Pastoral Care Ministries
Clergy: 919-834-6259
For a pastoral emergency, call the church (834-6259) and you will be directed to extension #302 with the clergy's emergency numbers.
Daughters of the King
An order for women of the Episcopal Church, with chapters in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Evangelical Lutheran Churches of America. The main ministry of Daughters of the King is prayer, with names received from the clergy, pew cards, emails or word of mouth.
Training: Training consists of one year of study prior to membership. Upon completion, a special service blesses and commissions the charges.
Meetings: First Thursday of the month except June, July and August.
Contact person: Ruby Burgess
Eucharistic Visitors
Take communion to parishioners who by reason of health impairment, cannot get to church service on Sundays. They also visit parishioners in long-term rehabilitative facilities or retirement homes.
Training: As needed
Meetings: Periodically for assessment and support
Contact person: Emmy Moore
Flower Guild
Delivers the flowers from each Sunday's altar to sick members of the congregation or those with special needs.Two Guild members meet after the main Sunday service to divide the altar flowers for delivery. A Christ Church card accompanies the flowers.
Training: The Guild chair provides instructions for Flower Guild members as needed.
Meetings: As needed.
Contact person: Al Conyers
Funeral Guild - A ministry of ECW
Provides refreshments or meals following funeral services held at Christ Church.
Contact person: Valerie Hunt
Order of St. Luke the Physician
Assists the clergy with healing prayers in the chapel after the morning services. Members also form prayer teams who meet regularly, assist with prayer vigils on request, and assist with other healing prayer services held in conjunction with programs within the church such as "Raising Spirits."
Training: The Order of St. Luke steering committee coordinates both the study and service of the members of this ministry. The steering committee mentors new healing prayer teams and joins them at introductory meetings with their prayer-receivers.
Meetings: The steering committee holds meetings with members of all prayer teams. They also sponsor and organize quarterly chapter meetings, annual healing prayer workshops and publicize regional healing missions.
Contact person: Joanne Crumpler and Tom Emmel
Pastoral Visitors
Develop one-on-one relationships with and provide support to parishioners who are homebound or who are experiencing illness, grief, loneliness, or other difficulties.
Volunteers make regular visits to parishioners in their homes. Assignments are initiated by the clergy or other pastoral care committees and administered by the Pastoral Visitors chair in conjunction with the Clergy Liaison for Pastoral Care.
Training: Required one-and-one-half hour training course which includes listening skills and confidentiality issues as well as an overview of the Pastoral Visitors Ministry and other pastoral care ministries at Christ Church.
Meetings: Periodically for assessment and support.
Contact person: Roberta Smith
Pastors’ Aide – A Ministry of ECW
Delivers casseroles to ill or grieving parishioners and others who are experiencing stressful situations. Delivers books to new babies.
Training: As needed.
Meetings: Annually for assessment and support.
Contact person: Barrett Brewer
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Knits or crochets shawls which are delivered to parishioners in need of comfort. Each knitter and crocheter is blessed before beginning their work. Completed shawls are blessed by a member of the clergy and wrapped and boxed with a special card of prayers and signed by the knitter or crocheter.
Training: No formal training
Meetings: Shawl group meets the first Thursday of each month at the church from 2:30 – 3:30, except during the summer months.
Contact person: Sandra Smith
Stephen Ministry
Offers a one-on-one Christian relationship to a parishioner experiencing a crisis or loss of any kind in their life.
You may request a Stephen Minister:
- By completing a Stephen Ministry pew card.
- By contacting a member of the clergy
- By contacting one of the co-chairs listed below.
The Telecare and Pastoral Visitors ministries may also recommend care receivers.
Training: Weekly for a period of six months for a total of 50 hours. Subsequently, trainees are commissioned by the clergy to perform the duties of a Stephen Minister.
Meetings: Twice a month for Peer Group Supervision.
Co-chairs: Linda Metz, Boyd Graves, Cece Scott
Telecare Ministry
Provides regular or as-needed telephone contact with homebound parishioners or their family members.
Examples of circumstances in which Telecare calls may occur include discharge from hospital or rehab facility, a family death, the birth of a baby, or a move to a retirement facility or nursing home and many other situations.
Calling assignments are initiated by the clergy or other pastoral care committees in coordination with the Clergy Liaison for Pastoral Care and the Telecare Ministry Chair.
Training: Required one-and-one-half hour training course
Meetings: Annually for assessment and support.
Contact person: Gordon Folger
Support Ministries
CAPS (Children/Caregivers of Aging Parents and Spouses)
Provides guidance, support and education to any parishioner engaged in caring for an aging spouse or parent (or other relative). Recommendations of parishioners who might benefit from the CAPS efforts may come from the clergy, a Pastoral Visitor, or a Telecare Volunteer, as well as a parishioner. All parishioners are welcome, whether recommended or not.
Meetings: Regular. Watch for announcements or ask about the schedule.
Grief Support
Offers support through prayer and ministry to parishioners who have lost loved ones, have received a diagnosis of a serious illness, or have experienced any traumatic life event. Skills are offered to enhance recovery, addressing common stages of grief.
Meetings: Scheduled as needed.
Contact person: Charles Smith