Board of Deacons

As chair of the Board of Deacons, I am pleased to report that the past year has been relatively smooth as reflected by the following highlights of Deacon directed activities.

1. The Deacons arranged for a banner to be hung on the front of the church marking and celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the United Church of Christ in advance of the Synod in Hartford.

2. We held a Deacon’s Retreat in January at the home of Earl and Sylvia Thompson in Marlborough, at which the role of the Deacons and Worship was discussed.

3. A Women’s Retreat was held at the Mercy Center in Madison, CT, in March.

4. On Easter morning, we offered Services of Worship at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.

5. The Deacons returned to glass communion cups.

6. The Deacons, working with the Memorial Committee, brought the audio portion of our Worship Services into the Church Parlor.

7. Deacons began discussions with pastoral staff regarding a proposal for a mid-week worship service.

Throughout the year, the Deacons continued to perform the many tasks that contribute to our regular and special Worship Services including recruiting greeters and ushers, setting up the sanctuary, preparing and serving Communion, leading Baptisms and helping to coordinate with media. The Deacons also play an important role in the following special services: World Wide Communion Sunday, World Day of Prayer, Thanksgiving Pilgrim service, Advent services including Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Meal of the Upper Room and Office of Tenebrae.

We continued to lead a monthly service for the residents at Salmon Brook. We find this to be a special privilege and thank Roger and Larry for leading our efforts there. Another important function of the Deacons is to lead the church school in Communion Education, leading up to Family Communion Sunday. In addition, Deacons are represented on the Diversity, Memorial, and Media boards and chair the Church Growth and Membership Committee.

One of the great joys of serving as a Deacon is working closely and interacting with our great staff. We thank Pastors, David Taylor, Gordon Bates, Ruth Martz and Chris Mereschuk for providing leadership, Angela Salcedo for directing our great music ministry, Kate VanDerzee for leading our Christian Education, and Kathy Ciolkosz and Rebecca Fleahman for their office support. Special thanks are extended to Roger Yost for his good work in overseeing our media and microphone issues.

Finally, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to all of my fellow Deacons, whose hard work, cooperation, spirit of camaraderie and good cheer made my position as chair most satisfying and rewarding.

Diane O’Brien, Vice- Chair Amy Thompson-Jones Roger Yost Amy Bancroft Larry Haberman Kathy Ciolkosz Jim Loomis Gary William Nancy Higgins Frank Scalia Diana Ruddick

Respectfully submitted,
Robert Dakers, Chair

BOARD OF DEACONS

2009 Amy Bancroft
2009 Larry Haberman
2009 Diane O’Brien - chair
2010 Jim Loomis
2010 Kathy Ciolkosz
2010 Gary Williams – vice chair
2011 Nancy Higgins
2011 Diana Ruddick
2011
2012 Jon Brown
2012 Dave Kenison
2012