BACKPACKSUNDAY: Through this fundraising effort, we were able to purchase and to fill 30 back packs to the brim with every school supply imaginable for 30 young students at Oakmont Elementary School. They expressed their joy in this blessing!
OAKMONT SCHOOL: CPC Session has “officially” approved adopting a school in the Claremont community, your CPC Deaconshave established an “Adopt-a-School” fund for our adopted school: Oakmont School! In addition to providing the Back Packs (filled) above, our Deacons also collected monies and donations to be able to not only provide a television set for use in the classroom, but also funding for other much-needed classroom audio-visual equipment, as named by the principal.
CULTURAL OUTREACH with Inland Pacific Ballet for the Oakmont School: Oakmont School has been able to send 150 students on a Cultural Educational Outreach Field Trip Program staged by the Inland Pacific Ballet Company in Bridges Auditorium. The students were able to attend three field trips they otherwise would not have been able to attend. We received dozens of thank you notes for the opportunity from the students themselves!
COMPASSIONATE HARPS: We have been able to provide monetary support for this meaningful hospice program for those in need at no charge to the recipients to provide the resonating healing harp music for those in need, as they travel through the end stages of life on this earth.
COMMUNITY THANKSGIVING: This past Thanksgiving, we were able to provide 35 pies and 19 cooked sliced turkeys to be served at the community Thanksgiving at St Ambrose!
MEMORIAL SERVICES: Our CPC Deacons are available to serve and to offer receptions for memorial services in Fellowship Hall. We have a pair of Deacons every month on call as the “Sympathy Deacons” for that month. Call the church office regarding a memorial service for your loved one, and the office will put you in touch with the Sympathy Deacons, who will manage all the organization for the memorial service. The Deacon Offerings fund these receptions, as well as contributions often offered by those families for whom the memorial service was held.
MEDICAL NEEDS: We have been able to support those in need either by providing money to pay for needed medical bills and treatment or transportation. We have been able to supplement needs as they may arise for maternity need or additional health benefits. We visit the sick and recovering in the hospital and at home to provide companionship and tenderness and prayer. All of these needs are addressed on a confidential basis.
LIFE UNEXPECTED OFFERINGS: When life offers up those unexpected challenges, we have been able to provide monetary and material assistance on a confidential basis, as the needs are shared and as they arise. (Please feel free if you or anyone you know needs some support either financially, spiritually, or materially, to contact either a pastor or any one of the Deacons to share your need.)
BETA CENTER: Twice a month a loyal, dedicated Deacon volunteer brings the food from the Red Wheelbarrow to the Beta Center. The Deacons also shop monthly for non-perishable groceries to contribute to the Beta Center, to be distributed, as needed.
ADOPT-A-FAMILY: This is becoming a tradition at CPC. Your generous offerings of gifts and delivering the gifts has provided holiday and Christmas blessing for many families who would have not otherwise had such a joyous Christmas complete with wrapped packages!!
ALTERNATIVE CHRISTMAS MARKET: This year, the Deacons will assist Mission Commission with CPC's Annual Alternative Christmas Market held on December 5th in Fellowship Hall. Start thinking about your Christmas shopping early!
PYG WORK PROJECTS: Every year, the Deacons underwrite a number of scholarships to enable every PYG to be able to participate and to travel with the PYGS on Work Project.
WOMEN’S RETREAT: The Deacon Fund provides confidential scholarships for women to attend this event.
PATIO HOSTS & GREETERS: These lovely smiling faces are “recruited” each week faithfully by your Deacons!
DEACON IN THE OFFICE: Every week, one of the faithful Deacons is serving our CPC church family by being available to anyone in the office both before and after the services.
FLORAL DELIVERY: Your Deacons deliver the flowers that were in worship with us each Sunday, either to the person by whom the flowers were given, or to others who might appreciate or enjoy the flowers, if no other designated recipient has been specifically named by those who donated the floral arrangements.
SERVING COMMUNION: Your Deacons join the Elders on the first Sunday of every month to serve our congregation the communion elements. The Deacons also serve communion to the homebound.
CHRISTMAS AND EASTER FLORAL DELIVERY: Each Christmas and Easter, the Deacons distribute the lovely poinsettias, lilies and azaleas to members and church family friends who may be either homebound, ill, or unable to attend church for whatever reason.
DEACON PARISH SUPPORT: The entire CPC membership is divided up into parishes. Each Parish is assigned a Deacon. Please contact your Deacon with any needs or prayer requests that you may have!
Your Deacons have been prayerfully active in supporting the many needs of the church family and community. Do you know of a need? Please feel free to share it with any one of the Pastors, your Deacon, or any Deacon!!
Submitted with joy in the service of Christ Jesus, our Lord,
-Delight Slotemaker de Bruine