Our Knitters have been busy using their gifts to lovingly create beautiful prayer shawls for those in our church and community. The prayer shawls provide both physical and spiritual warmth as they literally cover one in prayer. Please see Ilona, or Pastors Joanna or Robb to pick one up during office hours at the church. The Knitters also knit baby blankets and caps for the preemie babies that are distributed through the hospital. Thank you to this talented group of knitters for their ministry!
Category Archives: Congregational Care
New Stephen Ministry Training Class to Begin in January
SPC has teamed up with Trinity UMC and St. Philip’s Episcopal Church to hold our next training class beginning January 20 and running through May 11.
Serving as a Stephen Minister is an opportunity to touch people’s lives in powerful ways through “God’s Love in Action.”
A Stephen Minister walks alongside a hurting person to provide one-to-one, emotional and spiritual care—listening, empathizing, encouraging, helping process feelings, and connecting the person with God’s love. If you are interested in becoming a Stephen Minister or need refresher training from having served in the past, pray about the opportunity to serve, seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance and consider how you might be called to be “God’s Love in Action.” Stephen Ministers’ caregiving involves skills that are well within the ability of laypeople to learn and use. We especially encourage our SPC men to consider this calling, a one–on–one male to male, woman to woman caregiving ministry, so we can have it available for all who could benefit from having a Stephen Minister.
For more information about applying for this class, talk with Pastor Robb Lapp or one of our Stephen Leaders: Sally Barton 262–352–2790; Phyllis Falkenstein 925–699–9725; Ginny Prunty 240–672–3186. You can also find more information at: https://www.stephenministries.org/stephenministry/default.cfm/default.cfm/1759 N
Transportation Ministry Reminder & Updates
Ever needed a ride to a doctor’s appointment? No family or friends available to drive you? This is a reminder that our Congregational Care Ministry Team offers a Transportation Ministry. We can assist church members in need of a ride to and from medical appointments. We can also provide transportation to our church services or other church activities when these start up again. And yes, if you really need a ride to the hairdresser, give us a call.
ALSO, we are updating our list of drivers. Some members on our previous list have relocated or are themselves experiencing health problems so we would love to add some new folks willing to drive upon occasion. If you would like to volunteer to be a driver, please call Marcia Fetter (910-253-3131) or email her at: mfetter@ec.rr.com. Your name will be added to our list. This is a wonderful way to get to know and serve fellow church members. If you are in need of a ride, please call Carol Morrill (910-553-4105) or email her at cbmor518@gmail.com. We will do our best to assist you. Advance notice is greatly appreciated.
Emergency Contacts Requested by Congregational Care
Emergency Contact Forms for our members are maintained by our Congregational Care Ministry. At times these have been very helpful. When a church member has a medical or emergency need, we want to be in touch with a family member or friend. These forms were mailed to all members this week. You may respond one of three ways: by return mail, drop off at the church, or scan the completed form and email it to spc.office@southportpresbyterian.com If you have any questions, please contact Gail Hedgecock, Carolyn Thomae, or Carol Morrill. Thank you.
Happy Birthday Lena!
Last month, fifteen members of Southport Presbyterian Church joined Lena Fisher as she celebrated her 88th birthday at Universal Health Care Center in Bolivia. During this Aug. 19 visit, all fifteen wore masks, practiced social distancing, carried signs and banners and honored Lena outside as she sat in the lobby on the other side of the front door. She received cards, gifts, flowers, a balloon, and a Hummingbird cake (Lena’s favorite) made by Burney’s Bakery of Southport. A wonderful time was had by all!
Lena is bit of a legend in our area. She was born in Southport to Velma and Worth Ward. When she was very young, her family relocated to Maine where her father was stationed in the Coast Guard. Her family moved back into the family home on Atlantic Street in Southport when Lena was 8 years old. The house dates back to 1892 and was built by her great grandfather and occupied by her family for four generations. When she was 10 years old, Lena became a big sister to her only sibling, Sally, who now lives with her husband Ron in Bolivia. Lena attended school in Southport and loved playing basketball for Southport High School.
She met and married the love of her life G.W. Fisher, a Navy Veteran, whom she affectionately called “G”. He was a commercial fisherman and named his shrimp boat the “Lena W”. He also managed the local ABC Store. During their 48 years of marriage, Lena and G.W. lived in the family home on Atlantic Street. G.W. died in 2002 and is buried in the Northwood Cemetery.
Lena baked a delicious pound cake but has a special fondness for Hummingbird Cake. She loved flowers and enjoyed spending time working in her yard. She also loved cats owning two Maine Coon cats when she was younger. Later she fed and cared for two neighborhood cats whom she named Tiger and Nosey. Lena was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Order of the Eastern Star.
Lena has always described herself as a “numbers person”. She worked as an accountant on Bald Head, riding the ferry to and from the island for many years. She then worked at Brunswick Community College, first at the Southport Campus and then at the main campus in Bolivia as administrative assistant for the VP of Finance. She joined the Southport Presbyterian Church in 1979 where she served as both the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. In 2012 Lena was awarded the Southport Presbyterian Women Honorary Life Membership.
Lena has faced numerous challenges during her lifetime and has handled them with courage. Her deep faith in God and her marvelous sense of humor continue to be sources of strength as she celebrates her 88th birthday during the Covid-19 pandemic.
