|
|
How we care for each other at Columbus Mennonite Church These components of caregiving outline our vision for the way we hope to care for each other here at Columbus Mennonite Church. 1. Informal relationships of caring, often based on friendship and family ties. We provide a time of fellowship between worship and Christian Education classes to help us connect with each other each week. 2. Sharing of joys and concerns. During each worship service, an invitation is given to share our joys and concerns with our church family; or, if one prefers, a phone call or email to the church office can be made to request a joy or concern be listed in the church bulletin. 3. Email prayer chain, with phone contacts to households that have no email. When significant events (illnesses, births, deaths, etc.) happen in someone's life in our church community, we share this via emailed prayer requests. 4. Small groups are led by small group leaders within the church community and are coordinated by our pastors and the Shepherding Team. Currently we have small groups that focus on Bible study, service projects, spiritual direction/growth, intentional intimacy and social opportunities. Some of the social opportunities are centered on common interests, such as book studies, shared meals, cooking, gardening, and quilting. 5. Our Shepherding Team is made up of three laypersons and our pastors. This team provides nurture and care for the spiritual, emotional and physical health of our church community. The Shepherding Team also helps to facilitate a warm welcome to newcomers at CMC. 6. Our Pastors. In addition to their leadership of worship and administrative needs, our pastors' teach disciplines of spirituality and prayer and assist our congregation in growing spiritually. They work with the Shepherding Team in its task to care for the needs of our church family. Our pastors nurture and call out individuals' spiritual gifts and lay leadership. They support small group leaders in their care of group participants and help to develop additional groups when needed. Our pastors provide premarital counseling to couples preparing for their marriage and also lead marriage enrichment workshops for couples in the congregation. They plan and lead important worship services of the congregation, including healing/anointing services and funerals/memorial services. They provide visitation and pastoral care as requested by people in the congregation and take initiative in contacting, visiting, listening, and praying with people as needs arise.. 7. Referrels - Occasionally people in the congregation may want certain kinds of caregiving beyond the resources of the congregation. The pastors can suggest referrals in these situations. |