Now God gives us many kinds of special abilities, but it is the same Holy Spirit who is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service to God, but it is the same Lord we are serving. There are many ways in which God works in our lives, but it is the same God who does the work in and through all of us who are his. The Holy Spirit displays God’s power through each of us as a means of helping the entire church.” (1 Co 12: 4-7) Living Bible translation

Life is messy and it’s easy to feel alone when it’s “kicking-you-in-the-teeth.”  It’s  easy to believe that no one can possibly understand your situation when the cancer has returned OR the child or grandchild has decided to go a way that you know will lead to disaster OR the words “till death do us part,” sound hollow in your ears because you know that the marriage has already died.

Times like these are hard to live into and we, your clergy, are always available for loving, compassionate, and spiritual support.  We would not have you traverse your unique valley of hardship or difficulty alone.  But no matter our love and concern for each one of you, neither David+, nor Maria Cristina+, nor myself can provide the necessary one-on-one care for such a large community as Redeemer.

So, enter the angels among us.  The Pastoral Care team is a group of lay members who provide emotional, spiritual, and confidential support in partnership with the clergy here at Redeemer.  Available through pastoral services, each member has completed training at the Center for Spiritual Support at GBMC and is ready and willing to walk with any member of our community who seeks one-on-one encouragement as they sort through the messiness that is LIFE.

What has amazed me most about the PC Team has been the extraordinary amount of time, love, and compassion each member has been willing to pour out to our community for the love of Christ; because we can’t forget why we serve each other.

Each member has voluntarily chosen to become a member of this ministry by participating in a 9-month program at GBMC that trains them in the art of active listening and Holy Presence.  They recognize the gift of compassion they have received from the Spirit is for the service of the larger church family and they are willing to use their gifts and hone their skills for the Kin(g)dom of God.

If you are at a point in life where you feel additional emotional and spiritual support would be helpful to you, don’t hesitate to contact me at the church office to discuss whether a member of the PC team might meet your needs.  We have angels—right here—among us.

With Love,

FM+