HANDS IN MINSTRY God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We are Christ's representatives.                                                         --II Corinthians 5:20 Hands in Ministry, recognizing that all Christians have been called into a ministry of caring and presence, provides a framework and communication network for the pairing of the laity with those who have needs that can be addressed by the church. HIM is organized around three methods of care-giving: prayer, correspondence and visitation.  Teams are comprised of individuals who have expressed an interest in contacting new residents, worship visitors, and church members. Contacts consist of calls, cards, letters, prayer, and visits to home, hospital or care facilities. The church's pastors provide training to lay ministers at various times throughout the year. Please call the church office at 717-545-0021 if you are aware of a need or concern to be addressed, or to find out how to get involved and share your gifts of ministry. Some of the activities which come under the HIM umbrella are: Adopt-a-Grad/Military Over 20 college students / military members benefit from our volunteers who take the time to contact them by e-mail, with cards, notes of encouragement, and sometimes a special surprise Altar Flower Team 21 volunteers delievered flowers to 120 Calvary members who had been hospitalized and returned home. Caring Cupboard Team 38 volunteers prepared and delivered over 100 meals to persons or families who had been hospitalized, had outpatient surgery, had a death in the family, or were blessed with the birth of a new child. Card Ministry Team 5 volunteers sent 141 cards to hospitalized members, 64 cards to individuals who had completed prayer request cards, 41 sympathy cards, and 50 care notes on the first anniversary of the loss of a loved one. Communion Stewards 7 trained individuals have shared communion four times per year with our homebound and nursing home members Homebound / Nursing Home Visitors Individuals are being recruited to visit this individuals throughout the coming years Hospital Team 25 volunteers made 9 hospital visits and 91 post-hospitalization visits during 2007. Prayer Team 11 individuals serve on the telephone prayer chain, 19 families form the e-mail prayer chain to constantly pray for our church members as well as friends of Calvary on our prayer list. Transportation Team 17 volunteers responded to requests for transportation to doctor's appointments, treatments or therapy and outpatient care. Visitation Team 14 volunteers provided visits to Calvary's 14 homebound and nursing home residents during 2007. CAN YOU PUT YOUR HANDS IN MINISTRY? During 2007, 174 volunteers freely gave of their time to provide 633 acts of ministry.  We are always looking for more volunteers for these and other forms of ministry.  Please contact Linda Hoffman, Director of Lay Ministries, to share your gifts at 717-545-0021 or [email protected].