When to contact the Pastor

If you need help or support…there are many times when pastors can’t know about a person’s joys or sorrows.  Celebrating one’s joys and assisting one who needs help are big parts of the pastor’s ministry.  Do not hesitate to call on the pastor.

Before going to the hospital…the pastor will be present as you face your illness to offer support and prayer as you seek God’s healing and strength.

When a baby is born…this is a time of joy not only for parents, but also for the whole congregational family.

To schedule a baptism...the pastor will meet with you and the godparents/sponsors prior to the Baptism to rehearse and discuss the meaning, promises and responsibilities of Baptism.  Baptisms are not celebrated during Lent and are strongly encouraged at Easter Vigil.

When you need to talk…whether you would like to share a difficult situation or a joyful one, the pastor is available to listen.  The pastor is bound to respect a person’s confidence.  The brief service of Individual Confession and Forgiveness in our hymnal may be used by those who are burdened with guilt or other personal troubles.

When you want to share your spiritual journey…some find it helpful to have a companion with whom to share one’s experiences of God, especially in the context of relationships, feelings, and the joys and struggles of life.  The pastor is the resident spiritual director of the parish.

When you have questions...about God, life, meaning, responding to children's questions about God, any of the important questions in life.  The pastor may not have the answers, but will help you think through the questions.  The pastor is the resident theologian of the parish.

When you are in transition...moving to a new home, changing jobs or careers, even positive changes like the welcome news of pregnancy bring stress, worry, and concerns.  Contact the pastor for the companionship on the unsteady journey from old to new.  In some cases, a ritual (such as a house blessing) can assist and celebrate the transition.

To schedule a wedding...The pastor requires premarital counseling of all couples. This is a unique opportunity to examine and strengthen the marriage and its network of relationships, and to consider God's wise, joyful intentions for marriage.  Time is also spent planning and personalizing the ceremony.

Before you engage a lawyer…some lawyers require that a couple visit their pastor before they file for separation.  Whatever the outcome – divorce or reunion – the Church and the pastor will stand by to assist in the healing process.

When there is a death in the family…death is a crisis for the family and the Church.  Contact the pastor immediately to arrange for the funeral and for support in the time of grief.  It is hoped that members of the parish will have a funeral conducted in the sanctuary.

When addictions become a problem for you or someone you love…answers and solutions will not come easily, but the gravity of the problems call for outside help.  The pastor will assist you.