There are always many people in need within the Church and many of us are able to provide solutions: from driving an elderly parishioner to Church on Sunday morning, to cooking and delivering a simple meal for someone recovering from knee surgery.
A small gift of your time, heart and talent can make a huge difference in someone's life. If you would like to volunteer for our Caring Ministry, please click here to contact us. If you would like a little extra care, or know someone who does, please click contact us.
Stephen Ministry:
What Is Stephen Ministry?
Stephen Ministry equips lay people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. Stephen Ministry is a confidential ministry: The identity of those receiving care and what takes place in each caring relationship remains absolutely private. Learn More...
Pastoral Care:
Pastoral Care of members covers a wide variety of ministries. Lay chaplains serve in a nondenominational ministry at St. John's Medical Center - visiting with patients and caring for them. Lay ministers carry communion from the service on Sunday to those who are unable to attend because of health or disability. Newcomers and visitors are welcomed through letters and visits as requested. Short term pastoral counseling is provided by the clergy. Spiritual Direction is also provided by trained Spiritual Directors.
The clergy and members are happy to make hospital and home visits as requested. They do not receive information on who is in the hospital or who needs a visit unless notified directly. Call us in the church office at 733-2603, ext. 112 if you need a visit or know someone else who needs a visit contact us by clicking here.
Healing:
Every Sunday at the 10:00 a.m. communion service, members of St. John's Healing Team are available to lay hands on you and pray for you. Many people feel that the laying on of hands is only for the ill, but this ancient Christian practice by which faithful people entrust themselves and their concerns and their loved ones to God is available to all. It is a very focused kind of prayer in which we pray for everything in God's domain, for example, job problems, issues with children, or relationship concerns. Some people just want to be better parents or spouses. Sometimes, things are going so well in someone's life that they want to give thanks. And of course, some people do have illnesses or medical concerns, or someone they care about does. You can come to the healing team not just for yourself, but for another person. Sometimes, people find themselves aching over something that is happening in the world- poverty, homelessness, or war - and they want to pray about it with someone else in a very intentional way.
All you have to do is come to the prayer desk (to the left of the altar, where Centering Prayer is held on Tuesdays) and entrust yourself to God's grace. Tell the member of the team what you would like prayers for, and they will lift you and your concerns up to God, in confidentiality.