Pastoral Care

This page reflects some of the many ways, both formally and informally, that we endeavour to be a caring community.

The Pastoral Care Committee

What We Do 

            The Pastoral Care Committee has about twelve volunteers who visit church people in times of need, and offer communion to those who are unable to attend the communion services at the church.

            Some of our members visit people after a bereavement, offering personal support and some booklets that many have found helpful. Others make regular visits to people in the care institutions in Camrose, and to some who are shut in at home. Following each communion service at the church, we take communion to any who wish it and were not able to be at the service.

Where We Go 

            We visit with people at St. Mary’s Hospital, Rosealta Lodge, Stoney Creek Lodge, Rosehaven, Deer Meadows, Bethany Meadows, Faith House, Louise Jensen Care Centre, Shepherd House, and Viewpoint. We also make visits to people in their own homes.

You Can Help 

            We depend on family members and friends to tell us when someone has moved to one of the care facilities, or moved to a different one. When someone is admitted to the hospital, they must ask the admitting office to register their affiliation with the United Church. Only if this is  done will our volunteer visitors and clergy  be able to visit that person.

Prayer Shawls 

            The Pastoral Care Committee coordinates our church’s prayer shawl ministry. Volunteer knitters and crocheters make shawls which are blessed during a church service and given to people who might appreciate a tangible reminder of the congregation’s love and prayers.

Good Reading 

            We maintain a wide selection of leaflets offering counsel for people living with illness, facing personal crisis, or suffering bereavement. These are available free from a rack at the church (beyond the main office door). We also have a small library of books on a bookshelf in the Parlour, and these are available on loan.

To Get In Touch 

            You can leave requests for visits or for more information at the church office, (780) 672 - 2176, or by calling Mary Pattie-Fellner at (780) 672-7374.

Communion for Homebound People

There are several people who belong to our faith community who are unable to attend worship, living either in nursing homes, lodges or their private homes. Since the sacrament of communion is intended to include the whole faith community we include the homebound people on each of our four main Sunday morning communions.

After the communion service, the remaining consecrated bread and juice is taken by members of the congregation -- our team of Home Communion Servers -- to the various home-bound people who have requested to receive communion at home.

The team of Home Communion Servers are trained by the ministers and equipped with a prayer litany to accompany the serving of the communion. Please contact one of the ministers if you would like to be a Home Communion Server or to suggest someone who would appreciate being a recipient.

The Home Communion Servers also offer to take communion to any of our members who happen to be in hospital at the time.

For the sake of Bethany residents, Home Communion is also offered after each of our monthly after-service communions.

Home Communion is a natural extension of the role of church members as the ones who serve communion. The Home Communion Servers are not assuming the role of the Ordained or Diaconal ministers, because they are not consecrating the elements: the elements served by the Home Communion Servers will always have been consecrated by the ministers in the morning service.

Ministers' Visitation Secretary

In March, 2002, Doris Hirsch began serving as a Visitation Secretary for Mary Ann and Jim. This is a new volunteer role created for the purpose of assisting the ministers to carry out general visitation on a regular basis. Doris will be phoning to set appointments for Mary Ann and Jim to visit with people for whom we feel a home visit is especially important. If you would like to request a visit or would like to suggest someone you feel should be offered a visit you are welcome to talk to Doris (or one of the ministers, of course) and pass on your suggestion. (Click on the title link for background and details.)

On the Importance of Funerals

Fran Elliott and Jim Allan got talking one day about how important it is for there to be a funeral or memorial service when a loved one dies and how hard it can be when there is no service. So they thought they would like to share some of their thoughts with the rest of the congregation.