About Presbyterian Kirk In The Pines

Carolyn Kane - Congregational Care Carolyn Kane has come full circle. She was born in Arkansas, moved to California in the early 60s and returned to Arkansas in 1996 after a career in education. In California, Carolyn was an elder and moderator of Christian Education at Northkirk Presbyterian Church. Since joining the Kirk, she has served on the Education, Planning and Coordinating and Congregational Care committees and is active in Presbyterian Women. She joined the Session in 2005 as moderator of the Congregational Care Committee. Carolyn has a son and two grandchildren who live in California. Her husband Frank died in 1987. Congregational Care The Congregational Care Committee is the heartbeat of the Kirk. Committee members give rides to doctor appointments, check on members who are recovering from illness and hospital stays, comfort families after the death of a loved one, and provide much needed respite for caregivers. Prayer Tree volunteers pray for members and their families on request, and a Wellness Group meets twice a month to share prayerful healing ministry with the chronically ill. Volunteers bring the Word to homebound members by providing tapes of worship services. Members of the committee who are retired care-giving professionals share their knowledge by offering health advice and education for patients, families and caregivers. The ESP (Every Single Person) program matches members who live alone with buddies who check on each other daily. The Christian Friends program pairs trained caregivers with people in need. Prayer Shawls are knitted and crocheted by Kirk members, dedicated in church on a quarterly basis and given to members who are hospitalized, homebound because of declining health or moving to another community. Members also make prayer quilts, which are hand knotted by the congregation and given to members who are diagnosed with cancer.