Nurturing and Healing

Pastoral Care

Caring for our congregation is a high priority at CPC. Our pastors and lay caregivers respond as quickly as possible to special needs as they arise. When we are informed of illness, loss of a loved one, financial crises or other challenging circumstances, one of our pastors usually makes the first contact. If more than a comforting visit is needed, the pastor(s) may activate a variety of resources. Our Pastoral Care Team includes the Parish Nurse, Caregivers and Stephen Ministers, working in concert with the pastors to address concerns.

In times of need, please contact the church office immediately. Please do not wait for your concern to become a crisis. Talk with us today. We are here for you.

Parish Nursing

For more information, contact the Parish Nurse.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

In late 2009, CPC started a prayer shawl ministry, an outreach of love and compassion. Prayer shawls console those who grieve, comfort those who are ill, bring hope to those who are in despair, or celebrate those who have reached some milestone. The volunteers who knit these shawls become part of the mystery of giving as they create a symbolic gift of God's embrace for someone they may or may not know.

If you know of someone who would benefit from receiving a prayer shawl or if you would like to be a volunteer knitter, please contact Lynn Voss.

Stephen Ministers

This is a quiet ministry of listening to persons within and beyond the congregation who need someone with whom to share the difficult thoughts and feelings that go with times of transition.

Stephen Ministers are assigned to a Care Partner by a Referral Coordinator (currently Rev. David Voss,) who explains the role of the Stephen Minister and determines whether the needs of the person can best be served by Stephen Ministry (as opposed to medical or other professional help). Once a good match is made to a Stephen Minister, the two then arrange their own meeting times and places (usually once a week in a place that provides privacy), and continue to meet until both agree that it is time to bring the relationship to a close.

Stephen Ministers are always assigned to someone of the same gender, never to couples and never to children or adolescents. Stephen Ministers and their Care Partners agree on the important things that need to be discussed; the Care Partner talks about his/her concerns and the Stephen Ministry serves as an active, caring listener.

Stephen Ministers make a commitment to serve actively for two years. After extensive training, Stephen Ministers meet twice a month for continuing education and peer supervision and discuss their work in strictly confidential terms (no names are ever used). They may recommit to further terms or they may choose to take a sabbatical as needed.

For more information, contact the Referral Coordinator (currently Rev. David Voss,)

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