The Incarnation Parish Service Organization has been formed as the contemporary churches approach to providing services, and is the umbrella for all our service ministries. Men and women make up committees to service Incarnation Church's missions of charity, mercy, and worship. Some of the committees are for fund raisers that will sustain the parish services through collections, donations and events.
Enclosed are all the Service Ministries to choose from. As you check off some things, I encourage you to try some of the liturgical ministries as well - Sunday music, Eucharistic ministry, communion to shut ins, daily mass leader, nursery service and helping to lead the liturgy of the word for children. What you can do, you can do, what you can't, you can't. But our parish thrives because the people minister on Sundays, and also choose places to devote some service time to charity and mercy. It is the community celebration of the Eucharist that enriches all our actions as we live out the Gospel messages of faith, hope, charity and love; it is natural for the celebration and our actions to go hand in hand.
"Project Family Life" is a pilot project for families with children infants: to age 12. Many families are coming to Incarnation Church from long distances - well beyond the neighborhood. Parents are employed, school and kid's schedules are intense, there are extended family obligations, and some hours must be reserved for a husband and wife or single parent to maintain their own health and well being. Of course all of this effects the family's connection to church - the very place that will best rejuvenate a family' s spiritual life. The fact is that they are looking for "just a bit of time at their church for families." There are 115 families with children infants to age 12 - you have a combined total of 218 children and are 17% of our households; an impressive "project." With very little effort we can begin with families who will volunteer to stand with the presider at the exit doorways on hospitality Sundays twice a month, say good morning, and invite people to stop downstairs for juice, roll and coffee.
'Parish Nurses and Health Cabinet' is for parishioners who will volunteer their experiences to help parish nurses who volunteer to help teach people how to stay well. Wellness of the community effects the faith community - in order to thrive, each life needs a healthy mind, body and spirit. Spiritual life is our church's main business - we need to do all we can to help it grow. Doctors, Social Workers, Occupational and Physical Therapists, Mental Health workers, others in health related fields - and of course nurses - please sign up to gather the first full week in September - after Labor Day week. At that time, based on what we know so far, we will lay the groundwork and announce the program is open for business.
Formation of the PSO was based on the good works of the retiring Incarnation Council of Catholic Women. Their devotion to service has carried thousands of parishioners in their quest to give an immediate response to the needs of the parish, to the community, and missions throughout our country and world. There are many coincidences in the timing of this new organization. As all-women boards diminish from the scene, men and women are asking where they can both be effective to service the church. Most women today are working outside the home; there just isn't the time nor the energy available to do service work as a full time commitment. And men need to be full participants in service - not just called on to work by an organization they cannot effect. The concept of service needed to change, and this is the way we are addressing that need.
Most important is what is at the root of this new organization - a church where parish people are in sync with charity, mercy and service, and work hard to be self-sustaining, Thank you to the thousands of parishioners who built our beautiful building brick by brick; who established charity, mercy and service as the way of life for Incarnation. They have made it possible for the parish men and women to inherit an enthusiasm for service.