Pastoral Care
No visitors have ever been turned away or given short shrift at Family of Christ. One of the gifts we share in this community of faith is providing emotional/spiritual support and pastoral care in times of need, illness or accident, death, marital or family distress, etc. This is a particular "core value" in our congregation, one specific way we care for one another.
One of the stories to tell that all pastors hear and bemoan, however, is to learn, after the fact, that a hospitalization or personal crisis has occurred. Quite often it's during the crisis that a person is most receptive to or in need of the ministry of the church. That's the time that prayer, the comforts of Christian faith, and a sense of church companionship can help heal a bruised or broken heart.
Even if you do not want visitors, please let Pr Josh and Pr Kristie know of needs; we can and will pray for you and honor your wishes. Prayer requests are confidential and not automatically included by name in public prayers (unless, obviously, they are requested at worship); nor will these requests automatically be passed along to FoC Prayer Partners.
Nursery Care
At Family of Christ, we love kids! We know that the way we welcome children in church influences the way they respond to God and the household of faith. As we always say, God put the wiggle in children; we don't want parents to feel that they have to suppress it in God's house. To help children learn that that they are welcome in our sanctuary, we provide crayons and children's bulletins at the ushers' table by the entry, offer a kid-friendly space in a corner of the sanctuary for children and parents to worship together, and invite them to the front for a message "in the language of children" from the preaching pastor each week.
Sometimes the littlest among us (three years and younger) just need a different place to be during worship. Our nursery is on the lower level and is staffed by paid nursery caregivers who are certified in CPR and first aid. Nursery care is provided for:
- Sundays, 9:00-noon
- Wednesdays during the school year, 5:00-8:30 PM
- New member events
- Special events and other occasions as announced
Questions? Contact Leann Thompson, Director of Faith Formation, or Teri Burns, Minister to Children & Families.
Prayer Partners
Prayer Partners is a circle of pray-ers who tend the congregation's list of persons in special need of prayer. If you would like to request prayer for yourself or someone else or join the Prayer Partner circle, contact Tracy Woods.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry at Family of Christ got its start at the first women's retreat, held in November 2006. After the retreat, several retreat-goers committed to meeting regularly to knit and pray for people in special need. Word spread that there were knitters hanging out in the conference room following the Friday morning women's Bible study and the group quickly grew to 17.
Joyce McMahon is our master knitter, always willing to teach a newbie or troubleshoot when somebody drops a stitch. Since the first shawl was blessed and gifted on March 9, 2007, more than 165 have been given to people experiencing health challenges, grief and loss, anxiety, the stresses of care-giving, and more. One shawl gifted to a man who later died was draped on his casket, then passed along to the widow to wrap her in memories and God's good care. Another was given to an Amish mother whose teenage son had been paralyzed when a tree branch fell on him. The knitter, whose own son was recovering from surgery at the same hospital, reached out to this mom with a beautiful gift of prayers and caring.
The knitting and the gifting of these shawls have blessed the knitters as well as the recipients. A community of caring has grown up in the knitters' circle itself. One recent transplant from Illinois says that the prayer shawl ministry has been a great way for her to meet new people; she values the opportunity to socialize while she's doing something for someone else. "It slows us down," another says appreciatively.
If you are interested in becoming a part of this ministry either knitting on your own or with the group, contact Joyce McMahon. Cash donations to buy yarn are always welcome. If you know someone who would enjoy a prayer shawl, contact Pastor Kristie (952-934-5659, ext. 12).
Congregational Care/Funeral Hospitality Ministry
"Would it be a blessing if we...?" This is the question Congregational Care Team begins with when they contact someone in the congregation with a special need for support. The Congregational Care Ministry exists to provide services for members by other members to be the hands and heart of Christ for one another in times of stress and loss. The blessings brought by the Congregational Care team come face-to-face and often (but not always) involve food. In the past, recipients have been blessed by rides when they couldn't drive; warm meals at the birth of a baby, during extended medical treatment and periods of unemployment; assistance following house fires; companionship in walking around the block following surgery; preparation and serving funeral luncheons. Referrals for congregational care services may come through one of the pastors or anyone in the congregation who knows of a need. Volunteers are organized in teams and serve for two months per year as needs arise.
For more information on how you can become part of the CCM or to make a need known, contact Pr Kristie (952-934-5659, ext. 12).
