Ministries

Pastoral Care Ministry

I believe
everyone has a story to tell and a gift to offer and needs a community where both can happen.

I believe
we are all on an adventure, an heroic journey into our own interior, searching not so much for a destination as a destiny, one’s own place in the scheme of things.

I believe
that on the way we wrestle with demons, fly with angels, and walk hand in hand with God who is love.

I believe
we best make that journey in the company of others, lest we find ourselves lost and alone.

I believe
you and I and others who care need to remember to care also for each other, and for those we meet along the way.
by Father Hank Myers

 

What we are learning about Pastoral Care

 

P Presence: Every human being has a great gift to become present to the other; listening, hearing and receiving. Those

who can sit in silence with another not knowing what to say but knowing that they should be there can bring comfort and

peace.

A Acceptance: Jesus was unrestricted in his reaching out to needy people. He did not consider background or social

status when caring for others. Whoever they were Jesus accepted them. The ministry of pastoral care means to accept others

- whoever they are and whatever their background, and state of need.

S Servanthood: Christ said of himself that he had not come to be waited upon but to serve. This concept of servanthood

in action is never more clearly seen than in the upper room where he washed his disciples’ feet. Jesus proclaimed this act as

an example which must be put into practice.

T Transformation: Christian pastoral care not only transforms and supports the receiver but also the giver. Faith can

then come alive as questioning and reflecting results in spiritual growth.

O Obedience: Whether clergy or lay, we need to be assured that we are endeavoring to minister in God’s place, in his

time, and in his way, so that our ministry may be truly a ministry obedient to the divine command. Jesus repeated the question:”

Simon, son of John, do you love me?” “Yes Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,”

Jesus said.

R Relationship: As care givers we enter the world of another person. This is often referred to as a “pastoral relationship”.

Christians care because of our own relationship with God and are then enabled to care for others. Any pastoral care

offered involves entering into a concerned and genuine relationship motivated by the acknowledgement that Christ is the

carer.

A Availability: The disciples tried to prevent mothers bringing their children for Jesus to bless. He stopped his teaching,

took these children in his arms, and blessed them. The message of Jesus’ life and ministry is a call for his disciples of all

ages to be ready and available to all people.

L Love: Even God could not communicate his love until he did it in person.......In the same way we cannot communicate

the fullness of God’s love until we become incarnate.

C Compassion: The word compassion comes from the Latin words pate and cum which together mean “to suffer

with.” Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into pain with another, to share in the brokenness, fear, confusion

and anguish. It requires us to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears, and to cry out with those in

misery. Compassion is being weak and vulnerable and powerless. It brings us face to face with our own humanity and our

total dependence on God.

A Action: Pastoral Care requires action in listening, caring, and giving. It is one thing to know and believe in Jesus’

ministry, and another thing to live it in our own lives. Without our active part, Jesus’ life becomes only another historical

and theological lesson.

R Renewal: Jesus spent many hours in prayer with God renewing himself for preaching, teaching and caring for others.

Even as he faced Calvary his ministry continued. He forgave his tormentors, as he blessed the dying thief and as he

provided for his mother. Only a man being constantly renewed by time spent with God could still be giving under these

circumstances. His supreme gift of himself on the cross has renewed the entire world.

E Empathy: The ability to enter and share the feelings of another person put us in touch with our very own fears and

doubts, our prejudices and judgments, our own pain and sorrows. What a wonderful gift to share our humanity knowing

that God feels deeply the concerns is in our heart.

With Love,

Tim, Christy, Sarah, Mark, Donna

 

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"So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.  Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves.  Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interest of others.  Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

Philippians 2:1-7

 

                             

Please ask us about our training.We want to share our experiences with you and tell you that each person at St. John’s is important to us. We are family!

Pastoral Care ministers, Rev. Donna Barr, Christy Leaver, Tim Downey, Fr. David Perkins, Keila Thomas, Mark Herbert, Sarah Sandknop