CARES

Community Assistance Resources and Emergency Services (CARES) was started in 1997 at Holy Family as a food bank for Pickens County. With leadership from Holy Family parishioners and solid community interest, the organization became a separate, non-profit entity with the current building on Cares Drive in 2006. CARES’ mission is to provide food items, temporary financial assistance, and resource counseling for anyone in need of these services in Pickens County. These necessities serve to improve quality of life and strength of spirit for the recipients and give them hope in God’s world. Basic human needs must be met before people can have the initiative, drive, and hope for a sustainable future.

CARES provides free food boxes Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and access to emergency assistance funds for living-related expenses on the first and third Friday mornings of every month. Food deliveries occur for those unable to come to the CARES building. Meats, fruits and vegetables, canned foods, bread, and other items are provided by several local stores, donations, and low-cost food from the Atlanta Community Food Bank. CARES services 1000 client visits per month. Emergency funds distributed range between $5000 and $8000 per month. Resource-contacts at Chattahoochee Tech are provided to those interested in pursuing their GED or job skills.

CARES’ small, service-driven staff and a dedicated group of volunteers contribute around 1100 hours of time monthly. Please let CARES Board of Director members Andy Edwards, Elaine DeNiro, or Vicky Harkins know if you are interested in volunteering or donating.
www.caresforpickens.com

The Hospitality Committee

If there is food involved at Holy Family, the Hospitality Committee is involved. From “Coffee Angels” who host the after-service coffee hour, to committee members who plan Wonderful Wednesdays from May to October in locations around the area, our committee is all about fellowship and fun. Starting with Advent and a Very Merry Advent Coffee, the“Hospitality Committee” decorates the Parish Hall and organizes for food and drinks provided at numerous events and activities such as Epiphany dinners, Lenten potlucks, Easter breakfast, a special Easter Festive Coffee, and Wonderful Wednesdays. In addition to those, we assist other committees with receptions and gatherings throughout the year until we come full-circle to Advent again. The Hospitality committee is always busy being “hospitable” all year long.

In true hospitality fashion, we welcome new committee members. To join the fun, please contact any of the following: Lynn Mayes, Katie Hawkins, Ann Pinner, Anne Tindall, Connie Moore, Melinda Edwards, Susan Rowan, Rosie Crowe, Patricia Stimmel, Debbie Freudenthal, Marlin Ferrell, Sandy Baggett or Martha Power.
We can certainly find a perfect place for YOU!

Lectors and Intercessors

The Lectors and Intercessors serve a very important part of each service at Holy Family. The Lectors read one of the two readings for each service. The readings are read from the ambo and provided to the lector in advance of the service. The Intercessors read the Prayers of the People following the Nicene Creed and are read from the ambo. As with the readings, the Prayers of the People (POP’s)are provided in advance and often need to be revised the day of the service due to additions to the illness list. Both roles are easy and all that is required is the ability to read a document in a public setting. We are always looking for more Lectors and Intercessors. If you have interest in serving as either or both, please contact Head Verger Jim Braley at jim@fleetfeetjohnscreek.com.

What do the Flower Guild, Eucharistic Ministers (EMs) and Vergers have in common? All are integral part of the service every Sunday at Holy Family. 

The Flower Guild is less visible than the other two groups. They are like invisible elves that design and install all of our beautiful floral arrangements for all services, whether it be the evergreens for Christmas or the lilies for Easter. If you are interested in joining the Flower Guild, contact Betsy Kiser, bhkiser@gmail.com. 

The Eucharistic Ministers or EMs are very visible. They carry the torches during the processions into and out of the church and during the Gospel process. Their other very important job is to serve during communion to ensure that all of those who wish to take part in communion are able to participate. The EMs, with the priest, deliver the chalice for intincture or a sip of wine as part of the overall communion experience. If you are interested in serving as an EM, contact Jim Braley, jim@fleetfeetjohnscreek.com.

That just leaves the vergers. There are four vergers who act as the Master of Ceremonies for all services held at Holy Family. The verger is in charge of ensuring that all of the personnel needed to conduct the service are present, such as the lectors and intercessors, and to escort all readers to the ambo during the service. The four vergers at Holy Family are Head Verger, Jim Braley; Senior Verger, Amelia Broussard; Connie Moore, and Richard Smith.  

THANKS TO THE GROUNDS TEAM AT HOLY FAMILY: The Grounds Team is responsible for the upkeep of almost 40 acres of Holy Family property. The team currently consists of eight members who regularly work on the property Tuesday and Thursday of each week, weather permitting. While the work varies through the seasons, these individuals are the ones we can thank for all the landscaping, maintenance, and improvements throughout our stunning campus. Tasks include, but are not limited to, fallen tree removal, necessary mowing of grassed areas, detail cutting and maintenance of shrubs, re-seeding, drainage system re-work, and walking trail maintenance. The team is continuously working on plans to beautify and enhance the property; last Spring they kicked off their project to create a more pollinator-friendly environment on church grounds, using plants and flowers native to the North Georgia mountains at various places around campus. It is no wonder we receive compliments that include words like rejuvenating, peaceful, and gorgeous on a regular basis from parishioners and visitors who enjoy the grounds. 

Please join me in thanking our Grounds Team for their outstanding work on our breathtaking campus! Phil Anderson, Senior Warden

THANKS TO THE BUILDINGS MINISTRY AT HOLY FAMILY: The focus of the Buildings Ministry is the upkeep of all building structures, inside and out, parking lots, and roadways throughout the 39-acre Holy Family campus. It also includes maintaining many of the utilities and working with the service providers.

All the administrative work done by this Ministry is directed by the Ministry Chairperson, Terry Nicholson. The Holy Family Sexton, Jacques LeBlanc, although not officially part of this ministry, is a tremendous asset not only to this ministry but throughout the entire Holy Family complex. On specific large projects, beyond the scope of Jacques’ and Terry’s capabilities, outside contractors will be hired. This includes areas such as major interior and exterior painting, flooring, HVAC repairs, major electrical work and parking lot repairs. 

As any facility ages, keeping it beautiful and functional is an ongoing task. Our Sanctuary and Parish Hall were constructed in 2001. In the last five years, we have installed new roofing, resealed and striped our parking lot, painted the exterior and upgraded our parking light system. In the Parish Hall we have replaced both dishwashers in the kitchen, installed new furnaces, painted the interior, and installed new flooring. Also, we have renovated the pavilion at the Conference Center. 

Please join me in thanking our Buildings Chairperson Terry Nicholson and our Sexton Jacques LeBlanc for their outstanding care of all our facilities! Phil Anderson, Senior Warden

Each month in 2025, the Parish Life Committee will highlight one Holy Family ministry. In February we are focusing on the Pastoral Care Ministry. Those of us on the Pastoral Care team are service minded Christians with a heart for pastoral care. This month, with sincerity and joy, we honor and thank the members of the Pastoral Care Committee and its affiliated members who provide steadfast care for our parishioners and families. We appreciate you!

Pastoral Care could also be called “Parish Care”. Over the years, we have added more and more meaningful ways to reach out to our parishioners and their families to support them spiritually (with prayers, cards, and home/hospital visits) and practically (with meals, rides to appointments, prayer shawls, and pet blankets). We also educate our parishioners and community members on topics pertaining to health, well-being, and aging. And FYI, our next CPR class is Saturday, March 1.

The Pastoral Care Ministry is a quiet, loving ministry. We’re there when you need us. As God’s own, we are called to provide care to our neighbors. We rely on you to let us know when you need any kind of support. There are times in everyone’s lives when we need support and reaching out for support is a sign of hope and courage. Pastoral Care can provide confidential prayers through the Daughters of the King. Or if you prefer, we’ll make sure you’re placed on the Prayers of the People during Sunday services. We offer listening ears, caring hearts, delicious meals, and sweet laughter to lift your spirits.

The first Wednesday of every month at noon, the Pastoral Care Ministry, in conjunction with the Worship Committee, offers a Healing Service, followed by lunch. This service was started last year
because of requests from parishioners to have a noon service during the week. People attend this service when they need a few more minutes to prepare to come to church, or when they have a
particular issue they’d like the priest to pray for with them, or if they just want to enjoy an intimate, peace-filled service mid-week. The Healing Service has become a lovely component of worship at Holy
Family. Please join us!

It’s easy to access the Pastoral Care Ministry if you need a listening ear or support. Contacts and their numbers and emails:

• Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins, (770) 235-8702, harkinsb@ctsnet.edu;
• Vicky Harkins, current Chairperson, Pastoral Care Committee, (770) 757-0703, victoriaharkins@bellsouth.net;
• Katharine Armentrout, Episcopal Deacon (retired),
  (770) 893-9811, godspeedkja@gmail.com.

We look forward to serving you and your family.