Caring Ministries Update
Caring Ministries Is Here for YOU!
Greetings to the good people of FUMC! We are here for you in so many ways to serve your needs. Caring Ministries reaches out to FUMC people to express God's love and gracious care to folks who may need a little extra TLC. Rev. Amy Strader (719-471-8522 x 102 or amys@fumc-cs.org) is the person to contact with any of your needs.
Caring Ministries depends on volunteers to be an extension of the church through offering Christ's love to our precious people. Our volunteer base is down a bit, but we are doing what we can to love on people in so many ways. We give out beautiful prayer shawls, send thoughtful cards, visit those who are ill and homebound, pray with those in need, deliver flowers to church members, talk with people on the phone, and give lots of hugs! Volunteers from FUMC are seeking to serve God through serving you as they reach out to you in love. For we know that with God, nothing is impossible. We are here for you!
Please note that the bus ministry for Sunday morning transportation is still on hold. We do have one bus that works but need to have more volunteers to drive it. The bus goes to locations near FUMC and provides transportation to worship on Sunday mornings. We apologize for the delay. For now, please keep watching worship online or on the SOCO-CW. Hopefully, soon, we will be able to offer you a ride to worship again. If you are interested in volunteering as a bus driver, please contact Pastor Amy at amys@fumc-cs.org
Flowers in Worship! You can honor, celebrate, or remember a loved one or a special occasion by purchasing flowers for worship on Sunday mornings. There will be two gorgeous bouquets in the Chancel area of the Sanctuary for all of us to enjoy. Contact Ciera at cieraw@fumc-cs.org to do this. You are welcome to take the flowers home after worship, or you can donate them to our homebound and ill members. We have volunteers who deliver the flowers to members in need each week. We always need more volunteers. Please, come join us! If you wish for more information on how to volunteer, please visit fumc-cs.org/caring-ministry.
Thank you! Blessings upon you! And know that you are being prayed for!
Grief Support
UNDERSTANDING YOU GRIEF
Wednesdays | April 12 - May 31 | 6:00 - 8:00pm | First United Methodist Church
This eight-week support and education group with the Voices of Grief Center, offers compassionate, companioning support as we work through the book, Understanding Your Grief by Dr. Alan Wolfelt.
Cost: $80/person (If finances are a challenge at this time, limited scholarships are available.)
Please Register by April 4 to:
Kathy Sparnins at kathy.sparnins@voicesofgriefcenter.org or (719) 659-0447
Sarah Lee at sarah.lee@voicesofgriefcenter.org or (719) 505-2257
Some of the ways we care for one another...
Grief Support
When a person has experienced the loss of a loved one we offer assistance and care through our lay Bereavement Ministers. A book series, Journeying Through Grief, is used during the first year to help guide and support folks through the initial year of transition following a death. We offer two, 8-week, grief support sessions per year. Bereavement Ministers are available to meet one-on-one with anyone who is grieving. In addition, we offer an annual grief support group and a December ‘Service of Remembrance’ for those grieving during the Christmas season.
Prayer Ministry
Lifting one another up to God is an important way we care for each other. Prayer cards are available in the pews. After they are dropped in the offering plate on Sundays, they are disseminated to FUMC clergy and to concerned prayer servants for prayerful intercession. You can also place your prayer requests HERE.
We have a variety of prayer ministries throughout the church: in the building and online. In this way, we lift one another up and bring the healing presence of Christ. If you would like to learn more about the ways in which we care for one another please visit our Prayer Request page HERE.
Intercessory Prayer Group
I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.
~Psalm 17:6
There is an intercessory group who regularly lifts up all the prayer requests on-line. All prayer requests are handled with extreme care and confidentiality as we pray for your situation.
Flowers of Love
Each Sunday after worship, the altar flowers are delivered by the Flowers of Love team to church members who are hospitalized, homebound, or going through a difficult time.
Hospital Visitation
People who are hospitalized and have notified the church that they are in the hospital, are visited by a dedicated group of volunteers and by the ministerial staff. Our ministers, when asked, also make pre-surgery prayer visits. In addition, you may request post-hospitalization home visits during your recovery. If you would like a visit while in the hospital, please call the church at (719)471-8522 x109
Home Communion Servers
Every month, homebound members are visited by communion servers who bring them communion in their own homes. This group of volunteers touches the lives of others by sharing one of our most sacred sacraments in a loving manner.
Caring for our Homebound
This team of dedicated volunteers visits homebound church members. Through these visits, we show them our love and concern. For those who are unable to attend services at the church each week, we also provide a live broadcast of our 11:00 a.m. Sunday Worship service on FOX, channel 21. Worship services are also live-streamed through Facebook at facebook.com/FUMCCS and on the website at fumc-cs.org/worship.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is still busy creating beautiful shawls, but they are not meeting in person until further notice.
Prayer Shawl Ministry, comprised of 15-20 active members, knit and crochet together as they pray over those who will receive the tangible warmth and comfort of their labor and prayers.
CONTACT US:
Rev. Amy Strader, Lead Pastor | amys@fumc-cs.org | (719) 471-8522 x102
Sharon Harter, Bereavement Coordinator | sharonh@fumc-cs.org | (719) 471-8522 x142
Volunteer With Us
We are all called to care for one another but some of us are called to care in a specific way, with compassion and courage, bringing God's love and hope in more specific, structured ways. We would love to add you to our team. If you are interested in becoming part of this volunteer team at First United Methodist Church, please contact Rev. Amy at amys@fumc-cs.org