Annual Report 2024-2025 - Flipbook - Page 27
BOARD OF CONGREGATIONAL CARE
Chair: Mary O’Brien
Vice Chair: Jodi Gruening
Secretary: Mary Ann Beard
Staff Liaison: LeAnn Stubbs (ending in 10/24) and Bill Parrott
Mission from Bylaws:
To assist Plymouth members and friends to grow in our capacity
to love God and one another. Looking to follow the example
of Jesus, the Board of Congregational Care will focus on
opportunities for Plymouth to eat, pray, play, journey, laugh , cry
and live meaningful lives together.
Major Events/Achievements in 2024-2025:
As the inaugural year of the Board of Congregational Care began
we were given the opportunity to continue to build upon the
caring of our members and friends in many ways. More than
twenty different committees, teams and groups have now been
identified as Affiliate Groups of BoCC. The BoCC reached
out to all groups to identify the mission each wants to achieve
and help them meet their goals. We learned of each groups
meeting cadence and let the groups know of how we may assist
throughout the year. Eleven of these groups participated in the
church wide Ministry Fair!
The BoCC organized several fellowship events. Nine to Dine
resumed with 10 dining groups! The ever popular Not Your
Mummy’s Halloween Dinner however was scratched due to
change in City of Des Moines Trick or Treat plans but the
organizers put forth much effort in planning to create solid event
in the future. The All Saints Potluck was held after Saturday
Night Worship in early November with an expanded effort to
remember our loved ones with note cards recalling memories of
our saints.
The Stephen Ministry continue to provide one to one care.
In addition to this individual support they lead the Cancer
and Grief Support Groups. They organized the Longest Night
service and new this year provided shawls from the Shawl
Ministry. They support all members after the death of loved one
by providing grief literature through out the year. This mighty
group is active during the Lenten season with the Labyrinth and
placing ashes on Ash Wednesday. Training was provided this
January to a new class of Stephen Ministers.
The skilled Quilting and Prayer Shawl Ministries have lovingly
created 100s of items which have all been blessed and sent out to
the wider community. We worked with each team to make sure
their mission is known within our congregation through blessing
and providing items during worship services.
The Flower Delivery Team (FDT) was expanded to create a larger
group of volunteers. Fifteen members are actively delivering
flowers to our members every Sunday. The wider church
membership was invited along side the FDT to deliver Christmas
and Easter holiday flowers to those who are unable to attend.
Deliveries were made to almost 50 members at each holiday.
The Funeral Reception Team (FRT) continued to provide
compassionate care to our families during funeral and reception
services. We continue to strive to have cohesive information be
shared with all about what the FRT provides to our families.
The following Affiliate Groups continue to meet numerous
times each month: 80 and Energetic, Faithful Readers, Wisdom
Walks, Line Dancing, Pickle Ball, Adult Basketball, and Men’s
Lunch Group.
The annual Pet Blessing occurred with close to 40 family
pets receiving a blessing with some not as social furry friends
remaining in their cars in a new Drive-Thru approach to receive
their blessing. All our welcome even for our beloved pets!
Board Members:
A new group, Radical Hospitality and Health (RHAH), was
created by a few creative members of our congregation and have
provided many interesting and dynamic learning opportunities
with monthly lunch and learns as well as resuming yoga classes.
The BoCC is looking forward to another year ahead with ideas
looking to recognize our 50 year members in collaboration with
the Board of Membership. We are also looking to find ways to
create a visiting ministry to support our pastors work as well as
how we can care for new parents.
2024-2025
2025-2026
2025-2027
Jodi Gruening
Pam Kenyon
Mary Ann Beard
Mary O’Brien
Chris Lewis
Jon Merkle
Tom Preisser
Georgia Sheriff
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