Greetings everyone!
I am slowly getting organized in the new reality of COVID, but I now realize that instead of waiting for things to improve, it’s time for me to get moving. As a new Vestry member, I volunteered to assist those in the parish doing pastoral care. I have discovered that not only has COVID shut down schools, family reunions, and football games, but it has also affected our ministry to our community and each other. There will be things that we used to do that will have to wait awhile, but let’s prayerfully consider what we can do for each other.
We have parishioners that need meals during an illness, convalescence, or bereavement. Some need rides to a Doctor’s appointment or someone to pick up a few groceries. Perhaps just being at the other end of the phone if someone needs advice or an ear would be a great help. I am reaching out to ask you to consider how you can help. It goes without saying (so I am writing it) that in all that we do, we follow social distancing, wear masks, avoid crowds, and keep our hands clean.
So I am asking two things. The first part is easy. How will you make pastoral care a part of your life?
The second part is a bit harder. What help do you need? How difficult it is for us to ask for help! We pride ourselves on being independent and taking care of our own needs. “I don’t want to be a bother”, ” I can handle it myself.” or “I just wait for someone to figure out what I need.” This false pride deprives us of the opportunity to practice the ministries that we are called to.
Do you have a need or can you fill one? Would you be willing to let Cana or me know so that we can share our gifts? As we are considering our giving to the Church, can we also consider how to allow others to give to us? I would like to put together a list of people willing to make a meal, run an errand, or make a few check-in calls. Whatever you are called to do, it will go on the list! Let us know.
Jill Englund Jensen, St. Thomas’s Vestry