“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8) So reads the favorite Bible verse of Deaconess Christine Buchinger, who received the call to Mt. Calvary in May of 2008.

 

Born in 1982 in Port Hope, Michigan, Deaconess Christine was baptized and raised in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. She graduated from Concordia University in Wisconsin in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a minor in Theology. After two years of doing social work in the Carolinas, she entered the deaconess program at Concordia Theological Seminary. Upon completing one year of classes at the seminary and one year of internship at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Saint Cloud, Minnesota, she earned a master’s degree in Theology with deaconess certification.

 

As a deaconess, she is focused on growing the Church’s congregational base, improving and expanding its programs, and assisting Pastor Long with the numerous missions of the church, including the food pantry and other care ministries. Specifically, Deaconess Christine:

• works with Sunday School staff to identify ways to improve and grow the program,

• communicates with the appropriate church boards to determine ways to reach out to visitors and assimilate new members,

• serves with the Women of Mt. Calvary,

• contacts those who are served by the Food Pantry to address their needs and

• assists Pastor Long in visiting church members who are ill, hospitalized or in need of specific care.

 

In her spare time, Deaconess Christine enjoys reading, camping and running. She is an avid tennis and ultimate Frisbee player.

 

What a Deaconess Does

Many people often ask, “What does a deaconess do?” In response to that, I’ve compiled a list of 25 things a deaconess can do for you. Note that this list is just the tip of the iceberg — my mission here at Mt. Calvary is to serve the congregation in the most practical, helpful and spiritual ways that I can.

 

1. Pray with you before a stressful doctor’s appointment.

2. Bring a hot meal to a family with a new baby.

3. Lead a women’s Bible study.

4. Stop and check on your elderly parent when you’re having a hectic week.

5. Find ways for you to get the volunteer hours you need for a scholarship application.

6. Drive you to an appointment.

7. Pick up a prescription.

8. Answer your questions about church.

9. Listen.

10. Go along with you on an appointment that might be scary to go to alone.

11. Come over for a visit and devotion on a day when you’re feeling lonely.

12. Take a walk with you on a day that is too nice for you to be inside.

13. Call to check in with you when you haven’t been to church in awhile.

14. Come along when you go to visit a grandchild who has stopped coming to church.

15. Help you find a ride to church.

16. Help you fill out a confusing form.

17. Bring you some groceries when you’re too sick to leave the house.

18. Sit with a sick child while you run the other kids to school.

19. Go with you to visits a friend who is going through a tough time.

20. Help you to find the social services available in the community.

21. Read a recipe for you when you want to bake cookies for your neighbor.

22. Follow up with visitors to the church.

23. Recommend a good book.

24. Give you ideas for ways to lead family devotions.

25. Pray for you.