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Congregational Caring Ministry
"Caring is a reflex. Someone
slips, your arm goes out. A car is in a ditch, you
join the others and
push. A colleague at work has the blues, you let her
know you care. It
all seems natural and appropriate. You live, you help."
–Ram Dass, How Can I Help?
On this page:
What Is the Congregational Caring Ministry?
How can I help a bereaved person?
What about someone who is ill?
What about other events like divorce or job loss?
This all sounds very personal. I really don't know many
people at church that well.
I think that a fellow member has a serious problem. What
can I do?
What is the Congregational
Caring Ministry?
Formerly known as the Caring Committee, the Congregational
Caring Ministry or CCM serves our congregation by organizing efforts to assist
members experiencing life transitions or crisis. Our current focus is
providing tangible support by coordinating meals for member families who
have experienced births, deaths or illnesses.
CCM records the Joys and Concerns during each Sunday
service. We also depend on information provided by members. If you know of
someone in our congregation in need of assistance from the Congregational
Caring Ministry, please contact the Minister or Church Administrator.
When a member or friend of the church dies, CCM is
available to assist the Minister and the bereaved family in making
arrangements for a memorial service.
The CCM also oversees the church's Benevolence Fund. This
fund was set up to assist members and friends whose needs cannot be fully
met by other personal and community resources. The Fund was established to
take care of urgent health care needs, preventive care, and help to prevent
homelessness. The maximum funding available for
each requesting household is limited, but other resources may be explored in
times of great need. Donations to
the Fund are always welcomed.
As our congregation grows, the CCM hopes to expand its
efforts to better meet the needs of our members and enhance our church
community.
As a member or friend of our church, you are automatically
a part of the Caring Ministry. If you'd like to be a part of the team that
coordinates the services of the Ministry, please see our Minister or Church
Administrator. We warmly welcome anyone who'd like to share their gifts by
helping to coordinate these vital activities.
If you're unable to be a part of the team at this time,
you can still make an important contribution in building an atmosphere of
authentic warmth and caring in our church.
"At the heart of all that civilization has meant
and developed is
'community' –
the mutually cooperative and voluntary venture
of man to assume a
semblance of responsibility for his brother."
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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How can I help a bereaved
person?
When in doubt, err on the side of silent, but emotionally
connected support. If you can't think of something to say, a heartfelt
handshake or hug is often deeply appreciated. Your contribution can be as
simple as your silent presence or a sincerely expressed, "I'm sorry."
Do:
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Send a card or note
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Act natural and show genuine concern
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Offer hugs or an arm around the shoulder, as
appropriate
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Say, "I love you" if you are close enough
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Share memories and talk openly about the person who
died
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Cry if you feel like crying
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Offer practical assistance with meals or housework
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Keep in mind that evenings, weekends, holidays and
anniversaries can be extra challenging times
Don't:
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Try to avoid the bereaved person
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Pry into personal matters or the circumstances of the
death
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Offer advice or quick solutions such as:
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"I know how you feel."
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"You should ____."
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"Time heals all wounds."
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Try to cheer the person up or distract from the
emotional intensity:
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"At least he's no longer in pain."
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"She's in a better place now."
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"It was God's timing/will."
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Minimize the loss:
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What about someone who is
ill?
In addition to cheering someone up, you can make them feel
treasured and less isolated when you acknowledge him or her during a time of
illness. A card or note always lets someone know that you're concerned and
have been thinking of them.
When planning a visit, call first. When visiting at home,
it's simply good etiquette. At the hospital, the nurses' desk on the floor
can often make suggestions based on if the patient has had a lot of
visitors, has undergone painful treatments, or simply needs to rest.
Knock and ask permission before entering the room. This
will allow the patient to be prepared for someone to come in.
Be positive and simply have a conversation, friend to
friend. Be ready to listen as well as talk.
Plan to keep the visit short unless you've been asked to
do otherwise. There are times when a patient simply needs someone there
while they sleep or to relieve the family but more commonly, prolonged
visits may tire the patient and keep them from needed rest.
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What about
other events like divorce or job loss?
As with other types of losses, simple expressions of care
and concern are often deeply appreciated.
A card, casserole or other gesture clearly says, "I know
you're going through a difficult time and I care."
"We must serve consciously as caring role models,
emphasizing the ethic of service, not consumption."
Marian Wright Edelman
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This all sounds very
personal. I really
don't know many people at
church that well.
It's not necessary to be close friends to express concern
and kindness. As a community that affirms the inherent worth and dignity of
every person, it is essential that we see everyone as deserving of our
support. You can show that support in large or small ways. The important
thing, often for both the giver and the recipient, is that the effort is
extended.
It is often in sharing life's events that we become more
mindful and connected to one another. By reaching out with a small gesture,
you may be gifted with a close, life-long friend — as well as making our
church a comforting place for old and new members alike.
Simply by being a member of our church, you are a part of
the Caring Ministry. Watch for announcements on how you can more fully
participate in what are not only acts of caring, but opportunities for
spiritual growth.
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I think that a fellow member
has a serious problem. What can I do?
The Congregational Caring Ministry or CCM is a lay group and
limited in the problems it is able to address. We cannot provide
professional care or prolonged services.
For issues that may warrant professional intervention, you
will be directed to member of CCM' s team
who is knowledgeable about resources and agencies within the larger
community and may be able to provide a referral and contact information.
For more information, contact Marianne Erickson,
the current CCM chair.
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