The role of pastoral care at St. John’s covers a wide spectrum. While pastoral care at St. John’s includes the typical expectations of hospital visits and ministry at the time of death, it reaches beyond these expectations as well.
Pastoral care involves a loving community which responds to challenges of faith, life crises, and ordinary questions along the way. This may include phone calls to those awaiting surgery, meals to those who are bereaved, and visits to those homebound or in nursing homes. It may include welcoming new babies, helping with decisions about family issues, and planning memorial services.
The role of pastoral care at St. John’s exists to care for the body and spirit of our church family and even reaches beyond to those who may not have a church family. We strive to demonstrate Christ’s love by supporting our members through joy, sorrow, illness and other life events.
Hospital Visitations
Our clergy attempt to see every member who is in the hospital. But long
gone are the days when the hospitals call the parish to inform us of an admission. Due to privacy laws, area hospitals no longer provide information regarding parishioners unless specifically directed to do so by you upon admission. Many parishioners misunderstand the privacy forms and do not list the parish on the privacy notice, making it impossible for us to know of a hospitalization. In many cases, such as outpatient surgery or emergency care, notification is not possible. If you or a loved one are in the hospital, or in need of special prayers please contact us so that one of our clergy is able to visit you.
Lay Eucharistic Visitors
Each Sunday, trained Lay Eucharistic Visitors are sent with the blessing of our clergy and parish family to deliver communion to those confined to home or hospital. The Lay Eucharistic Visitors of our parish are an essential element in keeping homebound parishioners connected to all of us.
Bereavement Ministry
The bereavement ministry provides specific services and support to parishioners who have experienced a death in their family.
New Baby Ministry
The new baby ministry provides specific services and support to parishioners who are preparing to have or have had a new birth or adoption in their family.
Retirement Center Visitation Ministry
The retirement center visitation ministry provides specific services and support to parishioners living in retirement homes in an effort to keep them involved in the life of the church.
Parish Health Ministry
The parish health committee meets health and wellness needs of our congregation. This ministry provides blood pressure screenings the first Sunday of each month. This ministry will be conducting a parish-wide health survey in September 2007 and after identifying needs of the parish from the results of the survey will plan health fairs and programs when appropriate.
Samaritan Ministry
The Samaritan Ministers of St. Johns are members of the parish who are called to the ministry of pastoral care. They have received over 20 hours of training in pastoral care ministry while working with the director of Pastoral Care at Centra Health, Randal Walton. Samaritan
provide one-to-one Christian care to the bereaved, hospitalized, terminally ill, separated, divorced, unemployed, relocated, and others facing a crisis or life challenge. The Samaritan Ministers also visit people in nursing homes in the Lynchburg area. If you are interested in becoming involved in this ministry or know someone who would be interested in speaking to a Samaritan Minister please contact The Rev. Diane E.Vie, ext. 15.
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