Deacon’s Handbook The United Church of Christ

Of Northeast Harbor & Seal Harbor

Revised 9/5/2010

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Information included in this handbook: Welcome Deacon Mission Statement Our Church Mission Statement Open and Affirming Statement History of our church Deacon’s Responsibilities Visiting Parishioners at Home History of the United Church of Christ Seasons of the Church Year Liturgical Colors Paraments Symbols used in the Church Contact Information

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Welcome! You have been called to be a deacon in our church, serving in the spirit of Christ. We are very grateful for your willingness to serve, and for the particular gifts you bring to this ministry. The word deacon comes from the Greek word “diakonos” which means “one who serves” or “minister.” A deacon is a lay minister of the church, with particular responsibilities in the areas of worship, sacraments, hospitality, visitation, and outreach to new worshipers. The deacons, along with the clergy, are the spiritual leaders of the church. You are often the first face, the first voice that someone new to our church meets; so your thoughtfulness, warmth, and hospitality is likely to shape the impression that someone has of our church. It is important for you as a deacon to nurture and care for your own spiritual life, so that you can bring a sense of God’s presence to others. Deacons assist with preparing the sanctuary for worship, and assist in the conduct of worship and with the sacraments of Holy Communion and Baptism. Deacons may be asked to assist with a funeral or wedding. Deacons keep the clergy informed of those in the congregation and in the community in need of prayer and pastoral care. The deacons will usually meet once each month (except in the summer), and the clergy will be present for most of these meetings. Some Board of Deacons create regular prayer time and come together to pray for one another and for others in the church. Please feel free to speak up about any questions or concerns you may have about your work. God bless you in your work together; and may you find it a joyful and deeply satisfying ministry!

Ministerial Staff UCC of Northeast Harbor & Seal Harbor

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Deacon’s Mission Statement Deacon’s as the Spiritual Leaders of the Church

The Board of Deacons seeks to support the worship and spiritual life of the congregation, to extend hospitality to visitors and members, and to reach out to those who are ill,

Our Church Mission Statement Our mission is to be God’s beloved community, welcoming all, tending to the inward journey of nurturing faith and spirit; tending to the outward journey of practicing love and justice in our world. Open and Affirming Statement We, The United Church of Christ of Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor, welcome all who come in search of God’s presence in their lives. We declare ourselves to be an Open and Affirming Congregation. We welcome and encourage the active involvement of people of every race, color, nationality, economic status, sexual orientation, family structure, marital status, age and physical or mental ability. We support all relationships based in love, mutuality and respect. We believe that all persons are loved equally by God, and recognize that diversity is a source of enrichment for our life together. We extend - without reservation - an invitation to join in the life of the Church, including membership, leadership and employment. Worship and Sunday School Sunday 8:30 AM morning prayer service; 10:00 AM full morning worship service February through July 8:30 AM - Union Church 10:00 AM - Abby Chapel

August through January 8:30 AM - Abby Chapel 10:00 AM - Union Church

Sunday School: 10:00 AM Service mid-September to mid-May Version of Lord’s Prayer We say the “sins”/ “Those who have sinned against us” version. Offering The Offering is for the work, mission and outreach of the church. Our church provides ministry to our local community and supports mission projects in 80 counties around the world, responding to human suffering and need. History of our Church The Union Congregational Church of Seal Harbor was established in 1900. Since 1951 worship has been held in the Abby Chapel on Main Street. The Union Church Association in Northeast Harbor was formed in 1886 and the present day “stone church” was built in 1889. These two churches became part of the Mount Desert larger Parish in 1925, a system which ended in 1989. Both Churches became members of the United Church of Christ in 1978 and 1980 respectively.

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In 2005 the two congregations voted to merge into the present church, The United Church of Christ of Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor. Our church has always had a commitment to include those from many different denominations within the Christian tradition.

Deacon Responsibilities There are four basic responsibilities within the church that are traditionally viewed as responsibilities of deacons. They are as follows: 1) Leading the congregation to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the nature and mission of the church; 2) Arranging church worship services and sacraments; 3) Providing a lay ministry to the people of the church; and 4) Recruiting and supporting new members.

Leading the Congregation •

Make sure that all members of the congregation are represented on the major committees and/or church council.

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Look for an opportunity or occasion each year to promote and develop a time of celebration, renewal, and outreach for the congregation.

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Once a year discuss with the minister ways of making communion more meaningful.

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Propose classes, prayer groups, discussion groups, or guest speakers that will help church members grow in their spiritual lives.

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Keep the congregation informed of the activities and decisions of the deacons through the church newsletter, church bulletin, and church service announcements.

Arranging Church Worship Services and Sacraments •

Change parament cloths as designated by the litigurical calendar. Periodically arrange for their cleaning.

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Work with the minister to ensure that flowers or other appropriate decorations are present on or around the altar for Sunday church services.

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On communion Sundays, arrive at the sanctuary 35 minutes before the scheduled beginning of services to allow time to prepare for communion before worshipers 5

begin to arrive. On all other Sundays, deacons should arrive at least 25 minutes before the beginning of services. •

At the Union Church, sweep the pinecones off the walkway leading into the church if necessary.

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Light candles on the altar each Sunday morning before members of the congregation begin arriving for services. After the conclusion of services, blow out all candles. Check Candle length and, when necessary let the church administrator know when it is necessary to order additional candles.

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Turn all lights in the sanctuary on before members of the congregation begin arriving for services and then turn them off when everyone has left the sanctuary.

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Check to be sure the appropriate sound system is turned on. This is especially important when visiting ministers will be leading the service as they will not know how to operate the sound system. See Sound system operating instructions in this document.

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Place the appropriate hymn numbers in the holders in the front of the Abby Chapel and the Union Church before people arrive for the service.

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Make the necessary arrangements to record the scripture readings and the sermon to be provided to those members who are not able to attend the service, but want to hear the scripture readings and sermons.

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During the months when the sanctuary needs to be warmed for services (fall, spring and winter) the heat in the Union Church in Northeast Harbor needs to be turned up on Saturday. After the members have left the sanctuary after services, turn the heat off. When services are held in Abby Chapel during these months the thermostat should be turned up to 65 at least 30 minutes before the service and then turned back down to 55 after the services are completed.

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Greet all members of the congregation and welcome visitors as they enter the sanctuary. Introduce yourself to all visitors and newcomers and ask them to sign the guest book that is located by the entrance. Provide everyone with a bulletin.

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Provide parents with young children with a bag of toys for the children. There should be four bags at the 10:00am service and two bags for the 8:30am prayer service. (Two deacons shall be responsible for the upkeep of these bags.)

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At the Union Church, 15 minutes prior to the service ring the church steeple bell or ask someone in the congregation (adult/child to ring the bell).

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Remain at the entrance to the sanctuary until 15 minutes into the service in order to greet and welcome any late arrivals.

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Collect the offering at the appropriate time during the service and then, after the services are complete, place the offering in an envelope marked for the appropriate service, either Abby Chapel or Union Church, and place the envelopes with the minister’s bag.

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Assist the minister with communion and baptisms. Discuss how the communion will be handled with the minister and assist as appropriate for the particular type of communion service. Coordinate with the minister and the other deacon, if two are serving communion at two services, on who will bring grape juice and a bread to be used in the communion service. In baptisms, discuss how you will assist with the minister before the service and the assist accordingly during the service.

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At the end of each service, pick up any bulletins from the pews, return hymnals to the racks or bookcases, and return any toy bags to the entrance to the sanctuary. Some bulletins should be left on the table at the back of the sanctuary for people who might stop by later in the week.

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Deacons are also responsible for conducting the services on Laity Sunday once each year, usually in September. Volunteers should be recruited to lead the various aspects of the service.

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The deacons meet on a regular basis throughout the year to plan on fulfilling all of their responsibilities as outlined above and other ways in which they can be of service to the church and its members and visitors.

Providing a Lay Ministry •

Develop plans for visiting elderly, sick, and shut-in members who are not able to attend church services. Specific plans should be made for visits around important times of the year including Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

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Be alert to families that may be in financial, spiritual, or family crisis, and work with the minister in providing assistance and support. Always inform the minister of a church or community member who would appreciate pastoral visits.

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Develop a plan for working with inactive members.

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Develop a program that will educate members of the congregation to each member’s responsibility for inviting newcomers and inactive members to church services and to ensure that visitors, newcomers to the community and inactive members feel very welcome and comfortable when they attend church services.

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Encourage members of the congregation to volunteer their services. Examples include assisting with coffee hours, participating in laity Sundays, teaching Sunday school, and helping with special church sponsored activities.

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Recruiting and Educating New Church Members •

Welcome visitors and take the initiative in getting them integrated into the life of the congregation by inviting them to church sponsored activities and, asking them to assist with some activities.

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Work with the minister to determine if (s)he would like the deacons to have a role in confirmation and membership classes.

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Develop a plan with the minister for calling on people who are new to the community. The purpose of the visit is to welcome them to the community, to tell them about our church and the role it plays in the community, and to invite them to attend a church service.

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Keep in touch with how our church greets visitors and newcomers to the community and how we make them feel welcome and comfortable within our church community and involve them in the life of our church.

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The church will provide the deacons with money to purchase communion elements and other items they may need to the carry out of their duties. Check with the minister or church secretary on procedures and before making large purchases.

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Sound System - Union Church Location of the microphones • The microphones are on a shelf to the left of the pulpit. There are two microphones • Hand held cordless microphone. This microphone can also be attached to the holder at the pulpit. It has a battery which must be placed inside the microphone. Match the battery + and – markings with those on the battery holder. It has an on/off switch. •

Lavaliere microphone that can be attached to clothing with the battery pack placed in a pocket or held. This microphone needs to have its battery placed in the case taking care to ensure that the + and – signs are lined up in the battery and in the case. This microphone needs to be turned on in two separate locations which are marked.

Turning the sound system on • •

Go into the closet to the left at the front of the church. A power strip is located on a table next to the amplifier. Turn the power switch to the on position.

After the service • Turn both microphones off and return them to the table next to the pulpit. Take the battery out of both microphones. • Go to the closet at the front of the church and turn the power strip to the off position.

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Visiting Parishioners at Home Deacons will visit members of the church or the community who may be ill, grieving, homebound, or troubled; or those who are new to the church or the community. You may want to call first to arrange for a convenient time for your visit. If the person you are visiting is not feeling well, a short visit may be better than a long visit. Take your cue from the one you’re visiting. If you feel comfortable praying with a person, and the one your are visiting would like that, feel free to do that. You do not have to pray with someone you visit. The chief purpose of the visit is to BE PRESENT with the one your are visiting, to let him/her know that you care about him/her, and to LISTEN to him/her. Your presence, representing the church, is a sign of God’s presence. Your visit bears witness to God’s care for the person you are visiting. Before you say anything, it is your PRESENCE that will speak a loud, clear message. When you have left, it is your presence more than anything you have said, that will be the gift you have given to the one you have visited. Be a listener. Your listening will probably be more important than anything you say. You are not visiting to instruct anyone, to fix anything, to change anything. Be honest. Affirm what you hear expressed. Don’t imagine that you have to have answers. It’s Okay to say, “I don’t know.” You do not need to bring anything with you to give to the person; you are giving them yourself for the time you are with them. Feel free to call the Minister, if you wish, to ask for guidance, suggestions, or possible readings or prayers to take with you before you make a visit. There are several handouts available in the church office on visiting parishioners at home.

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History of the United Church of Christ

States.

The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a community of faith that seeks to respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed. The UCC was founded in 1957 as the union of several different Christian traditions: from the beginning of our history, we were a church that affirmed the ideal that Christians did not always have to agree to live together in communion. Our motto -"that they may all be one" - is Jesus' prayer for the unity of the church. The UCC is one of the most diverse Christian denominations in the United

Intelligent dialogue and a strong independent streak sometimes cause the United Church of Christ (UCC) and its 1.2 million members to be called a “heady and exasperating mix.” The UCC tends to be a mostly progressive denomination that unabashedly engages heart and mind. And yet, the UCC somehow manages to balance congregational autonomy with a strong commitment to unity among its nearly 5,600 congregations - despite wide differences among many local congregations on a variety of issues. While preserving relevant portions of heritage and history dating back to the 16th century, the UCC and its forebears have proven themselves capable of moving forward, tying faith to social justice and shaping cutting edge theology and service in an ever-changing world. Affirming that Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church, the UCC claims as its own the faith of the historic church expressed in the ancient creeds and reclaimed in the basic insights of the Protestant reformers. Yet the UCC also affirms the responsibility of the church in each generation and community to make faith its own in reality of worship, in honesty of thought and expression, and in purity of heart before God. It looks to the Word of God in the Scriptures, and to the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to prosper its creative and redemptive work in the world. One of the UCC's distinguishing characteristics is its penchant to believe that ... God is still speaking, ... even when it puts us out there alone. History has shown that, most often, we're only alone for a while. Besides, we receive so many gifts from our ecumenical partners, being "early" seems to be one of ours. The UCC recognizes two sacraments: Baptism and the Lord's Supper or Holy Communion. The United Church of Christ supports projects working for peach, justice, development, and alleviating human suffering in the United States and in over 80 countries worldwide. The UCC logo The symbol of the United Church of Christ comprises a crown, cross and orb enclosed within a double oval bearing the name of the church and the prayer of Jesus, "That they may all be one" (John 17:21). It is based on an ancient Christian symbol called the "Cross of Victory" or the "Cross Triumphant." The crown symbolizes the sovereignty of Christ. The cross recalls the suffering of Christ—his arms outstretched on the wood of the cross - for the salvation of humanity. The orb, divided into three parts, reminds us of Jesus' command to be his "witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). The verse from Scripture reflects our historic commitment to the restoration of unity among the separated churches of Jesus Christ.

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Seasons of the Church Year Season Advent- (Latin for “coming”) is the first season of the Church year. Advent begins with the 4th Sunday before Christmas. It is a period of preparation for the coming of our Lord at Christmas and at the end of time. Advent lasts for 4 weeks ending at Christmas Christmastide- is the season of Christmas extending from Christmas Eve to Epiphany (January 6) Epiphany- (Greek for “to show forth”) is the season which begins on January 6-“twelfth day” – and commemorates the showing forth of the Infant Jesus to the Wise Men. This season continues until Ash Wednesday. Lent-is the period of 40 days (excluding Sundays) beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing until Easter. It is traditionally a season of fasting, penitence, and self-denial. Eastertide-is the season which begins on Easter Sunday with celebration of the resurrection of Christ and the victory over death He gives to his followers. This season continues until Pentecost Sunday. Pentecost- (Greek for “fiftieth”) is the season which begins on Pentecost or White Sunday, the 7th Sunday after Easter. It is observed in commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples (Acts2). This event has been considered the time of birth of the Church. It is also a Jewish festival occurring fifty days after the first day of Passover.

Good Friday- the day on which Jesus died on the cross.

Liturgical Color Purple- is the color used by kings when in mourning. IT symbolizes the majesty of Christ in His humility. Being a sober, earnest color, it invites meditation and has been adopted by the Church for the penitential season of Advent and Lent.

White-is the color of light. IT symbolizes divinity, purity, and victory. It is used during Christmas, the Epiphany Season, and Eastertide Purple- is the color used by kings when in mourning. IT symbolizes the majesty of Christ in His humility. Being a sober, earnest color, it invites meditation and has been adopted by the Church for the penitential season of Advent and Lent. White-is the color of light. IT symbolizes divinity, purity, and victory. It is used during Christmas, the Epiphany Season and Eastertide Green-is the common color of nature in the freshness of bloom. It is symbolic of Christian life and growth. Red-symbolizes blood, spirit, love, and zeal. It is used on Pentecost, the day on which the Holy Spirit descended and which has been recognized as the birthday of Christian Church. It is also appropriate for use on Reformation Sunday and Thanksgiving Sunday, and during ordinations, conventions, anniversaries, dedications and other special occasions to symbolize the zeal of the Church. Black-is the color of darkness and symbolizes death. Sometimes a black veil is draped over the alter cross as part of the Good Friday observance.

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Parament Cloth

The Parament cloth (“decoration”) contributes a great deal to the dignity and symbolism of worship services. Their rich liturgical colors and timeless symbolism have helped mark the season of the church year for congregations throughout the ages. A Parament set usually consists of a table runner, pulpit scarf, and bookmark. Some sets consist of the above mentioned pieces in each of the four liturgical colors: red, purple, white, and green. Other sets are reversible and consist of only six pieces. The colors are changed at the beginning of each new season in the church year. In some churches, the deacons or other church members create their own unique parament cloths for their church.

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Symbols commonly used in the Church Many Christian symbols used on paraments and crosses come from the Greek words for “Jesus” and “Christ”.

English Jesus

Greek I H S O Y S

English pronunciation ē-ā-sōōs

Iota Eta Sigma Omicron Upsilon Sigma

IHS The first three Greek letters are commonly used in “Jesus” monogram.

English Christ

Greek XPISTOS

English pronunciation Krĭs-Tōs

Chi Rho Iota Sigma Tau Omicron Sigma

The first two Greek letters are commonly used in “Christ” monogram. Sometimes the first two letters and the last letter are used.

XPS

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Current Deacons: Name

Phone Number

Term

Church Office Tricia Pope, Church Administrator 276-5521

United Church of Christ of Northeast Harbor and Seal Harbor Post Office Box 555 Northeast Harbor, Maine 04662 Office Hours: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Email: [email protected] Website & Church calendar: http://ucc-nehsh.org/ This document should be reviewed and updated periodically with current information.

Whoever you are, wherever you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here!

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