About Presbyterian Kirk In The Pines

Martha Fast - Congregational Care Born to Presbyterian missionaries, Martha Fast spent her childhood in Korea. At 14, she returned to the U.S., and after high school enrolled in a Presbyterian school, Arkansas College, now Lyon College, where she met her future husband, Stan. Martha became a director of Christian Education and served Presbyterian churches in Warren, Ark., Meridian, Miss., and North Little Rock. Martha and Stan married in 1952. They later settled in Tulsa, Okla., where she returned to college, acquired extra credit hours, and taught junior high English for 20 years. After 30 years in Tulsa, the couple moved to the Village in 1985. At the Kirk, Martha has played an active role in Presbyterian Women, serving as circle Bible moderator, circle leader, PW vice-moderator, and PW moderator. She also served on the Presbytery PW Coordinating Team. A deacon in her former church, Martha served as co-chair of the first Mission Committee at the Kirk. She has also been an enthusiastic member of the Evangelism and Membership Committees. 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. Volunteers bring the Word to homebound members by providing CDs of 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 and given to members who are hospitalized, homebound because of declining health or moving to another community.