ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PASTOR
January 2009
O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
Psalm 95:6
As we move into our fourteenth year of shared ministry together at
Worship – A primary, and perhaps most visible, role of the pastor is that of leadership in worship. As your pastor I am especially blessed by the participation of each of you, the members of the congregation, as we gather week by week to worship our awesome God. I seek to be faithful to God’s word in proclaiming God’s message for us today. I find resources such as The Clergy Journal and Reformed Worship to be especially helpful in preparation for our worship services.
Pastoral Care – I place a high priority on visitation with parishioners who are no longer able to be present for worship on a regular basis. In addition to visits in private residences during the past year I have visited people in the following care facilities: Cherry Hill Manor, Coventry Cornerstone Care, Coventry HealthCare (formerly Haven Health), Cra-Mar, Harborhill, Morgan Manor, Riverview, Shady Acres, South Bay Manor, and West Shore Health Center. At the present time we have six parishioners in these care facilities in addition to several who continue to reside in their own homes or apartments. Hospitalized parishioners have also been visited at
From time to time I also meet with parishioners who are facing difficult situations, are in need of spiritual direction, or who are sharing occasions for celebration. In February I conducted the funeral service for Frank Pfeiler, husband of Joann Cortellessa Pfeiler. In May I was privileged to preside at the vows renewal for John and Wendy Marchant on the occasion of their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. Also in May I participated in the Relay for Life in memory of Betsy Scorpio-Dembishack.
Frequent telephone consultations, e-mail and personal notes, and regular intercessory prayer for our church family all help me stay connected with the pastoral care needs within our congregation. Please keep me informed when you, or someone you know, would benefit from a personal or virtual visit from the pastor.
Communication & Administration - We seek to maintain open and timely communications through a variety of media. Monthly calendars with suggested Bible readings and reflections from the pastor are prepared and distributed. The church website is updated regularly with information on weekly worship and other activities of the church. Timely information is also distributed by e-mail through the occasional
Administratively, I attempt to assure the coordination of the variety of activities that take place within our small church community. Mass mailings to our entire constituency are sent out during the seasons of Lent and Advent. In addition, this year a special letter recognizing our 135th Anniversary Celebration was also mailed. We have recently had church information published in the Foster Home Journal in addition to our weekly listing in the
Connections – As an American Baptist Church we are part of a wider community known as the American Baptist Churches of Rhode Island. As part of this body I have participated in the ABCORI Annual Gathering, the ABCORI Mission Celebration, and a spring ABCORI Leadership Retreat. I regularly meet with our Executive Minister, the Rev. Dr. Liliana DaValle, as a member of the ABCORI Consultant Team. In addition, I serve as the Regional Coordinator for the ABCUSA Missional Church Learning Experience involving seven of our region’s small membership churches. I have also continued to serve as In-Care Pastor for Toni DiPina as she has graduated from Andover Newton and makes preparations for her ordination to be held at
Ecumenically, I continue to serve on the Governing Board of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches as secretary to the board and facilitate the Council’s Church Network. I also sit on the Board of Directors for the Good Samaritan Mission Council and the Board of Directors for WARM (Westerly Area Rest & Meals).
Professional Development – In January I attended a conference in
Spiritual Discipline – I seek to maintain a personal devotional time through the practices of Inspirational Reading, Lectio Divina, journaling, and Centering Prayer. I am challenged to maintain this discipline with consistency. I also appreciate the support and encouragement of a Spiritual Director, and our monthly Clergy Covenant gatherings. I was blessed with my participation in the Ministers Council Annual Retreat to
It is with joy that I continue to serve as your pastor here at
Joyously serving Jesus with you,
Pastor Joyce B. Duerr
