Pastoral Care

Love one another as I have loved you (John 13:34)
 

In the church, pastoral care is where we take care of each other, where we live out in considered action the second commandment of Jesus – to love our neighbors as ourselves. The Chapel of the Cross places a high priority on pastoral care for all ages who participate here. Moreover, we encourage everyone to be involved who can -- this is a wonderful opportunity for lay ministry. With the leadership of the clergy, the whole parish expresses its care for one another through prayer, understanding, and support. All parishioners should know the love of God for them through showing that love to, and receiving that love from, one another.

Some specific pastoral ministries in the parish address the most common pastoral needs. Except for funeral service arrangements (which only the clergy handle), in each of these pastoral ministries, a dedicated, trained, and coordinated team of parishioners provide the following:

Good Samaritan Guild: short-term assistance to parishioners recuperating from injury, surgery, or other crisis

Support Team Ministry: longer-term assistance for those confronting chronic, terminal, or other critical health situations

Parish Visitors: regular visits to homebound or institutionalized parishioners

Prayer Circle: regular, intercessory prayers for anyone in special need who has been identified to the church

Elder Ministry: in addition to the other pastoral ministries already mentioned, Bible study and/or religious services by the clergy at some area retirement communities

Funeral Service Arrangements: when a parishioner is gravely ill, near death, or has died

Much more detail on each of these ministries is provided from the links in the blue drop-down menu to the left.