Congregational Care Deacon Board

Assists the Pastors and Director of Congregational Care in providing care to BPC members and their families and to minister to the surrounding community through selected events and programs. The ministries are designed to support and nurture by witnessing to Christ’s healing love through service and prayer.

Contact Information

Mary Garbesi, Director Congregational Care

mgarbesi@bpcusa.org. 

Prayer Requests

Multiple hands, including a child's hand placed on top, holding each other in a gesture of support and unity.

Our Ministries

  • Person praying hands pressed together above open Bible on wooden table.

    CHAIN OF PRAYER MINISTRY

    Mary Garbesi, Congregational Care Director

     Offers a praying presence for the BPC church family and community. Prayer requests can be made through this website https://www.bpcusa.org/ and also by contacting the Church office, Director of Congregational Care or a Pastor.

  • Close-up of a bouquet of pink roses with green leaves against a plain background.

    FLOWER MINISTRY

    DEACON: Kathy Harlan

    Sponsor Sunday flowers in 2025!

    Sign up here: SignUpGenius

    Email info@bpcusa.org with your dedication text and note if you’ll take the flowers home or donate them.

    Send $80 to the BPC Flower Fund (12000 San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049) or pay online: Give Here.

    Thank you for helping make our worship beautiful with flowers and dedications!

  • A frying pan with cooked mixed vegetables and a wooden spatula, two plates with cooked vegetables, all on a dark surface.

    LOVING MEALS MINISTRY

    DEACON: Betsy Newell

     Would YOU like to be on our LOVING MEALS MINISTRY team?

     As a meaningful ministry of our Deacons, we provide meals for BPC members who are recuperating after hospitalization, are elderly or shut-in, have suffered a loss, are celebrating the arrival of a new baby, or in an extended caregiving situation.

    Betsy Newell, our Meals Ministry Deacon, would love to have you on board!! Serve BPC in this capacity with a loving meal that will be deliciously appreciated! Contact Betsy at

    ebnewell@aol.com.

  • Three crumpled yellow paper balls on a green speech bubble shape, surrounded by many crumpled yellow paper sheets.

    COMMUNICATIONS MINISTRY

    DEACON: Ruthie Jones

    The Deacon oversees publicity about and promotion of Congregational Care and Deacon Board Ministries to the Brentwood Presbyterian Church congregation.

  • Three pink and yellow tulips, a white mug of black coffee, a postcard, and a black-handled letter opener on a black surface.

    CORRESPONDENCE MINISTRY

    DEACON: Bill Allen

     This ministry, with its team of writers and coordinated by the Deacon provides notes of encouragement, condolence, and congratulations to members, along with birthday greetings to those 80 years and older

  • An orange warning light mounted on a gray surface against a background of green foliage.

    EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE MINISTRY

    DEACON: Scotti Davis

    The Deacon is the liaison between BPC’s emergency response plan and the Deacon Board, Red Cross and congregation, planning and organizing blood drives and trainings.

  • Family of four walking outdoors during sunset, the boy pointing at something, all in casual clothing with tall grass around them.

    FAMILIES WITH BABIES & MEMORIAL SERVICE MINISTRY

    DEACON: JoAnn Flynn 

    The Deacon provides a loving, supportive presence and maintains a contact with the family before and after the birth and remains in contact during the first year after the birth.

    Meanwhile, the Deacon for the Memorial Service Ministry attends each service and reception and helps with on-site coordination, ensuring that all necessary items are present and the worship space is properly set up for service.

  • HOME COMMUNION MINISTRY

    DEACON: TBD

    The Deacon, in consultation with the Associate Pastor, oversees and facilitates the process of offering communion to those who are unable to attend worship.



  • NEW MEMBERS MINISTRY

    DEACON: TBD

    The Deacon is the liaison between Congregational Care Deacon Board and new members class, working with the Welcome and Connecting Ministry and following through with those who join BPC.

  • WORSHIP LIAISON & AT-LARGE MINISTRY

    DEACON: Nick Allis

     As worship liaison, the Deacon, in consultation with the Deacon to Communications, the Associate Pastor and the Director of Congregational Care, facilitates the publicity of the Congregational Care Deacon Board in worship services. Serving at-large, the Deacon is in a supportive role with other Deacon Board ministries as needed.