Pastoral/congregational care for local members?

[Kliska]

This may be a strange question, but it is open to all; what does your religion, church, synagogue, gathering, pastor, Priest, etc… etc… have set up for local congregants/members as far as “help” or charity is concerned? I’m truly just curious and I’ll explain why in a minute.

As an example I’ve always found fantastic is the Sikh practice of providing nourishment for anyone who comes to their gurdwara hungry. It’s provided any time of day or night. We know that the early Christian church watched out for one another and provided for one another in a true case of need. The Amish in today’s world do much the same; they help each other in the fields, they hire one another, they do indeed raise barns together, etc…

How does this type of thing look in your church/parish/congregation? Do you have this type of thing in your congregation? If someone in your congregation was in need would your leader know it? I ask because it is one of my extreme frustrations in congregations I have been associated with. I would ask for programs for fellow members, and even asked the pastor if there was anyone in need that sought help from the church. Let’s just say the answer was unacceptable or unfulfilling to me.

I’d love to hear specifically about the things you personally have seen/been involved with, and not a general idea of charity, which most religions share. Also I’m most interested in what members do for other members, not necessarily the wider community.

 

[jane_doe]

Totally. Each church member has at least 2 church members charged with helping them in times of need (and each member in turn has a few members for them to help). If that system falls through, or if greater help is needed, there are church members charged with helping and/or organizing help in those cases. The local Bishop does get involved sometimes (particularly if monetary assistance is needed) but overall we stress helping each other first.

An example from my life: I just had my first baby, who had medical issues and we were flight-for-life’d to another state for medical treatment. We then spent a month in the hospital, during which my helper people called me (they knew I was due soon) asking “Hey how’s the baby doing? Do you need any help?” I then had to talk them out of driving 3 hours to come help me (we were actually in my hometown now and had a plethora of family around).

Well, we finally got out of the hospital and headed home. In my eagerness to get home, I mis-calculated the amount of gas needed to drive through a -40 degree blizzard with 100 mph winds. So we ended up pulling over an un-inhabited rest stop 30 miles out of town with not enough gas to get home (there are no gas stations within 50 miles of town). It was 10 30 on a Tuesday night, -40 degrees, a 100 mph blizzard outside, and my helper lady dropped what she was doing to bring us gas, and escorted us all the way home. I was SO grateful!

 

[Kliska]

Totally. Each church member has at least 2 church members charged with helping them in times of need (and each member in turn has a few members for them to help). If that system falls through, or if greater help is needed, there are church members charged with helping and/or organizing help in those cases. The local Bishop does get involved sometimes (particularly if monetary assistance is needed) but overall we stress helping each other first.

An example from my life: I just had my first baby, who had medical issues and we were flight-for-life’d to another state for medical treatment. We then spent a month in the hospital, during which my helper people called me (they knew I was due soon) asking “Hey how’s the baby doing? Do you need any help?” I then had to talk them out of driving 3 hours to come help me (we were actually in my hometown now and had a plethora of family around).

Well, we finally got out of the hospital and headed home. In my eagerness to get home, I mis-calculated the amount of gas needed to drive through a -40 degree blizzard with 100 mph winds. So we ended up pulling over an un-inhabited rest stop 30 miles out of town with not enough gas to get home (there are no gas stations within 50 miles of town). It was 10 30 on a Tuesday night, -40 degrees, a 100 mph blizzard outside, and my helper lady dropped what she was doing to bring us gas, and escorted us all the way home. I was SO grateful!

Sounds like a great system, thank you for sharing!

 

[Tommy999]

Hi Kliska,
Our local congregation has what is called an “Essentials Closet” where members (and non-members at the discretion of the pastoral staff) are allowed to obtain canned goods, baby food, clothes, and other essentials if they need help. Typically, single moms and people who lost their jobs avail themselves of this ministry, as well as others who are in need.

For example, we drop off clothes there that are still in good condition that our kids outgrew, as well as winter coats and other stuff. Sometimes we just donate money for whatever the deacon who manages it says they need. It is a somewhat discreet ministry where people are directed based on finding out that someone truly needs it.

Other local congregational care includes services like free grass mowing for elderly church members who can’t afford for someone else to do it, minor home repair, minor car repair, and things of that nature. The repair ministry is done by a group of church handymen who decided to serve the congregation in that manner.

 

[brad90956]

My parish has the St. Vincent de Paul Society which distributes food and clothes to families, holiday baskets, toys for children, financial assistance for rent, utilities, and emergency needs, home visits to those who are unable to visit the pantry and spiritual support.

 

[Kliska]

Hi Kliska,
Our local congregation has what is called an “Essentials Closet” where members (and non-members at the discretion of the pastoral staff) are allowed to obtain canned goods, baby food, clothes, and other essentials if they need help. Typically, single moms and people who lost their jobs avail themselves of this ministry, as well as others who are in need.

For example, we drop off clothes there that are still in good condition that our kids outgrew, as well as winter coats and other stuff. Sometimes we just donate money for whatever the deacon who manages it says they need. It is a somewhat discreet ministry where people are directed based on finding out that someone truly needs it.

Other local congregational care includes services like free grass mowing for elderly church members who can’t afford for someone else to do it, minor home repair, minor car repair, and things of that nature. The repair ministry is done by a group of church handymen who decided to serve the congregation in that manner.

My parish has the St. Vincent de Paul Society which distributes food and clothes to families, holiday baskets, toys for children, financial assistance for rent, utilities, and emergency needs, home visits to those who are unable to visit the pantry and spiritual support.

Thanks guys!

 

[peter26]

My old evangelical church had a ministry that helped new parents, volunteers cooked meals for them. There was also an adult lunch club every fortnight.

I’m not aware of anything at my new parish. Maybe there is, but a lot revolves around the different cliques here, so I probably wouldn’t know if there was.

Other local congregational care includes services like free grass mowing for elderly church members who can’t afford for someone else to do it, minor home repair, minor car repair, and things of that nature. The repair ministry is done by a group of church handymen who decided to serve the congregation in that manner.

This sounds like a really nice idea.

 

[Marie5890]

My parish has strong ministries to takes care of food donations, both for the parish and the community at large. We have parish members who go and take the Eucharist to the shut-in, both at home and in the nursing homes. We have a ministry that helps with those who just lost a loved one, etc.

People can be as involved to whatever degree they want or can be. And people can turn to these resources if they need or want. There is not pressure in any sense, no obligations. It’s all based on the needs of the people.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

Does anyone here belong to a parish that has Stephen Ministry? They do an excellent job of training lay people in pastoral care.