Deacon News and Events

Compassionate Service

Can you recall a moment when someone reached out to you with compassion?  Perhaps a stranger offered a smile that unknowingly comforted you in time of personal crisis. Paul names such act of kindness as being The Fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) where people reach out to others with kindness and compassion.

The Board of Deacons offer you the opportunity to reach out to the stranger by participating in the church blood drive Sunday, April 7, 9 am - 1 pm in Heartland Mobile Coach, which will be in the church parking lot.  Bill Stewart and Dave Appel, organizers, encourage you to sign up on line (www.heartlandbc.org) for an appointment, contact the church office at River Glen (630/357-5104) or sign up on the Opportunity Table.  Please bring a photo ID to participate in this compassionate service.

In addition to the Blood Drive, ongoing deacon ministries include Loaves and Fishes, a community food pantry that serves over 15,000 individuals, half of them children. We encourage you to bring your donations to River Glen and place them in the cart marked Loaves and Fishes before the last Monday of the month, when the items will be delivered by Lyle Davis.  Deacon and Stephen Minister Nan Diamond and Deacon Kevin Bab assist in the ministry of Naperville Cares, an organization that helps people in financial crisis, and directs them to available assistance.  Deacons outreach to organizations like Wayside Cross and Life Spring Ministries where vulnerable men, women and children find assistance through Christ centered ministry.

Living into compassionate service is not always easy.  It means giving of oneself in time and energy that is easily depleted these days. Therefore, encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Live in compassion as the Holy Spirit leads you in your life.

Suzanne Burke
The Board of Deacons