“Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to your never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that you are doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
~ A Prayer for Those We Love – The Book of Common Prayer, pg. 831
Dear People of St. David’s,
During the seasons of Advent and Christmas, our St. David’s clergy bring Holy Communion to parishioners who can no longer attend church on their own. We do this throughout the year with the help of our Lay Eucharistic Visitors as well. With so many parishioners, it is a blessing to have members of our congregation bring the sacrament of Holy Eucharist to their fellow parishioners. However, around the holidays, the clergy are especially intentional about spending time with these folks, hearing their stories, and connecting with them through the Eucharist.
Last week, I had the joy of bringing Communion to one of our oldest parishioners, Sally Mohr. Sally and I have developed a relationship over the course of my time here. Her daughter, Deb Geffken, and I decided that it might be a fun surprise to bring my eight-month-old son with me. What a lovely visit it was! With about 100 years between the two of them, it was great to share smiles, laughter, and Communion. The spirit of Christmas was certainly in that room!
Bringing Communion to people who can’t attend Sunday worship is just one way that St. David’s offers pastoral care. Since being at St. David’s, I believe that pastoral care is one of the things we do best. Pastoral care is the ministry of providing spiritual guidance, emotional support, and practical assistance to parishioners within our church. It encompasses a range of activities aimed at nurturing the well-being of parishioners, offering care in times of joy and sorrow, and fostering spiritual growth.
We have many pastoral care ministries here at St. David’s. I personally think that these ministries can be a real blessing during the Christmas season. While we typically associate joy and happiness with this time of year, the reality is that not everyone feels that way. Many people find the holidays difficult because of the loss of a loved one, family issues, or perhaps their own illness. So, having pastoral care ministries that are dedicated to being helpful and caring to these individuals is a true blessing!
We have ministries such as:
- Stephen Ministry – A ministry in which trained and supervised laypersons provide one-to-one Christian care to individuals facing life challenges.
- St. David’s Friends – Visits parishioners who need encouragement and companionship. They offer a smile, a listening ear, and nonjudgmental friendship. St. David’s Friends is a ministry of sharing God’s love with fellow parishioners.
- Flower Ministry – Volunteers arrange and/or deliver Sunday and holiday flowers to homebound parishioners or those needing encouragement or celebration.
- Needleworks Guild – This ministry provides hand-knitted caps for newborns and oncology patients, prayer shawls, and prayer squares for parishioners and those in the hospital.
- Prayer Companions – This ministry involves fellow parishioners praying for St. David’s family and friends who are seeking God’s grace, help, and blessings in all of life’s circumstances. All prayer requests are held in confidence.
If you are interested in volunteering with any of these ministries, or know someone who might benefit from them, please contact me at tszczerba@stdavidschurch.org.
See you all in church!
Blessings,
The Rev. Thomas Szczerba, Jr.
Associate Rector
Pictured: Visit with Sally Mohr and Deb Geffken for Christmas.
Published on December 19, 2024.