Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care is when a person is being “present” in a listening, compassionate, noncontrolling manner to an individual or group for the purpose of consciously or unconsciously representing God to them and seeking to respond to their spiritual needs.

Pastoral Care at St. Mark’s church is organized in the following way:

Volunteers serve on teams of 3-4 people, depending on how many have volunteered. Each team is scheduled for a 2 week slot in which they provide pastoral support for parishioners who may need some additional support in the following areas: illness, hospitalization/recovery, loss of a loved one, loneliness or any other situation that may necessitate care.

In the event of a death of a parishioner, the priest will contact the Vestry chair for Pastoral Care. If the family requests a reception (before or after the funeral service), volunteers provide a light fare. We also offer a meal for the family. (there are guidelines for the reception/family meal).

We send postcards to our members to commemorate birthdays and wedding anniversaries. In the event of the death of a loved one, we also send a card.

Copies of Forward: Day by Day (devotional books, printed every 3 months) are delivered to our parishioners who reside at Royal Oaks, The Gardens or other facilities/homes.

We also send cards/ goody boxes to members (or relatives of church members) who are serving in the armed services.

There are 2 more ministry areas that fall under the Pastoral Care umbrella:

· Quilting for Others

This group of ladies (some are members of St. Mark’s) makes quilts to give away to those needing warmth or a loving hug! They make the quilt tops from donated material. They purchase the batting, so donations are helpful. They have given quilts to Cherokee Estates, Dalton College students, cancer patients, Green House, foster children, Sr. high school members when they graduate, and anyone else they feel may need one.

· St. Francis Prayer Shawl Guild

This is a group of ladies who knit or crochet prayer shawls for those in our church family who are going through tough times. They may be ill, hospitalized, in a nursing home, close to death or have lost a close family member to death. The warmth and softness of a hand made item can offer comfort and peace to a person during a time of crisis. Baby hats are knitted to welcome a new baby into our church family. Each item is enclosed in a bag, along with an appropriate card, either for healing or how to pray with a child.

The group meets in odd numbered months on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7: 00 pm in the church library.