CARE
as we love and care for one another
Care Commission Paraclete Team Help Needed!
HELP WANTED
Care Commission Paraclete Team
Members & Coordinators
Paraclete, noun: advocate or helper
The Care Commission is forming a “Paraclete Team” to contact members in the immediate aftermath of a community emergency to check the safety and well-being of our church family.
Team members will be provided with worksheets to guide telephone conversations inquiring which members are in need of assistance, what type of assistance is needed and which members might be able to help others in need. Community resource information will also be provided to the Paraclete call team. Team coordinators would activate the Team, compile caller worksheets and organize follow-up.
If your skills include being organized and calm in emergencies,
please volunteer your service to your church family.
Contact the Care Commission Patti Fleming
Care Commission Paraclete Team
Members & Coordinators
Paraclete, noun: advocate or helper
The Care Commission is forming a “Paraclete Team” to contact members in the immediate aftermath of a community emergency to check the safety and well-being of our church family.
Team members will be provided with worksheets to guide telephone conversations inquiring which members are in need of assistance, what type of assistance is needed and which members might be able to help others in need. Community resource information will also be provided to the Paraclete call team. Team coordinators would activate the Team, compile caller worksheets and organize follow-up.
If your skills include being organized and calm in emergencies,
please volunteer your service to your church family.
Contact the Care Commission Patti Fleming
Care Commission Ministry Opportunities for your Time & Talents
Each autumn, during the Stewardship Campaign, members submit their Time & Talents volunteer form. Be sure to submit your Time & Talent form each year, as volunteer lists change annually. Sign up and a chairperson will contact you in the new year.
Here are ways you might volunteer to help care for our church family:
WELCOMING: promoting a welcoming culture to help everyone feel welcome, known, and connected, following new members, and exploring ways to encourage a welcoming culture at church functions and on the campus.
CARING & SHARING: preparing food, setting up or serving for funeral receptions, and house sitting for bereaved member families during services.
FOOD 4 U: making frozen, home-cooked meals available in the Session House Food 4 U freezer for yourself, another member, neighbor or friend who might benefit from a meal provided. These foods are also provided to locals in need, either known to us or requesting assistance.
HELPING HANDS: providing practical assistance to members with short-term needs whenever possible, supplementing existing informal networks within the church community (i.e. Presbyterian Women’s Circles or House Churches). Assistance is in the form of transportation to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, caregiver relief, odd jobs, or transportation to church.
INFANT WELCOME: preparing meals for families with newborns. (This ministry also delivers hand-crafted baby blankets from our Knit for Others ministry and cradle crosses from the church.)
KNIT FOR OTHERS: creating hand-made chemo caps, prayers shawls, infant blankets, booties and caps, scarves, and mittens to donate to those in need of warmth and comfort in our congregation and the New Bern community. Knit at home or gather with other knitters Monday afternoons at the church.
PARACLETE TEAM: calling to provide welfare checks and resource suggestions, this dedicated team is activated during times of community emergency. A worksheet/form is provided with information and resources to share with members.
PRAYER CARE: offering prayer for those requesting such or for those who have been recently hospitalized. Prayer Request cards are available in the pew racks (with envelopes if privacy is desired).
SPECIAL PASTORAL CARE: serving those who have difficulty participating in church life or those in need of spiritual friendship through Lay Visitation or Pen Pal cards and notes. Our Lay Visitors receive training.
TELEPHONE TEAM: calling to connect our faith community through the joys and sorrows of life. Annual calls to every member household ensure up-to-date contact information along with the opportunity to share the news.
Questions: contact Patti Fleming, Margaret Cooper, or Margaret Pritchett
Here are ways you might volunteer to help care for our church family:
WELCOMING: promoting a welcoming culture to help everyone feel welcome, known, and connected, following new members, and exploring ways to encourage a welcoming culture at church functions and on the campus.
CARING & SHARING: preparing food, setting up or serving for funeral receptions, and house sitting for bereaved member families during services.
FOOD 4 U: making frozen, home-cooked meals available in the Session House Food 4 U freezer for yourself, another member, neighbor or friend who might benefit from a meal provided. These foods are also provided to locals in need, either known to us or requesting assistance.
HELPING HANDS: providing practical assistance to members with short-term needs whenever possible, supplementing existing informal networks within the church community (i.e. Presbyterian Women’s Circles or House Churches). Assistance is in the form of transportation to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, caregiver relief, odd jobs, or transportation to church.
INFANT WELCOME: preparing meals for families with newborns. (This ministry also delivers hand-crafted baby blankets from our Knit for Others ministry and cradle crosses from the church.)
KNIT FOR OTHERS: creating hand-made chemo caps, prayers shawls, infant blankets, booties and caps, scarves, and mittens to donate to those in need of warmth and comfort in our congregation and the New Bern community. Knit at home or gather with other knitters Monday afternoons at the church.
PARACLETE TEAM: calling to provide welfare checks and resource suggestions, this dedicated team is activated during times of community emergency. A worksheet/form is provided with information and resources to share with members.
PRAYER CARE: offering prayer for those requesting such or for those who have been recently hospitalized. Prayer Request cards are available in the pew racks (with envelopes if privacy is desired).
SPECIAL PASTORAL CARE: serving those who have difficulty participating in church life or those in need of spiritual friendship through Lay Visitation or Pen Pal cards and notes. Our Lay Visitors receive training.
TELEPHONE TEAM: calling to connect our faith community through the joys and sorrows of life. Annual calls to every member household ensure up-to-date contact information along with the opportunity to share the news.
Questions: contact Patti Fleming, Margaret Cooper, or Margaret Pritchett
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Grief Support GroupNext Meeting: Tuesday, February 8 @12:30 pm in the Chapel in the Ministry Center. This is a bring your own picnic lunch event. Masks are requested in the building.
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Grief Sharing
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to attend First Presbyterians Grief Support Group? Is a grief-sharing group for me? Will I feel comfortable attending? What if I sit there silent, or worse, start crying? I can tell you that this group voluntarily provide those members, that have lost a loved one, with hope and understanding, as well as support and guidance as you bring yourself though this murkiest of times.
Many studies in the area of grief have proven that each one of us grieves differently. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. The length and depth of a person’s grief is only known to them. I have learned that we have no way of getting over it, around it, or under it. You must go through it; it’s inevitable and an extremely challenging time. Along the way, you may find areas where you are stuck and can’t seem to move in any direction. Only through God’s love are we able to get through it.
This grief support group often provides lessons learned, helpful hints or just a listening ear because they have experienced the same kind of hurt and pain that we are certain nobody could possibly understand. The Grief Support Group is a vessel where we can vulnerably share our thoughts and concerns, with no judgment, no requirement. You only share with the group if you are moved to do so. We meet once a month on Tuesday at 12:30pm. All are welcome. If you are interested in coming to a meeting of this support group, please contact one of the ministers or Marcy Latteman in the church office.
Sue Peine
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to attend First Presbyterians Grief Support Group? Is a grief-sharing group for me? Will I feel comfortable attending? What if I sit there silent, or worse, start crying? I can tell you that this group voluntarily provide those members, that have lost a loved one, with hope and understanding, as well as support and guidance as you bring yourself though this murkiest of times.
Many studies in the area of grief have proven that each one of us grieves differently. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. The length and depth of a person’s grief is only known to them. I have learned that we have no way of getting over it, around it, or under it. You must go through it; it’s inevitable and an extremely challenging time. Along the way, you may find areas where you are stuck and can’t seem to move in any direction. Only through God’s love are we able to get through it.
This grief support group often provides lessons learned, helpful hints or just a listening ear because they have experienced the same kind of hurt and pain that we are certain nobody could possibly understand. The Grief Support Group is a vessel where we can vulnerably share our thoughts and concerns, with no judgment, no requirement. You only share with the group if you are moved to do so. We meet once a month on Tuesday at 12:30pm. All are welcome. If you are interested in coming to a meeting of this support group, please contact one of the ministers or Marcy Latteman in the church office.
Sue Peine
Food 4 You
Our Food 4 You program has been restarted and is ready to go. The only thing we need is food FROM you! Food 4 You is (will be) available to be picked up anytime for your family or someone you know who needs it. There is a freezer in the Session House Kitchen and the Ministry Center Cafe, containers are available in the pantry. Take a container home for the next time you have extra soup, casserole or whatever and bring it in. Labels are also provided. Thank you for thinking of and caring for each other in this way! Questions? Contact church office or Polly Frank.
Our Food 4 You program has been restarted and is ready to go. The only thing we need is food FROM you! Food 4 You is (will be) available to be picked up anytime for your family or someone you know who needs it. There is a freezer in the Session House Kitchen and the Ministry Center Cafe, containers are available in the pantry. Take a container home for the next time you have extra soup, casserole or whatever and bring it in. Labels are also provided. Thank you for thinking of and caring for each other in this way! Questions? Contact church office or Polly Frank.