Pastoral Care at St. Johns

St. Johns is a close family, committed to caring for each other and those connected with the parish.  As such, we have a team of our congregants has committed to ensuring that the spiritual and physical needs of all are recognized and met in a caring and compassionate manner.

Mission Statement:  The mission of St. John's Pastoral Care Committee is to provide a ministry of hope, help, and caring.  We are committed to serving our parish in the following ways:

  •  Maintaining contact with those unable to attend church due to disability or illness through visits, calls, and cards;
  •  Supporting those going through a life crisis;
  •  Comforting the bereaved;
  •  Supporting for those involved in caregiving;
  •  Providing at home communion.

Through a series of monthly coordinators who are in close contact with the Rector and Parish administrator, we are hopefully able to address the needs of the parish. We are actively seeking people willing to take over monthly coordinator duties!

Our Pastoral Care Team: The Rev. Bruce Gray and Priest Associate Sandra Levy, meet with Pastoral Care Committee members to discuss those with expressed pastoral needs and devise a schedule of appropriate contacts.  The clergy share on-call duties and respond to crises as they arise, such as hospitalizations, deaths, or relationship difficulties.   They also prepare couples for marriage through a series of counseling sessions.
Times to contact the clergy:. When you go into the hospital, please do not rely on the “grapevine” to let us know. Contact Reverend Gray or the church administrator so that we can be sure to visit. We are happy to bring communion to you during your hospital stay.  Please call the church office at 804-649-7938.  .
Other times to contact the Pastoral Care Team include having relationship or marital problems, when you are having trouble discerning God’s will, when you want to talk about your prayer life, when you are contemplating a major life change (marriage, a move, retirement), when a baby is born, when you have good news to share, or when you would just like to talk.
How You Can Help With Pastoral Care… Even if you can't be part of one of the Committee, you have an important role in pastoral care. Some of the best pastoral care happens in informal ways. You can speak to the people around you in the pews on Sunday, get to know them and support them with your prayers and friendship.