Members Actively Participating in Service

God calls each and every member to join in the ministry of the church. What is your place - your Destination for Service? Prayerfully consider where you can be involved.

Below you will find many descriptions of Destinations from which to choose. ALL are important, ALL make the Church of the Palms an effective ministry for our Lord.

Giving your time and talents are equally important in Christian stewardship as giving financial resources. Using this MAP Directory of Opportunities is easy. Just follow these steps and join in:

1. Begin with the Prayer of Commitment or one of your own.
2. Look at the list of Destinations
3. As you read through the descriptions, mark those which attract your interest.
4. Complete the information form - send to the church office in care of Mary Hailey, MAPS Coordinator, or call 921-7920.
5. Your response will be processed and you will receive a call to welcome you into service!

May God bless you as you answer his call to do your part in the ministry of our church.

DESTINATIONS

Traditional Worship Services

Greeters: Welcome worshippers at several places on campus. Serve one month at a time.

Ushers: Assist worshippers to pews on Sundays and special services during the year. Usher teams serve on a monthly basis.

Reception Room: Available to offer information about the church and membership after Sunday services.

TV Ministry: Assist in the broadcast of the 9:15 a.m. service to the Sarasota community on Comcast Channel 21.

Communion Preparation: Prepare the elements for communion, usually the day before.

Flower Committee: Prepare flowers after the 11:00 a.m. service for distribution to hospitalized and homebound.

Pew Rack Committee: Restock materials in pew racks. Work in teams, usually on Thursday afternoon.

Acolytes/Crucifers: Light the candles during the Prelude, process with the cross, extinguish the candles at the benediction. Ages 8-high school.

Contemporary Worship Services

Setup: (before 9:00 a.m. service) Complete room arrangement. Set up involves putting the pails and offering envelopes on the tables. Tables and chairs are set up by the custodians.

Break Down: (after the 10:30 a.m. service) Help put things away and clean up.

Welcome Center: Greet people under the yellow umbrella and share information about our church.

Greeters: Volunteers greet others as they enter the Campus Center for worship.

Praise Musicians: Provide instrumental music for the services.

Praise Singers: Lead the singing for the services.

Readers: Read the morning scripture and offer the prayer.

Computer Technician: Advancing the song lyrics and other images during the service. Requires a one week a month commitment. Training provided.

Sound Board Operator: Sound tech helps with set up and operation of audio system for rehearsal and service. Requires a one week a month commitment. Training provided.

Music and Arts

Provides many opportunities to participate in the church’s music program.

• Chancel Choir
• Praise and Glory Singers
• Cantori Choir
• Creative Signers
• The Palms Players
• Orchestra
• Organ
• Piano
• Handbells
• Children’s Choirs

Children and Youth

Supervises and staffs teaching programs for elementary, middle and high school youth. Provides for summer camp programs and Vacation Church School.

Sub-Committees

Sunday School Activities (all ages)
Wednesday Activities
Early Childhood Center
Parent’s Morning/Evening Out (Pre-K)
Summer Camp Programs

Adult Opportunites

Adult Education Classes: A variety of classes and Bible studies are available for adults on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. Most are available for you to attend any time you are able; a few recommend advance registration. All provide great opportunies for learning and fellowship! Special education events are featured during Advent, Lent, and other times during the year. Be sure to check the Palm Fronds and weekly bulletins for current information about all the adult education offerings, as programs and topics are regularly updated.

Book Club (Faith-based): This book club will meet monthly to read and discuss a wide variety of faith-based books.

Caring Ministry: Visit our members and lift the spirits of those who have difficulty leaving their homes and who would welcome a friendly face and a pleasant conversation with a representative of our church.

Food Ministry: Help with food ministry to prepare tables and food for dinner on Wednesday evening and other times as needed.

Food Pantry: This group helps in two ways:
1. Teams fill the grocery bags each weekday
2. Volunteers distribute the packed bags from the office to those in need of food who have been referred to our church for help.

Good Samaritan Mission: This local mission is largely a Hispanic migrant mission. Volunteers contribute school supplies, food, clothing and financial support.

Habitat House and Operation ReHabitat: Help construct and/or reburbish housing with local families in need.

Kalish House: Visit the Kalish Hous which is a residential group home for boys (ages 11-18) who are in foster care.

Knitting/Quilting/Sewing Groups: Make baby blankets, sweaters, hats, socks and quilts for First Step and Healthy Start. Lap robes for the Veterans Hospital and local nursing homes. Hats the International Sailors who sail out of Anchor House at Port Manatee. Prayer shawls for visitation pastors to distribute. Teddy Bears for the Sheriff’s Office and Fire Department to distribute. These groups meet the fourth Friday of each month in the Chapel Reception Room from 10:00 a.m. - noon.

Memorial Services and Funerals: Compassionate volunteers to usher, greet, and assist guests in signing the registry book during these services.

Men’s Bible Study and Breakfast: Tuesday morning at 7:00 a.m. at Heritage House. Join us for prayer, Bible study, food and fellowship.

Men’s Wednesday Bible Study Group: This study group meets at 7:00 a.m. in the Chapel on Wednesdays throughout the year.

Mission Projects: Our church reaches out in missions both locally and around the world. We have several projects we undertake to provide help to meet many needs. See the Mission 2009 booklet for details.

Pathfinders: The Pathfinders program offers church members the opportunity to serve as a “buddy” for a new member. We offer a tour of the church campus, information about opportunities to serve our church, and a welcoming hand to new members at Church of the Palms.

Presbyterian Women: Circle meetings provide opportunities for Bible study and fellowship. In addition, women meet for monthly gatherings to nurture faith through prayer, bible study and supporting the mission of Church Worldwide. A luncheon and program are a part of the gatherings.

Resurrection House: Office and support volunteers are needed at Sarasota’s only daytime resource for our homeless population.

Stephen Ministry: Provide a helping relationship focusing on one-to-one needs of each person. Thirty-five hours of training is required. Classes are held once a year.

Sunday Morning Prayer Group: Come join others who meet to pray for our church, pastors, our congregaion etc. We meet at 8:00 a.m. each Sunday morning in the Administration Building.

Teaching Adult Education Classes: Skilled individuals may share with the pastor their thoughts and ideas for future classes.

Time Tithers: Individuals who have committed themselves to devote one tenth of their discretionary time to the Lord’s work.

Tutoring: Tuesday afternoon and evening and Thursday afternoon in the Campus Center. During the school year, tutors work with students in programs designed to help students from elementary to the college level to improve their educational skills in a one-on-one setting.

Wednesday Dinner and Activities: Join us for dinner between 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. in the Campus Center followed by a variety of adult education programs open to all. Dinner reservations are necessary.

Women’s Prayer Group: Please feel free to join us every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. in the Chapel.

Youth Group Adult Volunteers: If you have an interest in helping our middle school and high school youth grow in Christ, there are many different opportunities to use your skills and abilities to help our youth. Contact our youth director, Dereck Thompson, for more information.

Adult Fellowship

Birdies and Bogies: Meet once a month during summer months for golf/ lunch.

Bridge Group: Meet October through May in the Chapel Reception Room on the first and third Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m..

Women’s Excercise: A women’s light aerobics exercise program that meets 8:30 a.m. Monday – Wednesday – Friday in the Education Building.

Palms Fellowship: Men and women are ages 60, 70 or therabouts. Couples or singles meet the second Saturday (October - June) in various locations. Dinners and programs involve active participation.

Palms Network: This group consists of business people anywhere in the Sarasota area. It is open to all church members as well as friends and guests. Meeting times and dates are to be determined.

Palm Singles: Palm Singles is an active and fun group. You’ll find great activities every week throughout the month; dinners, game nights, bike rides, Domino nights, movie groups, beach walks, eat-outs and more! We encourage you to join these activities and get better acquainted. Reservations required.

XYZ’S: For those senior adults who have energy to spare – Xtra Years of Zest! This group meets Friday afternoons for programs, refreshments, and fellowship.

Church Officers

The Church Session consists of thirty elders. They are elected by the congregation for a three year term – ten elected each year. They are the ruling body of the Church. They take care of the guidance and direction of the ministry of the church.

SESSION COMMITTEES
Administration and Finance: Oversees the budget and finances of the church.

Adult Education: Offers various opportunities by pastors and lay leaders for study and spiritual growth.

Children: Plans programs and opportunities for the children’s ministry of the church.

Congregational Life: M.A.P.S. Program, Pathfinders

Contemporary Worship: Oversees all aspects of the Contemporary Worship Services.

Early Childhood Center: Provides administrative guidance for the weekday Early Childhood program.

Mission: Manages the broad scope of mission activities of the church

Outreach: Welcomes and helps to inform people who are interested in joining the church.

Personnel: Handles staff-related personnel matters.

Stewardship: Seeks to provide ways to serve our church through time, talent, and finances.

Worship and Music Committee: Oversees all aspects of the Sanctuary Worship Services.

Youth Committee: Provides programs and opportunities for the youth of the church.

CURRENT ELDERS – SESSION MEMBERS

Class of 2009 Dick Applas Ray Bakich Carl Benninghoff Fred Chamberlain Linda Getzen Sally Irwin Buddy Savary Erick Shumway Lynn White Bob Windom

Class of 2010 Jim Ashburn Marilyn Counen Gerald Hailey Rick James Reynold Kamphuis Willie Mitchell John Montelione Brooks Van Derzee Joanne Willaredt Ross Barbara Zeller

Class of 2011 Bob Baarson Jean Blazey Suzanne Butsch Judy Falkenthal Tonya Gowan Temp Hamilton Ken Johns Cherie Leetzow Bonney Miller Bill Watrous

DEACON’S PROJECTS

Blood Bank - Prayer Cards - 90’s Party
Friendly Visitors - Food Pantry - College Outreach - Baby Baskets Flowers Transportation - Flu Immunization - Human Outreach

CURRENT DEACONS – BOARD OF DEACONS

Class of 2009 Charlee Bell Monty Jackson Ruth Jones Fee Mercer Bob Sauer Nicole Swain Ethel Webb

Class of 2010 Bruce Downing Keith Hirst Edith Lane Kay Moneysmith Paul Ross Carolyn Windom

Class of 2011 Marlene Downs Philips Goodell Martin Guice David MacMillan Charles Volkert Darlene Yost

Administrative/Office Volunteers

Church Library Volunteer: Volunteers are needed to arrange books and supervise circulation.

Receptionist: Work at the front desk answering phones and directing visitors. Office will try to accommodate your schedule.

Office Volunteers: Various office duties depending upon current needs - bulk mailings, etc.

Publications Volunteers:

Assemble Bulletins: Volunteers are needed to work between the hours of 1:00 and 4:00 p.m. every Thursday to assemble bulletins using a collator/booklet maker. Training is provided.

Printing/Assembling Palm Fronds: Volunteers are needed to print and assemble the Palm Fronds newsletter each month. Times will vary. Training is provided.

Display Areas: Volunteers are needed to maintain display areas - bulletin boards, kiosk and publications display holders. Displays are updated every Friday.

To inquire further regarding any of these programs, please call the church office – 924-1323. Our weekly bulletin provides additional information on all current activities with phone numbers or e-mail connections.