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Congregational Care
| The Congregational Care Committee was approved by the Session in December 2006. The purpose of the committee is to envision, coordinate, and network the congregational care provided to our church members. An elder representative from Session chairs the committee and assists with coordination and communication of pastoral care in the church. Congregational care in our church is provided by the Associate Pastor, Deacons, Congregational Health Ministry, Presbyterian Women, Samaritans, and Stephen Ministry which will be added later this year. Each one of these groups is represented on the committee. This committee will explore ways each committee can complement each other and work together for the benefit of our church members so no one is left without needed care. |
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If you or someone you know in our congregation is not receiving care that they need please contact a member of this committee - Cindy Alloway, Nancy Behrendt, Lena Fermani, Carol Gilbert, Jan Harris, Marilynn Hummer, Helen Kingsbury, and Nancy Rossman.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Congregational Care
Question: “I have just been discharged from the hospital.
Who in the church can help me?”
Answer: The Samaritans can help with transportation to
doctors’ appointments. The Board of Deacons can assign
a Deacon to visit you on a regular basis to pray with you
and help you find resources. The Congregational Health
nurses can send a nurse out to check on resources in the
community that might help with your adjustment back
home. They can bring you a walker or commode from the
Deacon’s closet to help with your needs at home. The
Prayer Chain can pray for you if you send a request to
Judith Eckhard. The Presbyterian Women’s circle to
which you belong might be able to provide food to you and
your family during your recovery. A Stephen Minister can
be assigned to you if you need someone alongside you
during this time of crisis. He or she can visit on a weekly
basis.
Question: I have lost my husband to cancer. How do I get
support from our church during this crisis?
Answer: Our pastors will provide pastoral care as
needed, help you design the funeral service and conduct
the service if you wish. The Board of Deacons can alert
your Neighborhood Deacon to contact you and help you
during this time of grieving. If you need more intensive
care-giving at home, a Stephen Minister can be assigned
to you to visit weekly and help you during your
bereavement process. Our Clothing Bank can accept
clothes that you no longer need. The Samaritans can help
with transportation needs. The Congregational Health
Ministry can help you find a support group.
Question: “As I am getting older, I can use some help
with meals and going to medical appointments.”
Answer: The Congregational Health Ministry can help
you find home health care, if needed. The Board of
Deacons can assign a Deacon to visit you once a month
and help you find resources like Meals on Wheels. The
Samaritans can help you find a way to your doctors’
appointments. |
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| The Congregational Care Committee works to
envision, coordinate, and network the
congregational care provided to our church
members. The committee explores
ways the following groups can
complement each other
and work together for the
benefit of our church members so
no one is left without needed care. |
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Deacons
Congregational Health Ministry
Stephen Ministry
Samaritans
The Prayer Chain
Clothing Bank
The Presbyterian Women |
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The Board of Deacons The Deacons are church officers who assist with the congregational care of the church
by being additional “shepherds of the sheep.” Every member of our church is assigned a Deacon who is available to provide:
♦ an opportunity to get acquainted with other church
members in the neighborhood with a social
gathering once a year;
♦ information about current church resources and
activities:
♦ prayer (either in person, by phone and/or
assistance with adding a prayer request to the
prayer chain);
♦ assistance with contacting the appropriate
pastoral staff or other church resources.
Under the leadership and direction of the associate pastor, the Deacons establish caring and friendly relationships with members who need occasional home visits and nurturing outreach from the church. The Deacons visit and deliver flowers to the hospitalized,
bereaved or to nursing homes. Easter flowers and Thanksgiving fruit baskets or plants are delivered to the people they regularly call or visit. Three months out of the year the Deacons organize and help with Sunday morning worship services at Spring Hills Assisted Living Facility, which is a block from the church. |
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| The Congregational Health Ministry This ministry promotes the physical and
spiritual well being of the members of our
church family and community, and encourages
church members to purposely live faithful, healthy
lives. Nurses, physicians, and social workers provide
resource advice and faith- and health-related
programs, including newsletter articles on holistic
health, monthly blood pressure screenings,
occasional worship services for healing and
wholeness, and labyrinth prayer walks during the
Lenten season. |
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The Stephen Ministry This ministry is a one to one care-giving ministry made up of laypersons who are trained to provide effective, distinctively Christian care to those in the congregation and community who may be suffering from the loss of a loved one, chronic illness, or some other kind of life crisis. If you would like to have a Stephen Minister visit you or if you would like to receive the 50 hours of training to become a Stephen Minister, please contact Pastor Cindy Alloway at the church office.
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The Samaritans Samaritans, a ministry to our church family, is a tangible sign of Christ’s love for us that we want to share with others. Under the auspices of the Board of Deacons, Samaritans minister to those in our congregation who find they may need extra help. We try to fill all requests. No request is too big or small, too foolish or complicated. Help with shopping, transportation, assistance with medical insurance forms, fixing meals, etc., are just some of the services we seek to provide. Please contact Helen Kingsbury. There is no charge to recipients for Samaritan services. .
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The Prayer Chain The Prayer Chain has been praying together for our congregation and family and friends of the church since 1997, and have seen many answers to prayer and much personal growth as we pray together, seeking God’s face! There are presently 85 people on the Chain, receiving several requests each week and disseminating them by phone and e-mail. We offer an annual retreat to study, discuss and practice Centering
Prayer, lectio divina (praying with the Scriptures), and using a labyrinth and times of silence to deepen our faith. Please contact Judith Eckhard to join the Chain or to request prayers.
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| The Clothing Bank There is something very special that happens on Tuesday mornings in the basement of the Parish House. It is the Clothing Bank. The amazing generosity of our church members helps to clothe many people in our area and afar. A few volunteers come each week to help hang up and serve our shoppers. They also interact in a very positive way, showing kindness and understanding to anyone who comes through our door. In essence, our Presbyterian Church is making a difference. This is the ripple effect of goodness. Call Jan Harris for any clothing bank needs. |
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| The Presbyterian Women The Presbyterian Women in Morristown is an organization made up of all the Presbyterian Women in our congregation. We offer Bible Study (during Lent and in Circles) and financially support local and world-wide missions through our Bazaar, the Thank Offering, the Fellowship of the Least Coin, and the Birthday Offering. We also support through our personal involvement: our Clothing Bank, Morris View Nursing Home, the County Jail, Mrs. Wilson’s House, the Community Soup Kitchen, Market Street Mission as well as several families in Newark. In our congregation we work to build a caring community through our small groups (Circles) and general meetings in December and June. All women are welcome to find out more about PW and what PW is planning for the future by contacting Sherry Guthrie. |
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