Pastoral Care

Pastoral care refers broadly to the ways we share one another’s burdens and joys, provide tangible help, and pray with and for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, a holy family. 

We are all a part of creating a community of compassion at Holy Family when we pray over list serve needs, wish someone happy birthday after reading it in the worship bulletin, send a card when there is a death, or ask about someone’s situation when there is difficulty. 

In order for the Pastoral Care team to respond in a timely manner, we need to know when you are in need.  The next time you or a family member is scheduled for a hospital stay, outpatient surgery, unexpectedly sick at home, anticipating a child, losing a loved one or have need of prayer, please phone the church office, ask someone to phone on your behalf or send an email to Mother Michelle, or Father Jim Melnyk.

Though the extent and depth of the care that is being lived out in this parish is not limited to the following ministries, below are listed some of the organized ways we care for one another.  Several ministries have been added under the umbrella of pastoral care this year as we seek to broaden, deepen, and coordinate the care available to one another and the wider community.  The commission meets quarterly throughout the year. 

 Also please check out the PCC bulletin board listing expectant mothers, sick, and shut-in within the parish in the main hallway between the Nave and Parish Hall.  Sincere thanks to the many who extended the hand of fellowship and compassion to a brother or sister in need this past year.

VISITATION

Lay Pastoral Visitors (LPV's) provide a caring presence, careful listening, and a wide range of support services to members facing various challenges.  They may show up with flowers or food to those recovering or in need.  Pastoral visitors assist with hospital visits, provide rides to the doctor or sit with a home-bound family member while a spouse runs errands.  Training and ongoing support are provided for lay pastoral visitors. 

Lay Eucharistic Visitors (LEVs) are licensed by the diocese to take communion to parishoners who are sick, shut-in, or in the hospital. 

Circle of Care refers to a network of people caring for individuals or families during specific times of need.  Circle of Care members assess need and respond, keeping in regular contact by phone, e-mail, or personal visits.  

To learn more about these ministries or to become involved yourself, please contact Mo. Michelle.

FOOD MINISTRIES

Meals are delivered to parishioners who are homebound, ill, recovering from surgery, dealing with long-term medical treatments or grief or losses of various kinds.  If you would like to be a part of helping prepare meals from time to time, please contact Deb Newcomb. 

Guild of the Christ Child provides meals and assistance to families welcoming a child into their life through birth, adoption or foster parenting.  As The Book of Common Prayer indicates, “the birth of a child is a joyous and solemn occasion in the life of a family.”  It is also a time when the assistance of the parish is often much appreciated.  To participate in this ministry, contact Caroline Christman.                                                              

PRAYER

Pastoral Concerns Listserv refers to the prayer requests received daily  and sent out via email to the parish under the heading Pastoral Concerns.  This is an important way our community of compassion supports one another in times of need.  Prayer requests should be sent to Mother Michelle or by phone at 942-3108 (church office).

The Prayer Chain is a group of about 15 volunteers who pray faithfully for requests sent to the group.  These requests are kept in confidence and are not shared beyond this group.  If you are interested in learning more about this ministry or sharing a request for prayer, contact Marcia Tuttle or by phone (see parish directory).

The Parish Prayer Team’s commission is to pray with anyone requesting prayer during the 8:55 and 11:05   liturgies, and to provide opportunities to learn more about prayer as an essential and regular component of our life in Christ.  Individual prayer appointments may also be scheduled where two members of the prayer team spend time praying with persons for emotional, physical, or spiritual concerns.  All requests and times of prayer are held in strictest confidence, and members of the PPT do not follow up with parishioners afterwards out of respect for privacy.  People are always welcome to follow up with us afterwards.  Requests for prayer appointments may be directed to Cathy Leslie.

Contemplative Prayer is a small group that meets weekly to learn about contemplative prayer and to have a time of prayer.  Contemplative prayer has a long tradition in the church dating back to the church fathers and is a transformative practice.  Contact Kathryn Davis (phone number in parish directory) for more information.

Daughters of the King is an Order of women in the Episcopal Church dedicated to daily prayer and service.  They meet the 2^nd and 4^th Wednesdays of the month for planning and prayer.  Please contact Lois Batson for more information.   

Shawl Ministry combines the care and love of knitting into a prayerful ministry that reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace.  This group that meets  at 11 am on the 1^st and 3^rd Friday of the month to knit shawls and pray for those receiving them.  The shawls are then given to Mother Michelle to distribute.  If you are interested in learning to knit and/or being part of this outreach, contact Lois Batson.