Mercy
The Redeemer Hoboken Diaconate seeks to extend mercy and compassion to the church and the community to the glory of Jesus Christ. The Diaconate lead s, inspires and equips our church to serve and contribute to the needs of others. This is carried out by providing service opportunities and connecting people to ministries that fit their gifts and talents.
The Diaconate also ministers to the needs of people in the church community who are in crisis or going through a difficult time. We work with individuals to provide for basic needs, give Godly counsel and support, and connect people with necessary resources. This ministry is conducted with sensitivity and confidentiality.
Cook/Deliver Meals to Your Neighbors
Contact: Sara
Sign up to prepare or deliver meals to those in our church body with health issues, such as surgery/ hospital stays, those with newborns, or anyone going through a difficult time.
Counsel Women at First Choice
Women's Resource Center
Contact: Amanda
One time Activities
Baby Bottle Boomering – January
First Choice Banquet - October
Ongoing projects at ministry center
Monthly Activities
Prayer Ministry
Monthly Newsletter
Giving
Food Certificates to local grocery stores
Weekly/ Ongoing Committments
Counseling- requires week long training & in house training (held in November)
Reception- in house training
Help the Homleless at the Hoboken Shelter
Contact: Bennett
Hoboken Shelter at St. John's Lutheran Church (300 Bloomfield St.) 201-656-5069
One time or Monthly Activities
A team of four to six people to prepare and serve dinner at the shelter and to clean up afterwards. Our church is committed to every 4th Friday 6-7:30PM. Individuals or groups can sign up in that time slot or call the shelter directly to "fill in" on an as needed basis.
To become involved with the Integrated Living Program, refer to the shelter's website and contact information.
Volunteer at the Mustard Seed School
Contacts: Jenn, Christine
One time Activities
Mailings: Mustard Seed needs volunteers to stuff envelopes for mailings 3-4 times per year. The general times would be Oct, late Nov, and some time in the spring. The dates could be set and organized in advance.
His Toy Store—December event. We need a lot of help organizing donations and getting the items set up, cleaned, etc… and on the day of the event.
Occasional fieldtrip chaperones: Throughout the year each class (k-8) goes on several fieldtrips, some overnight adventures. If there are not enough parent chaperones that can attend these fieldtrips, volunteers are needed.
Monthly Activities
Volunteer time that you have: There are often odd jobs to be done at MSS. If there are constant or occasional times you are available to help with various jobs, please call to schedule.
Adopt a class at MSS: A HFG could decide to adopt a class at MSS. Some of the things they could do to support the class would include:
-praying for the class
-financially supporting students in the class
-coming to celebrations that the class does
-reading to the class
-helping with projects and workdays in the summer (ie—painting)
Ongoing Committments
Library Assistant: This would involve organizing and processing books each week. It could be done after school hours. This job would be ideal for 1-2 people.
Angel Tree
Contact: Marcy
One time Activities
An outreach of Prison Fellowship, the goal of the Angel Tree program is to provide Christmas gifts to children of prisoners through local churches. Individuals and home fellowship groups are asked to purchase and wrap gifts for a specific child at the prisoners' request. The final delivery of the toys to the children takes place through teams that visit the families in their homes in December.
Aid the Needy in Hoboken through
In Jesus Name Ministry
Contact: Sara, Marcy, April
In Jesus Name at Our Lady of Grace Convent 411 Clinton St. (basement)
One time or Monthly Activities
Contact April Harris for a list of food or other items, such as clothing, to buy that are needed at the pantry.
Donate clothing and/ or household goods to pantry.
Monthly Activities
Go to the pantry and work on special projects at the pantry or preparing donations for distribution.
Volunteer to serve at the pantry during regular business hours each Thursday, Friday Saturday and Sunday 1-3PM.
Temporarily provide food (once a month at the end of each month) to an individual.
Need of the Month - provide/fulfill a one time need for a person with a pressing need.
Buy and deliver birthday presents for elderly people. April will provide names and gift suggestions.
Weekly/ Ongoing Committments
College Advisory Board/ Mentoring program. Join the board or become a mentor to a Hoboken high school student needing assistance with college preparation/ transition.
Our Deaconate
Redeemer Hoboken is blessed to have a congregation who prioritize caring for each other and others in the community. We see so often how the home fellowship groups support their members in prayer, good council and meeting physical, emotional and financial needs that arise within the groups. We also see how members of the congregation rise up to support local and national disasters, easing the burden of those in intense distress. Not to mention support of local ministries and organizations who are doing good work on a daily basis in Hoboken and beyond. We see Jesus’ hand and foot prints far reaching in the many deeds of mercy and outpouring of financial resources from this congregation and we are truly thankful.
There are some needs that require the care of diaconate members for support as well as new relationships to be built within the community to better serve in Jesus’ name. The diaconate is working prayerfully and diligently to meet people’s individual needs and make connections in our community. We oversee the money raised at Easter each year and seek God to show us how to use it to best serve others throughout the year.
We aren’t aware of every need, nor do we have a passion for every type of mercy activity available to be involved with. So, we are asking you to share with us your ideas, passions and the needs you see before you. There is a unique gift and role for each of us in the body of Christ- you may be the catalyst to a new opportunity right here and right now.
We also ask that you nominate members of our church who you think demonstrate gifts in this area of church leadership. The diaconate is seeking new members. We are especially interested in having representation from people who attend the evening service so that we can be sure we are serving both services well.
Lastly, we ask that you keep us lift up in prayer as we continue to shape and facilitate mercy in our church. We want our church to epitomize Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Oftentimes the diaconate goes under the radar because the things we may be involved with are private or behind the scenes, but we want to take this opportunity to remind you that there is no need too small to seek our assistance. From prayer to counseling assistance to other crises, we are here to serve.