In a church with several hundred active members, communication is always an important issue. We print weekly bulletins and monthly newsletters. We have a website, and mail out the Moderator's "Monday Moments." But still sometimes information doesn't get out to everyone-or we at church don't hear about important things that are going on in the lives of our members. Keeping up good communication is always a challenge!

This fall, as part of its Membership Ministry, our Board of Deacons is organizing to meet that challenge. We are giving each member of the Board a "Caring List"-a number of church members and friends that they will be in touch with, throughout the months ahead. This way, EACH member of the church will have one deacon appointed to help maintain good communication.

Deacons will be in touch with members throughout the year. These will be casual contacts-an encouraging note or card, a friendly phone call, or a conversation during coffee hour. We don't want to be intrusive or put anyone on the spot-but these casual contacts will always be an open door for a discussion of a more serious nature, if and when you want to have one.

Good communication is a two-way street, of course. If there is important or timely information that the church needs to get out (special events, funerals, prayer concerns), each of our deacons will try to get that information to the members on his or her list. On the other hand, if there is anything going on in your life that we can help with, or be in prayer with you about, or if you would like the pastor to come visit you to discuss a particular concern--if you share that information with your appointed deacon, the deacon will see that the pastor knows about it.

I hope and pray that this new aspect of the Board's Membership Ministry will help us grow closer together as a church family, and will enable us to serve you better.