Mercy Ministry "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:35-36 Our deacons (collectively known as “the diaconate”) offer a ministry of mercy that reaches out to people in our congregation who are in need or hurting. They may be individuals or families who find themselves in unusually challenging circumstances. Since the time of the first century, Christians have recognized that we’re all broken people living in a fallen, difficult world. Acts 6 offers the origin and meaning of deacons in the church. As the early church knew, we all need God’s mercy. Sometimes that need takes on a tangible, material form, and help means money from the deacon’s fund to assist people through a temporary, tough financial crisis. Sometimes it means organizing meals for the sick or grieving. Sometimes it’s a helping hand extended to a single mom or an elderly person. Sometimes it’s linking up a person who can supply help to someone who needs help. And sometimes it’s just being there for someone to pray with or talk to through a challenging time. Through our deacons, we aim to extend Christ’s mercy and compassion, and to demonstrate his love and mercy in tangible ways. Our goal is to help people find their way out of a difficulty and restore them to the path to which God has called them and to the work that he is doing in their lives. It is the job of the deacons to work with people to find constructive solutions. Our diaconate also has practical, day-to-day duties such as collecting the offering and maintaining the church facility. The word deacon designates a specific office in the church that requires ordination, and it translates the Greek word diakonoV (rendered in English by “deacon” in Phil. 1:1 and 1 Tim. 3:6). But the word “deacon” in its most basic sense means “servant” (see Mt. 22:11; John 2:5, 9). The word, therefore, also describes Christians relationships with the Lord and with one another (Mt. 20:25-28, Mk. 10:42-45; John 12:26). We serve each other because he served us. That designation of servant links these officers with their great example and model, Jesus Christ the Servant of the Lord. He points to his own life of service as the model for Christians when he says in Mark 10:43-45: “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” One way that Jesus served was by feeding the multitudes and caring for the needy. He showed particular compassion for widows and welcomed little ones to himself and blessed them. Christ came to offer help for the helpless – and in various ways we are all helpless.   Angel Tree Angel Tree is a unique ministry that shares Christ's love by helping to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of families of prisoners. Prisoners sign up through chaplains to have gifts delivered to their children. This year we have 24 children for whom we will be purchasing gifts. Please look for the "Angel Tree" at the Women's Ministry table beginning today. There you may select a child for whom you will buy a gift. The cost of the gift should not exceed $15 to $20 and a wish list will be provided by most. Please wrap the gift and return it to the church no later than Sunday, December 16. Also, volunteers are needed to deliver the gifts! If you can help, contact Sue Stanton, or sign up at the Angel Tree display. Thanksgiving Baskets Each fall we begin collecting non-perishable food items for our annual thanksgiving basket ministry. Baskets are delivered to families in need throughout South Orange County the week before Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving we would like to put together baskets filled with food items and other practical dry goods for deserving families. Please prayerfully consider making a basket so we can continue this meaningful ministry. Items needed are: * stuffing mix * canned yams * gravy mix * pie filling * marshmallows * canned cranberries * Thanksgiving theme napkins, etc. Prison Ministry ACPC is one of a group of churches that sends men into Terminal Island Federal Penitentiary, Long Beach each Saturday to teach a bible study. The sponsoring organization is Crossroad Bible Institute. If you are interested in joining the men to go up to Terminal Island, please contact Duncan Merritt.   Mercy Ministry "For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:35-36 Our deacons (collectively known as “the diaconate”) offer a ministry of mercy that reaches out to people in our congregation who are in need or hurting. They may be individuals or families who find themselves in unusually challenging circumstances. Since the time of the first century, Christians have recognized that we’re all broken people living in a fallen, difficult world. Acts 6 offers the origin and meaning of deacons in the church. As the early church knew, we all need God’s mercy. Sometimes that need takes on a tangible, material form, and help means money from the deacon’s fund to assist people through a temporary, tough financial crisis. Sometimes it means organizing meals for the sick or grieving. Sometimes it’s a helping hand extended to a single mom or an elderly person. Sometimes it’s linking up a person who can supply help to someone who needs help. And sometimes it’s just being there for someone to pray with or talk to through a challenging time. Through our deacons, we aim to extend Christ’s mercy and compassion, and to demonstrate his love and mercy in tangible ways. Our goal is to help people find their way out of a difficulty and restore them to the path to which God has called them and to the work that he is doing in their lives. It is the job of the deacons to work with people to find constructive solutions. Our diaconate also has practical, day-to-day duties such as collecting the offering and maintaining the church facility. The word deacon designates a specific office in the church that requires ordination, and it translates the Greek word diakonoV (rendered in English by “deacon” in Phil. 1:1 and 1 Tim. 3:6). But the word “deacon” in its most basic sense means “servant” (see Mt. 22:11; John 2:5, 9). The word, therefore, also describes Christians relationships with the Lord and with one another (Mt. 20:25-28, Mk. 10:42-45; John 12:26). We serve each other because he served us. That designation of servant links these officers with their great example and model, Jesus Christ the Servant of the Lord. He points to his own life of service as the model for Christians when he says in Mark 10:43-45: “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” One way that Jesus served was by feeding the multitudes and caring for the needy. He showed particular compassion for widows and welcomed little ones to himself and blessed them. Christ came to offer help for the helpless – and in various ways we are all helpless.   Angel Tree Angel Tree is a unique ministry that shares Christ's love by helping to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of families of prisoners. Prisoners sign up through chaplains to have gifts delivered to their children. This year we have 24 children for whom we will be purchasing gifts. Please look for the "Angel Tree" at the Women's Ministry table beginning today. There you may select a child for whom you will buy a gift. The cost of the gift should not exceed $15 to $20 and a wish list will be provided by most. Please wrap the gift and return it to the church no later than Sunday, December 16. Also, volunteers are needed to deliver the gifts! If you can help, contact Sue Stanton, or sign up at the Angel Tree display. Thanksgiving Baskets Each fall we begin collecting non-perishable food items for our annual thanksgiving basket ministry. Baskets are delivered to families in need throughout South Orange County the week before Thanksgiving. This Thanksgiving we would like to put together baskets filled with food items and other practical dry goods for deserving families. Please prayerfully consider making a basket so we can continue this meaningful ministry. Items needed are: * stuffing mix * canned yams * gravy mix * pie filling * marshmallows * canned cranberries * Thanksgiving theme napkins, etc. Prison Ministry ACPC is one of a group of churches that sends men into Terminal Island Federal Penitentiary, Long Beach each Saturday to teach a bible study. The sponsoring organization is Crossroad Bible Institute. If you are interested in joining the men to go up to Terminal Island, please contact Duncan Merritt.