McCallum, Pat Nichols, Carolyn Oates, and Amy Woods Purpose: To work along side associated Session committees to define and develop education, training and activities that will help members become more conformed to the image of Jesus Christ for the glory of God and for the sake of others. These activities include but are not limited to the development of healthy spiritual disciplines, prayer practices, and the identification of spiritual gifts.

2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Added two deacons. Redesigned the Prayer Card to implement privacy guidelines and follow-up procedures. Re-established the Sunday Prayer Team with 16 volunteers for after-service prayer. Established procedures for the Monday Prayer Team to better keep track of updates for those on the prayer list. Assisted Adult Discipleship by developing a chart to keep track of those involved in a Micro-Group. Also sent a celebratory card and bookmark to the twelve who have completed a MicroGroup. Held an in-person Women’s Retreat at the church on May 22 to encourage God’s workmanship in their lives; 23 attended.

2022 GOALS Oversee the Sunday and Monday Prayer Teams. Keep track of those involved in a Discipleship Micro-Group and send a celebratory card and bookmark to those who have completed a Micro-Group. Plan the Women’s Retreat scheduled for March 12 at Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center. Work alongside Session committees that would like additional support in providing education, training, and activities that will help members become more like Christ (2 Corinthians 3:1718).

SERVICE MINISTRY Deacons: Min Damm, Pat Nichols, Dave Zoetewey Purpose: Deacons are responsible for addressing physical care needs that may include providing meals, transportation, household repairs or other needs as they are identified.

2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Helped congregational members with various home jobs which they could not do on their own. Established a list of seven individuals from the congregation (qualified in different

Deacons

areas of service) who might respond to different individual service needs in the congregation. Called on a congregational member in rehab facility to see if there were any service needs. Helped with funeral and memorial service receptions, Women’s Tea, and fellowship between services.

2022 GOALS Make the congregation more aware of the

Deacon service ministry. Establish and maintain a transportation service ministry.

WALKING BESIDE MINISTRY Team Leader: Barbara Conti Purpose: To minister to people with life issues, challenges, and transitions by walking alongside them during tough times. Members: Laurann Cook, Joe Gilleland, Steve Haver, Moon Kahn, Beverley Keele, Shirley Klein, Marsha Lindquist, Frank McDaniels, Chris McQueen, Thea Miller, Kathy Rogers, Sara Sebransky, Nancy Taylor

2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Gained three new members: total 13 team members. Delivered 60 Easter and 60 Christmas gift bags to shut-ins, surviving spouses, and the sick. Sent 933 get well, sympathy, birthday, Valentine, and Thanksgiving cards. Designed, developed, and delivered 24

Spirit Bags to those hospitalized. Mailed 71 grief books to those who lost loved ones. Made 331 visits. Sent 547 letters, emails, texts. Made 892 calls. Designed and developed a new logo, banner, and marketing collateral. Designed and conducted a new training program for team members. Designed, developed, and produced a Prayer Book. Participated in Fall Faith Festival. Presented two “Surviving the Holidays” seminars for the church and community. Presented The Longest Night Service and a light supper for the church and community.

2022 GOALS Increase visitation to shut-ins and those living alone in partnership with Parish

Shepherds, Deacons, and Parish Nurses. Develop and deliver skills training to team members. Design and institute a Caregiving Review

Process. Document Walking Beside Ministry policies and procedures.

FAITH-BASED GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP Facilitator: Pat Nichols Purpose: To provide opportunities for attendees to share their loss and grief with others who have experienced similar feelings. To offer ways of increasing socialization to improve self-esteem and overcome loneliness.

2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Completed our fifth year of meeting regularly either in the church lounge or at members’ homes. Added several members from the congregation and community.

2022 GOALS Continue to meet weekly to share and support each other in a safe environment. Offer limited social activities according to

COVID guidelines.

Deacons

CONGREGATIONAL NURSES Nurses: Mary Kay Thurston, RN, and Cyndi Moulton, RN BSN Purpose: To reach out with loving, compassionate hearts to give others our “presence” and remind them of God’s and Jesus’ presence while helping with the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church community.

2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS Blood pressure clinics were held in May,

June, August, September, October, November, and December. Cyndi and Mary Kay worked 968.83 hours, drove 4,647 miles, and made 3,630 contacts through home visits, phone calls, text messages, and emails. Nursing home and hospital visits were not allowed the first four months of the year due to COVID-19 but were resumed when facilities allowed. Attended monthly Faith Community

Nurse Networking Educational meetings by Zoom and DHPC Deacon meetings in person or by Zoom. Screened all attending Sunday Morning

Worship services by doing temperature checks as congregants arrived and made sure all wore masks or shields over their mouths and noses until April. Coordinated Flu and Pneumonia Clinic in the fall. Continued seeking ways to help with the holistic, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the church community.

2022 GOALS Coordinate with Walgreens a flu, pneumonia vaccine clinic in the Fall. Hold monthly blood pressure screening clinics between Sunday services. Hold a CPR/AED Training Session for those wanting to be trained or recertified. Attend Deacon meetings as ex-officio members and Faith Community Nurse

Networking monthly meetings. Continue seeking ways to help with the holistic, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the DHPC Community. Encourage other DHPC RNs to take the

Faith Community Training. Continue making visitations to members and attendees who are in the hospital, nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, or in their homes as the need arises to answer questions, help educate regarding their health condition, or find needed community resources, and give spiritual encouragement through prayer.

PARISH SHEPHERDS Lead Parish Shepherd: Beverly Shannon Purpose: To offer an intentional, coordinated, and proactive ministry of care to members and regular attendees of Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, to support the care ministries, and to alert the pastoral staff and care council of situations where more intentional and intensive pastoring may be required.

2021 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 17 Shepherds have been recruited for

DHPC. Shepherds have made 6,734 contacts to

Congregational members. All parishes except one have a Shepherd assigned.

2022 GOALS Continue to look for a Shepherd for Parish 11.

Respectfully submitted, Barbara Conti, Elder for Care Ministries Laurann Cook, Moderator, Board of Deacons