The Diaconate
(Also known as the Deacons)

In Colonial times, the Deacons would be on the alert during the all-day church services to be sure no one in the congregation fell asleep during the minister’s six hour sermon! Nowadays, the Deacon’s duties are as varied as the 12 to 16 individuals who serve as Deacons at the United Church.

Our church by-laws sum up in a general way what our Deacons do:

“The Deacons shall assist and cooperate with the pastor(s) in serving the spiritual needs of the church and community, including general concern for the devotional services of the church.” Membership on the Diaconate is open to members of the United Church, including youth.

The Deacons are indeed a functional and energetic group. They are most visible at our weekly worship services at UCW. These folks make sure that everything is in order for both the 8:15 and the 10 AM services. They open up the church, turn on the lights, put out the parking signs, place the flowers on the altar and coordinate the duties of the ushers, greeters, and acolytes. They also assist the pastor at baptisms and organize the other Deacons in the serving of Communion. The goal is to help the service flow as smoothly as possible and be a welcoming and helpful presence in church.

The Deacons are most active behind the scenes. One of their most important and meaningful responsibilities is to coordinate visiting the sick, elderly, or anyone in our church community who needs to be visited. As part of our “In-Reach” program we work with volunteers from the church who take on this vital and rewarding activity. We also provide transportation for churchgoers who are unable to get to church on their own.

The Deacons also work closely with the pastor to plan the regular worship services and the special times in the church calendar such as Christmas, Easter and Confirmation Sunday. Matters of church policy are also decided by the Deacons by vote at their meetings.

While the Deacons have many roles and responsibilities, there is a real sense of dedication and teamwork that gives the group the flavor and meaning of true discipleship. This makes the work of the committee extremely rewarding.