Annual Report 2023-2024-DIGITAL - Flipbook - Page 30
BOARD OF DEACONS
Senior Deacon: Judy Stark
Junior Deacon: Christine Woods
Secretary: Adam Danielson
Staff Liaison: Jared Wortman and Christopher Goodson
Mission from Bylaws:
The Board of Deacons will assist the pastors in performing
services and Plymouth’s spiritual activities for Plymouth and the
community, including assisting in preparing and administering
the sacraments; receiving and depositing open collections;
appointing ushers; leading the Congregation in caring for the
poor, the sick, the sorrowing, and the stranger; and performing
other duties requested by the Senior Pastor.
Major Events/Achievements in 2023-2024:
The Board of Deacons practiced radical hospitality throughout
the year by welcoming attendees to church services, special
events and funerals, aiding with worship service logistics,
assisting with the preparation and distribution of the elements of
the Lord’s Supper, and serving behind-the-scenes to ensure the
Plymouth building, services, and tone demonstrated radical love
and operational excellence. Specifically, the Deacons:
• Led the annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, providing
fellowship opportunities and pancakes for more than 500
people, and raising $4,700 for the Plymouth’s Good
Samaritan Fund.
• Provided support for Saturday evening and Sunday worship
services during this program year.
• Throughout this program year Deacons provided a warm
welcome and sincere sympathy to families and friends at 15
funerals. An average attendance of seven deacons served at
each service. April 2024 experienced the most activity, with
five funerals, while December 2023 followed with three. There
were no funerals in which the deacons served during June 2023,
January 2024, and February 2024.
• Refined and updated interaction with the Funeral Reception
Team, which is attached to the Deacons Funeral Committee.
• The Funeral Reception Team (FRT) assist with funerals at the
request of families before/after funeral services are held. They
recruit the volunteer bakers and servers and they serve as hosts.
We prepare and beautify the space with fresh tablecloths, set out
the coffee, tea, etc. and serve as the contact for the family to
take the burden of these details from them on what is already
a very stressful time. This is a treasured ministry provided by
the people of Plymouth for the people of Plymouth.
• Collaborated with the Board of Children, Teens, and Families to
equip the deacons to better direct and answer questions from
families coming through our doors about children’s programming,
and coordinated communication between the deacons and staff
teaching and caring for our children on Sunday mornings.
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• Developed a new Ministry Action Plan in alignment with
Plymouth’s strategic plan with the following goals identified
for priority action:
− Re-design a robust deacon orientation to include more
detail regarding duties and responsibilities, and a full tour
of Plymouth Church. Status: Completed
− Provide training for the Deacons on Crisis Preparation
and Response (health crisis, fire, tornado, active shooter).
Status: Partially completed, ongoing.
− Review, Revise, Enhance, and publish with simple bullet
point guidelines many of the tasks which Deacons are
called to perform. Status: Completed
− Implement the approved proposal to fill three of the 30
Deacons positions with students. Status: Implemented
• Evaluated and revised our committees.
• Worked with Plymouth Administration, Plymouth’s insurance
company, and stakeholders from Plymouth lay-leadership and
Plymouth Nursery School to evaluate key safety protocols and
implement door monitoring changes as a result of a risk review.
• Decorated the exterior of the church for Thanksgiving.
• Served five separate Christmas Eve services, including assisting
in serving communion during the new 1 p.m. service.
• Transitioned all of the important Deacon reference documents
to the Church Center app in order to provide real-time
updates to policies and procedures.
Board Members:
2023-2024
2023-2025
2023-2026
Marilyn Stone
Barbara Adams
Betty Fosburgh
Sue Davis
Lucy Anderson
Jeff Grimes
Ann Hoeppner
John Bunz
Perry Klein
Dixie Hoekman
Becky Cady
Carroll Bennink
Fred Maharry
Adam Danielson
Carol Sieck
Tom Schoelerman
David Isch
Karen Ross
Cathy McMullen
Anita Lindfield
Susan Pohl
Jim Pierson
Lorenzo Sandoval
Norma Hirsch
Judy Stark
Christine Woods
Sharon Lahn
Bill Wedeking
Kiran Kothavale
vacant
