Deacons
Our Presbyterian polity places all the policy decisions of the congregation within the purview of the session. This is true of every PC(USA) congregation, and it is true for us at New Providence. But there is a lot more to governing a church than just deliberation and decision. All our policies lead to some kind of activity for us - improvements to the facility, ministries to the hungry and homebound, missions to the world and to the children in our midst. The hands-on workers who make these policies into real programs are our Board of Deacons.
Under the direction of the new Moderator, Jeff Pezick, the deacons take on everything from the Taking the Love of Christ (TLC) ministry, to staffing Family Promise, to greeting visitors and welcoming new members, to serving at Welcome Table, to providing transportation for those who cannot drive, to operating the sound and lights for worship, to decorating the church for holidays, to repairing homes, to ushering us all through worship every week. It’s a lot, and these tireless workers either do it themselves or assemble other energetic members to participate in all the things that must be done for us to have church.
Of course there is even more that the deacons take care of, often quietly and behind the scenes. They serve because some have always been the body of Christ from within the body of Christ. It is one of the oldest offices and purposes of the church. The deacons are glad to fill this role and be fulfilled by the service they are able to offer.