Caring Ministries at First UMC
Check out some ways you can get connected through receiving care or serving.
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory forever.
Amen.
– Matthew 6:9b-12 KJV
Weekly Prayer Group
We meet in person on Wednesday at 11am in Wesley Hall at the church to pray over the prayer requests we receive. This time is an opportunity to commune with God and one another in intercessory prayer.
Prayer Ministry
Prayer Chain Email
Each prayer request sent to us that gets marked “prayer chain” gets sent out to the Prayer Chain list as soon as possible so that we can offer prayers up in real time.
How to help someone who has lost a loved one:
- Be proactive
- Ask for ways to help them
- Anticipate their needs and offer a helping hand
Grief Share
Healing grief in community.
Grief Share is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone.
If you or someone you know are experiencing grief, Grief Share might be for you. It’s a support group where you can share with others and learning coping strategies through videos, homework, and discussion. Please consider joining us. We have two groups, one for spouses-only and one for ANYONE who is grieving a loss.
1st Christian Church also holds Grief Share sessions. This is offered as a hybrid with a zoom option or in person. Contact Gary Phillips at outrider649@gmail.com for more information.
Grief Share for Everyone
2nd & 4th Wednesdays, 5-7pm
This group is for anyone who has lost a loved-one, no matter who it is or how long it’s been.
Spouse-Only Grief Share
3rd Tuesdays 2pm
When a spouse dies, his/her partner loses so much more than just a spouse. Think about it. There are dozens of secondary roles that pass away along with their loved ones that cannot be easily replaced. A few are:
- Lawn maintenance person
- Financial Advisor/bill payer
- Housekeeper
- Cook & meal planner
- Travel companion
- Medical advocate
- Someone to sit with
- Errand Runner & shopper
- Snow removal person
- Best Friend
Your “team” has been dissolved, and there’s only one brain left. To complicate matters, the surviving spouse is often left with a reduced income and can’t always hire someone to perform those tasks. It’s often hard to ask others to help. That’s where Grief Share comes in. Process grief and build a plan for what’s next alongside others who get it.
I’m 80+ and/or home-bound. What can Angel Ministry do for me?
- You’ll be assigned an Angel who will check in on you regularly and make sure you’re doing okay.
- Remain connected with your FUMC church family, even when it’s difficult to make it to church in-person.
- Get visits from your Angel and share life and wisdom with them.
- Your Angel can help connect you with support through the church if you need it.
I want to volunteer as an Angel. What does this program look like for me?
- You’ll be assigned someone who is 80+ and/0r home-bound.
- Help this person remain connected with the congregation through visits and getting them support in areas the church can help.
- Build meaningful inter-generational friendships and learn from the wisdom and life experience of someone older than you.
Angel Ministry
Our Angel Ministry is very active in the care of our older congregants. Congregation members who are 80+ years old can be assigned an Angel volunteer. Each volunteer Angel visits his/her “Octogenarian” monthly and calls periodically to check in on them. They often take something when they visit, such as a copy of Sunday’s bulletin if their Octo is home-bound, an Upper Room devotional, or a small treat or goodie bag on holidays.
Strong bonds are forged and new friendships are made with the entire family. Many of our home-bound friends feel more engaged with the church as a result of this involvement.
Card Ministry
Volunteer to show love through writing!
Who doesn’t love getting [good] mail? If you enjoy connecting with others through writing, card ministry is for you! You can volunteer from wherever you are, sending cards for birthdays, anniversaries, celebrating graduations, or offering support in a difficult time.
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