NORTHEAST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Advocacy
The Advocacy Team will work to create a more democratic structure within the PC-USA denomination, provide fairer representation for congregations at future General Assembly meetings, and establish accountability for delegates attending those meetings. Currently, there is no way for churches to know which way prospective General Assembly delegates will lean on important issues before they are selected by the Presbytery, and there is currently no opportunity afforded church members to communicate their feelings about significant issues to the delegates who will represent them. Among other things, the Advocacy Team will work with other churches around the U.S. to establish accountability for delegates, to circulate information on significant overtures that will come before the next General Assembly, and to encourage church members to write to the delegates informing them of how they feel about those issues.
Caregiving
No one church can do everything, but there is wide variety in our ministries within the congregation and to the community outside. Personal care is a hallmark of this church. Stephen Ministry provides caregiving for those in difficult temporary circumstances, while Samaritan Ministry offers a broad range of loving assistance for single moms, families with financial needs, the bereaved, and many others. We have made a priority of pre-marital counsel and marriage mentoring to do what we can to strengthen families.
Caregiving
Our children's ministry includes Children's Church on Sunday mornings, Sunday School, Wednesday Night Live, and Vacation Bible School.
Special events for children take place during the year. Details are available in the church bulletin and newsletter.
Community Outreach
Part of our commitment to the surrounding neighborhood is to give meeting space for Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, as well as Cub Scouts, election precincts and the neighborhood community association. Part of our community commitment is to help at the area Ronald McDonald houses nearby to All Children’s Hospital and to underwrite support for local charities that provide assistance for the area’s homeless and poor.
Life Groups
Life Groups are small groups of 8-12 people with whom one covenants to share their life through fellowship and care, study and prayer. One distinction between a small group and a life group is that a life group commits to being together for the duration of each particular study, with the hope that afterwards, the group will remain together and not move on to the a next study with a totally new group of people. The option to leave a life group for any reason is always available of course. A small group, on the other hand, as we have used the term previously at NEPC, has meant that people have met for a given time period to study a particular curriculum together. Upon completion of the study, the group dispersed and went on to another small group study.
Life Groups meet on all days of the week and at all times. If you are not already in an established life group or have not indicated your intentions to join one, please do one of two things: either call the church office OR make sure to tear off the pertinent slip provided in the Sunday bulletin and place it in the offering plate.
Missions
It’s important to us to support local, national and international mission causes, related and unrelated to the Presbyterian Church USA. You can take part in hands-on mission trips or give support in other ways through our contact with organizations like Prison Fellowship, Samaritan’s Purse, World Vision, and others. We feel a deep commitment to missionaries around the world, as well as to Christian caregiving around the block.
Prayer
The deepest strength of a congregation is found in its commitment to prayer. We gain great strength and encouragement from praying together, which we do regularly in our Sunday evening prayer meeting. We also provide a place for quiet prayer after worship services. Many in our church family are linked immediately to prayer needs by taking part in our e-mail prayer chain, which allows wide exposure and rapid response.
The Prayer Chain
There are two parts to our prayer chain: one is a telephone prayer chain and the other an email prayer chain. They work together and accommodate our entire congregation. We’d like to have everyone in the congregation join the prayer chain and use it whenever the need arises.
The email prayer chain only requires you to give your email address to the church, preferably through your email to the church’s address, info@nepres.org. Once you have done that and requested to be put on the prayer chain, you will receive prayer requests as soon as the church receives them. When you have time you can read your email prayer chain request and pray as you have been requested to pray.
Likewise, if you want prayer for yourself or another, just send a message to the church, noting that it’s for the prayer chain and it won’t be long until you can feel yourself being wrapped in prayer by our faithful prayer partners.
If you don’t have email you can still participate by calling the church at 727-526-6083 and requesting to be put on the telephone prayer chain. You will be assigned a spot in the prayer chain order making you a vital part of the chain linkage. It’s terribly important that when your phone rings with a prayer request from the person ahead of you on the chain, that you take the message accurately and pass it on to the next telephone prayer as soon as possible. You’ll probably find you need to write the prayer request down to get the essence of it as accurate as possible.
So pick the prayer chain that is best for you and join us in prayer for ourselves, our leaders, our friends and many of our fellow Christians from around the country.
Samaritan Team
One arm of ministry under NEPC’s Shepherding Ministry Team is our very busy Samaritan Ministry Team. This team of committed individuals is the arm and feet of Jesus as they minister to the various practical needs of our growing congregation.
Their ministries include:
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A Meal Ministry to make and deliver meals to the sick and bereaved, and families of newborns;
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A Bereavement Ministry that remembers families at regular intervals who have experienced the death of a loved one;
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Sending Care Packages to College Students and Servicemen/women as needed but especiallyprior to the Christmas break and the Spring break and during final exams;
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the Ministry of Transportation that finds rides for people who are unable to drive themselves to the doctor, grocery store, church, etc.;
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Memorial Reception Ministry that purchases, arranges and serves food, coffee & punch following a memorial service;
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the Single Parent Ministry that purchases and distributes gift cards to NEPC single parents for Back-to-School, Thanksgiving & Christmas, as needed, as well as remembering them on Valentine’s Day and offering any other assistance needed throughout the year;
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provides a Christmas Choir Appreciation Brunch for the choir on the Sunday of their Christmas cantata;
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is involved in the Share Food Program that picks up food once/month and distributes it to eligible NEPC members;
- and the Caregivers & Shut Ins Ministry where cards are sent to remember the shut ins as well as their caregivers.
Stephen Ministry
Matthew 22:37-40 “Jesus said 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.
This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Galatians 6:2 says “Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.'”
This is the very heart of Stephen Ministry.
Who are Stephen Ministers?
They are committed Christians who
- Receive extensive training in caregiving skills
- Are committed to confidentiality
- Pray for you
- Visit regularly
- Loves and accepts you
- Listens to your concerns
- Encourages and supports you
Stephen Ministers are not
- Counselors
- Therapists
- Problem solvers
- Casual visitors
Who May Need a Stephen Minister?
People who are dealing with
- Illness
- Family frustrations and challenges
- Loneliness
- Death
- Divorce
- A disability
- Job loss
- Financial setbacks
- Aging and elderly
- Faith issues
- Major changes in their lives
Do you know someone who might benefit by having a Stephen Minister walk beside them?
Do you think you could benefit by having a Stephen Minister walk beside you?
Do you feel called to be a Stephen Minister?
Contact Northeast Presbyterian Church office at 526-6083
Jerry Smith at 525-2990 or Linda Loeser at 526-7033
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