First Presbyterian Church of Woodbury Heights

DEACON'S CORNER

*We are here to serve God, our church members and the community – lending a hand where needed*

Deacons Corner:

January/February 2026

 

During our last meeting in 2025 we welcomed two new deacons: Mary Gilmore and Dave Geserick.  We thanked outgoing deacons Sue Golding, Nancy MacDermott, Joyce Woodrow, and Nancy Zane for their service

 

The Deacons had their first meeting of the New Year on Jan. 27, 2026.

 

Reorganization of New Officers and Committee members for 2026:

Election of Officers

Co-Moderators: Sue Reim and Debbie Gould

Vice Moderator: Dave Geserick

Treasurer: Dave Geserick

Secretary: Tracey Urion

Commissions

Chancel Committee- chair: Barbara Kratzer with Sue Reim & Tracey Urion

Correspondence Committee- chair: Deb Becker with Nickie Kuehnapfel & Elisha Elliott

Literature- chair: Brett McMichael with Debbie Gould

Visitation- chair: Mary Gilmore with ALL deacons

Special Projects- chair: Elisha Elliott with ALL deacons

’26 Nominating committee member- Brett McMichael

 

Upcoming Events:

Communion Dates:    

Feb.22 - 1st Sunday of Lent - Deacons serve

April 2 - Holy Thursday – Elders serve

 

Blanket Sunday: Feb. 15 – envelopes will be in bulletins prior to that, culminating on Feb. 15.

 

The Ministerium Lenten Bible Study Dates will be announced soon.

 

Blood Drives are scheduled for Tuesday, April 7 and Wednesday, October 14 from 1:00 – 6:00 pm.

 

 

Thank you to this wonderful congregation for all the help during the Advent season: decorating and undecorating the church for Christmas and the gift donations to assist community families for Christmas…God Bless you all!

 

Correspondence Committee: They are busy mailing cards to members.  Each month they send 30 to 50 cards.  Please notify Deb Becker if your birthday or anniversary cards are not being received. Last year 427 cards were mailed out! Please feel free to donate cards and/or postage stamps for this committee.

 

Visits: We continue to visit and make phone calls to Special Members and Members.  If you wish a visit from Pastor Will or a deacon, please contact the church office!  

 

Food donations: Thank you for all the food donations for the GWCM food bank! 3,062 items were collected in 2026! Consider for your next party for your guests to bring food donations instead of gifts (for folks who don’t need gifts, of course) **Joyce & Mike Woodrow will be checking & delivering food items to the GWCM food bank until further notice.

 

Your monetary donations: Also, thank you for the monetary support with the special gold-trimmed envelopes in your offering envelope box!  We can only serve others with your support!  

 

Two special Funds we have available...

Smile Fund – Occasionally, someone from our church family experiences tough circumstances.  The deacons send them a “Smile” card & gift card to cheer them.  Please let us know if you know any member going through a trying time. This is for our members and church regulars.

Tree of Life Fund – this fund is for folks who may need financial assistance in paying a bill or making ends meet.  Let us know if you know someone who needs a helping hand – doesn’t have to be a member.

 

 

God Bless,

The Board of Deacons:   Deb Becker, Elisha Elliott, Dave Geserick, Mary Gilmore, Debbie Gould, Barbara Kratzer, Nickie Kuehnapfel, Brett McMichael, Sue Reim, Tracey Urion.  (and room for two more deacons if any of you are interested see Nominating Committee members John Pitchford or Nolan Becker)

 

 

 

Note about Prayer Requests:  (NOT a Deacon duty)

 

Send to Joyce Woodrow: woody1@comcast.net, or as always, you can fill out the yellow prayer cards in the pew pockets and hand them to the head usher or Pastor Will each Sunday. He will pray at Sunday worship service for your loved ones, and Joyce will publish those for that week. 

Please send updates for folks already on the prayer list, or if names can be removed.

 

 

 

 

 

The Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries (Food Pantry)  

 

Please donate food items:

· Please check the expiration dates on all food. 

· Place your food in the bins in the Narthex.

· Click the button below to visit the GWCM website and learn more.

                                

 

Monthly food suggestions for donations to GWCM food pantry 2026:

 

January – Peanut butter, jelly & canned dinners

February – Hot chocolate, canned & bottled juices, coffee (instant & canned)

March – Canned or packaged soup, pancake mix complete (add H2O), syrup

April – canned meat products such as beef stew, chicken, chili  (NO spam)

May – powdered milk, facial tissues, peanut butter & jelly

June – beans, potatoes, rice (boxed, packaged, canned)

July –   paper towels, pancake mix complete (add H20), syrup- regular and sugarfree and school supplies.

August – Toilet paper, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, peanut butter & jelly and school supplies.

September - Canned fruit, fruit cocktail, plastic packs of fruit (any type of fruit),  

October – Canned meat products, (beef stew, chili, spam, chicken)

November – Cake mixes and icing, pudding, jello, sugar (white, brown, powdered)

December – Coffee -instant and canned, pancake mix complete (add H2O) and syrup

 

 

Kathy & John Pedicone volunteer to deliver items each week as well as count and report totals for deacons and Sunday bulletin. (& others as backup)

 

 

Food Pantry of Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries (GWCM)

@ Seventh Day Adventist Church

330 E. Barber Ave.

Woodbury, NJ 08096

 

Pantry is open Tuesdays and Thursdays  9:00 – 11:00 AM

Website:  https://gwcm.org

 

Thank you on behalf of the Board of Deacons!

Click here for the Food Pantry Website

FLOWER FUND

Please consider honoring the Glory of God

by dedicating Chancel Flowers for our church sanctuary. 

Arrangements are $15 each.

Click Here for printable order form and instructions