Deacons
The Deacons duties include planning and overseeing the church’s ministry of service and caring for its members. They procure supplies, prepare, serve and clean up after communion. The Deacons line up ushers for each worship service. The Deacons assist the minister in caring for the sick, shut-ins and those in crisis. And finally, the Deacons oversee the Visitation Committee, whose responsibility is to make calls on members unable to attend church due to disabilities, illnesses, etc. There are nine deacons who each serve three-year terms.
Trustees
The Trustees are responsible for the care and upkeep of the building and the property of the church, as well as overseeing the endowment. They receive input from church organizations and members at the annual or special meetings on major changes to the facility. There are six trustees who each serve three-year terms.
Worship Committee
The Worship Committee is responsible for:
*Preparing a schedule for the choirs to sing, for communion services and other special events that are part of worship; e.g. candle lighting services during Advent.
*Planning and coordinating special activities and events associated with the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons; e.g. Candlelight Service on Christmas Eve.
*Enhancing our worship services and suggesting changes if deemed appropriate.
*Overseeing the music program of the church.
Anyone who is interested in serving on the Worship Committee is welcome. The committee also invites the congregation to help decorate the church for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Social Action Committee
Outreach to the Canandaigua community and providing support for the church’s international mission is the function of the Social Action Committee. Contributing food to local food kitchens and sponsoring resources to assist victims of domestic violence are recent examples of committee involvement.
Congregational Life Committee
This committee develops small group and special events for the congregation at various times throughout the year, such as trips to a Redwings game, the Skaneateles Dickens Festival, a boat tour of Canandaigua Lake, and a church-wide birthday party for all ages. We have also developed a greeter program at worship services to make sure that visitors are welcomed and made to feel at home.
Resource Committee
The Resource Committee’s focus is on the development of financial and other resources. We begin to formulate our pledge campaign in the late summer/early fall. We choose a different theme each year. The actual 4-week long campaign usually begins in mid-October with the distribution of pledge cards through the mail. We offer the congregation a personal visit from a committee member if desired. This gives them a chance to ask questions or just get more information. When the campaign is completed, total pledge data is summarized and relayed to the church treasurer and congregation.
Hospitality Committee
This committee puts on many receptions and meals, including those after memorial services held at the church. We also do the Annual Dinner held in February at our church, as well as dinners after concerts and a fall or spring spaghetti dinner. We call upon the congregation to make cookies, brownies, breads or whatever the occasion calls for to help us out. We often help other committees with functions also.
Pastor Parish Committee
Members of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee are appointed for three year terms. The committee serves as a sounding board for the pastor and a channel for members of the congregation to express their wishes. The committee is responsible for jointly developing annual goals with the pastor and for doing a performance review of the pastor annually.
Special Events Committee
The Special Events Committee plans and carries out special activities for the community on behalf of the congregation, such as speakers, concerts, art shows, the annual Messiah Sing-a-Long, dinners and other events. Recent events have been the highly successful art shows (“Women Artists of the Finger Lakes in 2011), the Mansfield University Concert Choir in 2011, and a weekend at our church with NY Times bestselling author, Dr. Marcus Borg, in 2010.
Christian Education Committee
The Christian Education (CE) committee meets each month and directs and coordinates all efforts related to education for children, youth, and adults. These programs are provided on a regular basis for various age groups, and the committee works closely with the Coordiantor of Christian Education to support and facilitate their efforts.
Youth Group/Sunday School
The Youth Group, the SpiritGivers, consists of youth in grades 6-12. This group meets from approximately 10:45-11:30 on Sunday mornings. The SpiritGivers have been involved in worship leadership (nursery care, ushering, speaking, and the offering), the Advent Workshop, Christmas Eve service, the Annual Church Picnic, as well as several mission projects and social events such as pool parties, movie nights, etc .
Our Sunday school for ages 3-5 and for grades K-5 provides a warm, caring and familiar environment in which children develop a knowledge and love of God, Jesus, the Bible, the church and the joy of Christian life in their everyday experiences. We use discussion, craft projects and games to reinforce weekly lessons as well as a variety of group activities where all ages participate. Classes are held at the same time as the worship service, with the children sharing the first 15 minutes of the service in the sanctuary, and then going to their classes. Nursery is also provided every Sunday for children younger than age three.
Church Council
The chief role of the Moderator of the church is to lead the Church Council and conduct regular monthly Council meetings. The Council consists of the chairpersons of Deacons, Trustees, Christian Education, Social Action, Worship, Special Events, Congregational Life, Hospitality, and Resource Committees, along with the Vice Moderator, church Treasurer and the church Clerk. The Council acts on behalf of the congregation to make decisions, oversee programs and budgetary issues, and carry out all decisions made at the annual congregational meetings.
