St. Paul's Episcopal Church

Pastoral Care

At St. Paul's, the Pastoral Care Team seeks to ensure that one-to-one Christian care is provided to those who are facing a crisis or life challenge, such as the hospitalized, the terminally ill and their families, those who are home-bound or in a care facility, the aging and elderly, etc. This Christian care is the ministry of a dedicated group of lay caregivers and the clergy and is grounded in Jesus' commandment to "love one another as I have loved you." Through this ministry we believe that St. Paul's becomes the loving and nurturing community of faith that God calls us to be as Christian caregiving touches more and more lives.

When to call your Clergy

Pastoral care is important to us, and we need your help to know when you need us. Here are some tips…

When someone in your family is near death. Call immediately. We want to provide spiritual support as your loved one approaches death. We want to be with you and your family, day or night, in the midst of your grief.
When someone in your family is ill and has been hospitalized. Call one of the clergy or the parish office. We will visit you in the hospital as soon as possible. Remember - with the new privacy laws, the hospitals no longer contact churches.
When you or someone in your family is going to have surgery. Call in advance. We'd like to visit you before, share in healing prayers, and bring communion if you wish.
When you are having a crisis of faith. Call and make an appointment to come and sit down for a conversation.
When you lose a job, or experience the death of a friend, or any significant loss… call.
When a child is born. We'd like the opportunity to make a visit to bless both parents and child.
When something wonderful is happening in your life. We know it is important to share your saddest times, but we want to be with you in the best of times, too.
When you'd like to include your name on our prayer list. Call the parish office or the clergy.

Although we are the primary care givers at St. Paul's, don't forget our well-trained Stephen Ministers, who are available to provide care on a one-to-one, confidential basis. For more information about this ministry, please contact Tom McCart, Anne Refermat, Judy Carpenter or Sally McGucken.

Also, the clergy or one of our trained Eucharistic Visitors are always ready to bring communion to you following an illness or surgery, when you are not able to attend Sunday worship. Please call Tom McCart to arrange for a visit.

And last, if you are sharing information with us concerning another person (not in your family), please confirm that doing so is the desire of the person in need. We want to be respectful of individual's needs.

Remember, the clergy's home phone numbers are in the Parish Directory, and the clergy "On Call" cell phone number is 413-6396.

"Angel Raphael"
Angel Raphael, a window here at St. Paul's