Q. If I am in need of pastoral care for myself or a loved one in our church, to whom can I reach out?

 

A. Our pastoral care team will be “The Toms”: Rev. Tom Phillips, the Presbytery Associate for our western neighborhood in the Presbytery of Western NC, and the Rev. Tom Owens, our ministry colleague and pastor of Canton Central United Methodist church (in collaboration with the Western NC Conference of the United Methodist Church). Please reach out to clerk of session Jennifer Johnson (828-342-3315, jdjohnson929@gmail.com) who will connect you.

 

Pastoral care includes prayer requests, needing to talk, hospital visits, and anything else for which you would normally turn to your pastor.

 

Q. Who is making sure the church is still functioning when the pastor isn't here?

 

A. The pastor is only one role among many in a Presbyterian congregation. The session, staff, members, participants, worshipers, volunteers and others are all still doing the many and varied ministries of the people of God in Canton Presbyterian Church.

 

Q. Haha, but seriously, who?

 

A. The session would be your first call. The members of session are:

 

• Jennifer Johnson (clerk of session): 828-342-3315, jdjohnson929@gmail.com

• Kathy Robertson: 828-476-0090, krobertson22155@gmail.com

• Lisa White: 910-233-7880, lisa84237@gmail.com

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Other staff and volunteers are covering a variety of responsibilities.

 

• Lisa White is our Treasurer.

• Jeffrey Gonce is our Music Director.

• Doris Johnson oversees mission projects and restocks building supplies.

• Anne Waple of the Presbytery of Western NC is working with Doris Johnson and other volunteers to coordinate Presbyterian Disaster Assistance teams.  

• Lauren Revenson is leading Faith Development.

• Larry Jens and Sally Morgan oversee building and grounds needs.

• A group of volunteers including Joan Holshouser, Lisa White, and Sally Morgan are handling administrative tasks.

 

Q. What will happen with the mission activities that normally happen during these months?

 

A. Doris Johnson is coordinating the school supply drive and the Backpacks of Love through the Canton Missional Network. Doris is also working with Anne Waple, the Presbytery of Western NC’s Disaster Recovery Coordinator, and other volunteers to coordinate the teams with Presbyterian Disaster Assistance that stay at our building.

 

Q. We usually receive announcements in our email every week. Will that continue?

 

A. This will be different: we’re going old school for these 9 weeks! Announcements will be made in worship as usual, and anything that needs to be communicated more widely will be shared by the session through a phone tree (text and calls). Weekly email updates are scheduled to go out to the congregation with information about each week’s guest preacher and pastoral care provider.

 

Q. I've got some information Esta will want to hear about, and it doesn't look like my emails, texts, or social media posts to her are being read. How can I reach her?

 

A. Short answer: you will need to wait until October 4.

A. Longer answer: Lisa White is the assigned point of contact between Esta and the church during sabbatical (August 1 – October 3). Esta is being instructed not to engage as pastor during that time; any communications for which it is determined that sabbatical needs to be interrupted will come through Lisa. Esta will be briefed on any updates upon her return on October 4.

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