COMPASSIONATE & CARING SUPPORT FOR ONE ANOTHER
Pastoral Care Lay Ministries support the well-being of all church members and supplement – not replace – the activities of clergy, so that clergy can attend to more immediate personal and spiritual needs of members.
MISSION STATEMENT
St. Luke’s is a faithful community dedicated to compassionate and caring support for one another just as Christ loves and cares for us. We do so through caring relationships, attentiveness to parishioners’ pastoral needs, assisting and nurturing members in times of crisis and transition, and striving to keep connected with all members of the church family especially the homebound, elderly, infirmed, and those who are physically or emotionally challenged.
GOALS & BELIEFS
We seek to help all parishioners see themselves as active partners in the mission and ministry of the church.
We believe that each member has spiritual gifts to offer. Our goal in this ministry is to educate, organize, and empower members of St. Luke’s who feel called to this ministry to provide pastoral care by accepting and preparing for the responsibilities of laity to care for each other.
It is our belief that during times of health crisis, life’s transitions, and difficult times, a caring relationship with someone who will faithfully listen, empathize, pray with and for them, and encourage them with Christ’s love and care can make a difference in the lives of both givers an receivers.
We strive to serve others as we are all called to do in our Baptismal vows. We believe that in serving others, we serve Christ himself.
We believe that lay ministry pastoral care can supplement the pastoral care provided by clergy and provide for the needs of those whose care may go unmet. This allows clergy to more fully address other pastoral crises, do hospital and surgical visitations, and meet immediate personal and spiritual needs of members of the parish.
We recognize that some prefer to have pastoral care provided only by the clergy, and we will offer each parishioner the opportunity to indicate whether or not they wish to be served by these lay ministries.
We believe in the ministry of presence, selfless listening support, and the importance of staying connected through this ministry of connection. We are committed to the well being of our members.
CARD MINISTRY
This ministry reaches out in many ways. Notes of welcome are sent to all new family/individual members of the parish, sympathy cards sent to members as needed, get well, new baby, thinking of you, etc.
The office alerts the card sender to the need and the cards are purchased and mailed by the sender. A list of recipients are kept with the date and purpose of the card.
The goal of this ministry is to keep connected to and express support for our members. The card is signed “Your St. Luke’s family.”
EUCHARISTIC VISITORS
A Eucharistic Visitor’s primary role is sacramental in nature. You become an extension of the entire Body of Christ as you take the consecrated elements from either a Sunday worship service or the Wednesday healing service to the homebound, infirmed, and those unable to attend regular worship services at St. Lukes.
The Eucharistic Visitor leaves directly from the service symbolizing a sign of the whole community’s care for those unable to come to church, offers a sacramental connection, and nurtures a continued relationship with the faithful.
Visitations are once a month and generally thirty to forty five minutes in length.
The Diocese does require Safe Church Training certification. There is also some local training involved by the clergy.
PRAYER GROUP & PRAYER CHAIN MINISTRY
We, at St. Luke’s, believe in the healing power of prayer. Praying for our own needs and those of others deepens the relationship with God and the entire Body of Christ.
There are two established prayer ministry opportunities for those feeling called to serve in this ministry.
Prayer Group
A group of several parishioners who pray every week for the entire congregation on five consecutive days of each week. The week is divided into five groups of parishioners from lists sent to the group leader by Dagny Gelormo at the office every Monday. It is then emailed to the group members. As new parishioners join the church, they are added to the lists and a new list for that day is sent to the leader and then to the members of the group. The group also prays for the list that is located at the back of the church for people that are in special need.
Prayer Chain
A group of parishioners who pray for special and emergent needs as they come up; i.e., a sudden surgery, an accident, etc. The group members are informed by the leader who has been requested either by the person needing the prayers or Deacon Mary Raysa. This is not a long lasting prayer list but only for a day or two as the need and request arises. If further prayers are wanted, they can be requested to be added to the prayer list in the back of the church.
If you would like to join this lay ministry and/or have someone you would like to add to the list of those prayed for by the Prayer Group or Prayer Chain, please contact the leader below.
FRIENDLY VISITORS
The Friendly Visitor program strives to help parishioners maintain social interaction with our faith community, to let them know they are remembered and help relieve loneliness and feelings of isolation.
Visitors will visit a maximum of twice a month and a minimum of once a month. Visits might include such activities as reading to a person, writing letters, playing cards or other games, sharing news of St Luke’s or sharing a cup of tea.
No prior experience is needed as training is required and will be provided with ongoing support to volunteers.
The Lay Leader’s responsibilities are to recruit, screen, train and support volunteer visitors. The Lay Leaders will also receive referrals on individuals in need and make an initial visit to determine needs and match with a potential volunteer visitor.
Ministry Lay Leader:
Wayne Piper