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Care
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Congregational Nurture
We will begin a new Stephen Minister class at the end of January. The training involves 50 hrs meeting once a week from late January through May. A Stephen Minister serves as one trained to listen in times of loss and change, whether it be grief, divorce, extended illnes or hospice. If you feel that you are a good listener and willing to wak with people through different issues in their lives then consider becoming a Stephen Minister. We invite you to prayerfully search your hearts and listen and respond if God is leading you in this direction. Please call the church office if you are interested.
If you are looking for an opportunity to provide support to our military, we have an invitation for you. Those who go through the Stephen ministry training can become a part of the Heroes Care Program. This program combines Steven Ministry with Operation Home Front working with our military men and women and their families. We provide emotional support by having someone they can talk to and can also arrange for tangible resources such as providing diapers and formula for babies, food, or emergency support during deployment. Because waiting time for counseling through the VA can be long we can also refer someone to a network of professional counselors who donate their time for a weekly visit for as long as needed. Many returning soldiers have a difficult time finding work. The Heroes Care Program can help with that too. If you are already a Stephen minister or take the upcoming training, you can become a part of the Heroes Program.
Those of us who have taken the training were shocked by the amount of violence, stress and trauma that our brave military men and women are exposed to when they are on the battlefield. The news networks don’t tell this story. If you are interested in giving back to those who have sacrificed so much for us, become a Stephen Minister or take the day long Heroes Training. Please contact the church office if you are interested in joining with us.
Pastoral Care
When members and friends of the congregation are in need of spiritual care due to illness or difficult life situations, pastoral care is provided to them through an extensive network of trained care providers. Deacons visit hospitals, rehab and long-term care facilities. Stephen Ministers provide on-going visitation and companionship for those whose desire someone to walk beside them. The pastoral staff, including two Parish Associates (retired PC(USA) Ministers) are available for emergencies. If you have know of a need, call the church office.
Deacons
The Board of Deacons is made up of twenty-four men and women called to serve on one of five care teams:
- Bereavement Care - providing support and oversight of receptions following memorial services for those who have lost loved ones
- Community Care - sponsoring blood drives and CPR classes and overseeing our connection with the Meal - a - Month program
- Crisis Care - working with school administrations and city officials to care for individuals and families in our community
- Homebound Care - providing connections with those no longer able to attend church on a regular basis and overseeing the telephone ministry which provides live converage of the 11 o'clock service via telephone
- Hospital Care - a ministry of visitation and prayer to those in the hospital or specialized care facilities
Each Deacon is trained and equipped to offer hands-on service in a specialized area of ministry, receiving on-going training and supervision. There is also a Deacons’ Fund through which emergency financial aid is extended to those in need.
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers are extensively trained lay people who form confidential one-on-one relationships with persons experiencing grief, trauma or transitional stress. Through this national ecumenical program, each Stephen Minister receives fifty hours of training to prepare for the role of caring listener and participates in on-going supervision. Sponsors the annual. We are also affiliated with the military families through trained members of the H.E.R.O.E. S.
program. SEE ABOVE.
Presbyterian Women
Women’s Circles meet fall, winter and spring at church or in private homes for mutual support, fellowship, and study. Denomination-wide gatherings are scheduled every 3 years--see the Fellowship section for more information.
Intercessors
The Intercessors Prayer Group maintains a telephone chain and an e-mail chair to pray for those with special needs. Prayer Request Cards are available in the pews for anyone wishing to lift up a prayer concern.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
This unique group prayerfully knits and crochets soft, comforting shawls for persons in physical or emotional pain. Each completed shawl is blessed, and is given to the recipient with a card explaining its symbolic significance.
Prayer Request
For a confidential prayer request, click here.
Caregiver Support Group
Caring for other people is a blessing, a way of showing how much we love and have compassion for others. This blessing often comes with happy intimate moments, special memories, along with long hours and exhaustion, frustration, feelings of guilt, joy, and grief. Each caregiving situation is unique, and sometimes caregivers think no one understands their situation and nor does anyone want to listen to their story. Yet no matter what the situation, caregivers share many of the same experiences and feelings.
The Caregiver Support Group is a safe and confidential environment where caregivers listen to each other, sharing experiences, concerns, and feelings. This group also provides the opportunity to share ideas and resources which can enhance the caregiving role. If you are caring for a parent, spouse, child, loved one or friend in your home, in their home, long distance, or in a residential facility, please join us so we can support and care for you. We meet every Saturday from 9:00-10:00am in Room 028. Babysitting is available upon request. If you have questions, email sknopf@kirkwoodpres.org.