PASTORAL CARE
​TO the Parish. FOR the Parish. FROM the Parish.

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WHAT IS PASTORAL CARE?

A program of INREACH to reflect God's love through our Faith in Action. Pastoral Care consists of lay shepherds (i.e., lay pastoral caregivers) providing love and compassion ministries to our parishioners in need both in the Plateau area and wherever they may be when not in the Plateau area as well as a few ministries to anyone living on the Plateau. These ministries provide emotional, social and spiritual needs aimed at uplifting and comforting parishioners, friends and family involved in caregiving. Parishioners may be sick, preparing and recovering from a medical procedure, going through a difficult circumstance, loss of a loved one, not able to attend church or primarily homebound. Additionally, our bereavement and healing ministries welcome anyone living on the Plateau. ​

Congregations cannot depend solely on the clergy to provide pastoral care. They do, of course, provide care when people are dying, struggling with death or an illness or need to speak with a priest. Routine visits to the lonely, sick, elderly, homebound, etc., are best done by the laity under direction of clergy. Because this is a core ministry of the laity and because there are more laity in a congregation than clergy, those needing care will receive it more frequently! Lay pastoral caregivers find that this ministry is deeply meaningful and that it usually deepens their spiritual life.

Our lay shepherd provide the following ministries focused on hope and care. 

Caring / Support

• Writing letters
• Providing food
• Delivering church- flower arrangements
• Rides to church events, appointments and run errands
• Taking a Prayer Quilt

Friendship / Companionship

• Praying together
• Calling/ Texting
• Playing games and working puzzles
• Sitting and listening
• Walking together
• Reading aloud
• Watching streamed church services together

Community Support

• Bereavement comfort
• Brokenness and addiction healing
• Ministering to Chestnut Hill residences
• Mobility and medical equipment
  

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Pastoral Care Ministries
CoGS provides the following ministries to support our parishioners in need.

Eucharistic Visits

Bring love, hope, prayers and the Eucharist to those unable to get to church.

Training required. 

Leader: Alison Schultz

Friendly Visits

Weekly visits building meaningful relationships

Leader: Lida Herring

Heavenly Foods

Make home-cooked frozen meals and soups available for any parishioner to take to parishioners.

Any parishioner can deliver. The freezer in the basement of Hines Hall contains small casseroles, soups, bread, and desserts. There are bags for transport and a sign out sheet for keeping inventory and informing the Pastoral Care Team. 

Leaders: Carol Treichel and Judy Gray

Love Letters

Send handwritten notes of encouragement and support. Cards, envelopes, and stamps are available at the church.

​Leaders: Eleanor Welling and Kathy Carter

Petal Pushers

Deliver arrangements made from the altar flowers to parishioners suggested by the Clergy.

Leader: Nora Jones

Ring Leaders

Reassuring phone calls connecting with  parishioners that are not in Cashiers 

​Leader: Maizie Belser

Wheels Up

Provide transportation to church for worship, education, or church sponsored events, or doctor appointments.

Leader: Sharon Stricker

Care Coordinators

Coordinate pastoral care for parishioners with ongoing needs

• Contact weekly or as needed
• Notify Pastoral Care Team Leaders, clergy and/or Ellen of changes or emergencies
• Arrange Pastoral Care ministries and invite other shepherds to assist as needed

Leader: Vacant

Education and Resources

Education and resources in Hines Hall Library supporting Pastoral Care and senior needs. 

Leaders: Alison Schultz, vacant

CoGS provides the following ministries to anyone living on the Plateau: 

Pink Me Up

Hands and feet nail care for residents of Chestnut Hill on the first Tuesday of the month.
​
Leader: Annemarie Halback

Spirituality and the Twelve Steps

Ongoing weekly discussion group providing healing for anyone in the Plateau are who has an type of addiction (e.g., food, exercise, shopping, internet,...) attend weekly or when you are able as each session is an independent discussion. May attend via Zoom.

The sessions link the Gospel message of Jesus with the message of Bill Wilson in the 12 Step Program. In each session, participants will read selected text from Breathing Under Water and share thoughts and questions. Prior knowledge of the 12 Steps Program is not necessary. 

The Breathing Under Water book is available for purchase in the church office. 

Leader: Sharon Stricker

Walking the Mourner's Path

Eight-week grief workshop available to anyone in the Plateau area.

Leaders: Alison Schultz, Sharon Stricker and Lawson Kelly

Mobility and Medical Equipment

Loan out gently used mobility and medical equipment.  Equipment includes but is not limited to boots, canes, crutches, knee scooters, medical commodes, shower chairs, walkers, walkers with wheels and seats and wheelchairs.
We accept gently used mobility aids and medical equipment donations  if we need to increase our inventory for that item.
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Leader:  Ellen Albright

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Pastoral Care Leaders

Sharon Stricker (Team Leader)
[email protected]​

Lida Herring (Team Leader)
[email protected]​

Alison Schultz (Clergy Liaison)
[email protected]​

Please contact one of the leaders if you have an idea for Pastoral Care Ministry, want to be a Care Coordinator, or have other recommendations for our Pastoral Care Ministry. 

Pastoral Care Shepherds and Care Coordinators

Our Shepherds are Lay members dedicated to supporting people with specific needs. At a time when our population is aging, caring for older adults is especially relevant. This is an ideal ministry for laity as they often have long-term relationships with older members. There are roles for people with different skills. Those who are good at listening and caring can be visitors. Those who like to DO things can buy or prepare food, schedule visitors, wrote notes, gather information and resources, serve as drivers, etc. What's important is that we have a team of people who can respond to the needs of our congregation. 

In addition to providing pastoral care services, Pastoral Care Shepherds are asked to keep their "ear to the ground" and your "eyes open" to any needs that the Pastoral Care Teams can help with!

If you want to ne a Shepherd for one of the ministries, contact the Team Leader.

Additionally the goal is to have a Care Coordinator for parishioners with ongoing needs. The Care Coordinator role is to:

• Maintain contact with a single person weekly or as needed
• Notify Pastoral Care Team Leaders, clergy and/or Ellen of changes or emergencies
• Invite other Shepherds to assist as needed
• Arrange care (i.e., food, transportation, flowers, letters, communion and other pastoral care ministries as needed.

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TESTIMONIALS

Carroll Rivers
​"My left eye requires a shot every six weeks. It is not to cure but to keep it from being worse.The doctor is in Sylva. My ride, at the last moment could not take me. The Lay Pastoral Care Team came to my need!"

Liz and Lamar Cole
"The help we received from the pastoral care team was wonderful. They drove us to and from doctor appointments, ran errands for us and brought us many delicious meals. It was such a blessing to us and I don’t know how we would have gotten through that difficult time without them. Thanks to all of them."

Sharon Vanvick
"...Your presence and prayers made all the difference in my recovery. Your calls and emails continue to impact my healing every day! All of this abundance of care has made me recognize the importance of caring for others..."

Maizie Belser
"To be so blessed as to be a part ​of a loving, caring family, is one of God’s greatest gifts. I believe though that now God is calling us to open our eyes wider to see the needs of every sheep in our 'little flock' so that not one 'can slip through the cracks.'”

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