Parish Care
Parish Care Ministry – devoted to meeting the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of our congregation and others. There are five members on the committee. We meet once a month after the PPC meeting. This is a very rewarding committee to be a part of because of the variety of projects we manage. Briefly explaining some of them will help to show this.
First of all is the Phone Ministry. The Care Line phone service is 449-2273. At Grace the prayer line is manned daily by devoted people. Joys, concerns, and sorrows are better dealt with when they are shared.
Secondly we manage the Visitation ministry. We have a dedicated group of people who are responsible for home visits, bereavement visits, home communion service, the card ministry, and the delivery of the bulletins each week after the service. These committed Care visitors hold bimonthly meetings and Bible study.
Thirdly we work with others in the community for replenishing the local food pantry, World Hunger projects, and organizing the local CROP Walk each fall.
Fourth is the Healing ministry. We have formal Healing services on the fifth Sunday of the month. Using the Service of the Word there are usually four persons who provide the laying on of hands and anointing of oil. This has been well received and will be continued next year. A Blue Christmas service is held each December for those who have experience loss or bereavement. Individual Healing services have been arranged and instituted privately when requested as well. Prayer Shawls are knitted faithfully by members and are given to individuals who need to be enveloped in the warmth of God’s love and caring while going through difficult life experiences. This is a little known but wonderful project that encourages spiritual healing.
Sixth is the Men’s ministry. There is a weekly men’s Bible study on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 a.m. The men organize a retreat once a year usually at Shetek, as well as serve at the mission or “The Banquet” in Sioux Falls. Read and Feed is a program that was established to encourage fathers and grandfathers to read to their young ones. Currently it is not functioning but we are confident that someone will step up to head this wonderful project yet this fall.
The committee is ever aware of the changing needs of our church. We encourage each of you to provide suggestions for services/projects that may better meet these needs.
