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Andy McPherson explains how to access pastoral care at St Saviour’s

St Saviour’s is known as a very loving and caring church. Pastoral care happens within so many areas of our church life. As Jo Giddens (a former Pastoral Care team co-ordinator) said, “It is wonderful to see God at work, as His love and caring compassion is shared. On a Sunday morning or in the Link on a weekday morning, to see folks looking out for each other, listening to each other, helping, praying and encouraging each other through the ups and downs of daily life, is a real blessing.”

Although much of St Saviour’s pastoral care takes place in an informal way, there are structures in place to try to ensure people’s needs are met. This is not a perfect system and sometimes we are not aware of individual needs, but there are a few ways into the system listed below.

The Pastoral Care team (Lynne Ferrone, Julie Melvin, Jan Randall, Laura Simpkins, and Harry Taylor, under the leadership of Andy McPherson) usually meets fortnightly to pray for those with pastoral needs, to plan and action specific support for individuals, to encourage and support those involved in the pastoral care of the church within the church, and to reflect and develop more effective ways of practising pastoral care. Do contact one of these people if you are in need of pastoral care.

Members of home groups sometimes share pastoral needs and, with the permission of members, these can be passed on to me or a member of the Pastoral Care team. Similarly pastoral needs arise for members of our various groups, e.g. Diamond Times, Thursday Club, children’s and youth groups, or through the Open Link, and again with the permission of individuals concerned, people who can help are made aware.

If anyone requires prayer as a result of an emergency situation, you can contact the Prayer Chain on 07989 211594 or email prayerchain@stsaviours.net and Jan Randall sensitively relays information to about 40 pray-ers from within the church family.

Mike and Joan Bowen regularly visit parishioners who are in hospital at the Royal Bournemouth. Sandra Tauson takes services in the Retired Nurses National Home and fulfils pastoral visits as and when required. Julie Melvin, in addition to members of the clergy, takes Home Communions to people who are housebound. Also cards, flowers and gifts are delivered to the homebound/sick/bereaved at certain times of the year such as Harvest, Easter and Christmas.

All this provision enables St Saviour’s to be more effective in its pastoral care under the guidance of the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for us all.

Andy McPherson, vicar

Comfort Food is such an expression of God’s love says Lizzy Potter

‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.’ 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

I will never forget the time when a friend unexpectedly left a casserole on our doorstep, with a note saying she’d made too much and hoped we might enjoy, or when a friend knocked on the door holding a cake she’d made simply to bless our family. Food made as an expression of love always tastes the best, in my experience! And this is exactly what the Comfort Food ministry is about – an expression of love, God’s love and comfort to ‘those in any trouble’. This year we’ve had the privilege of offering meals to a few members of the church family in times of need and as always I’m so thankful to those who have cooked and delivered food.

If you enjoy cooking and would like to get involved with Comfort Food, please do come and have a chat with me, I’d love to tell you more!

Lizzy Potter, Comfort Food coordinator

Brenda Barton tells us where to find the best cakes and finest company!

About five years ago Kathy, our then curate, had a vision of starting a coffee session for the older members of our community. So a few of us from St Saviour’s got together and Diamond Times was born.

Intended for over 55s, most of our guests are in their nineties. Every first and third Tuesday afternoon of the month we meet for two hours for company, a cup of tea (with bone china tea-sets kindly donated) and home-made cakes. We play games, which is a good way of breaking the ice for newcomers. Rummikub and Scrabble have become firm favourites, making it hard to introduce new activities as these games always remain top of the list! For those who just want to have a chat there is always someone to sit with them. Although this is not a worship group, we do like to celebrate the events in the church diary by singing relevant hymns.

New guests are always welcome. Also others who would like to volunteer to help would find this a rewarding way to spend an afternoon.

Brenda Barton, Diamond Times coordinator

Nathan Bendell gives thanks for all that St Saviour’s means to Sarah and him as he moves on to become youth minister at St Paul’s.

I have been at St Saviour’s for 28 years or so. Throughout that time I have been a member of the congregation, in the choir, part of the children’s and youth groups, a gap-year student, and finally youth minister. I wouldn’t be the person I am today if it weren’t for St Saviour’s, it has been a wonderful church, where I have learnt so much about our wonderful creator and his love for me. It has taught me how to listen to him and work out his plan for my life. Sarah and I feel that leaving for St Paul’s is a part of that plan, but this does fill us with great sadness to be leaving the church that we call home.

Two of the people who had a major impact on my life are the ones who ran the youth work when I started secondary school. These were Rachel Baker and Simon Hill. I was quite a shy teenager, but they were always there, and happy to listen and make young people feel comfortable in the various groups. They taught me so much about prayer, how to talk with God, and to see him as a friend who is there 24/7. They taught me how interesting the Bible is and how it is God’s word and truth, no matter what society says. They also taught me to be myself and not worry what others think.

I think youth work is so important. Schools are social minefields and places that tell you what the world thinks. If that is all they hear, you can end up with young people who are nervous, afraid of saying something that might get them ridiculed, and who think society is right about everything. Just as Simon and Rachel did, I have tried to create a place at St Saviour’s where young people can feel safe and secure in who they are, and to learn about what God says on issues that our world throws at us.

As I have said before, St Saviour’s has magnificent young people. They are very funny, thoughtful, and eager to learn. We don’t want that to end, so I urge you, please make sure there is enough money for a new youth minister, and please volunteer to help out – if you do you will see how great the young people are.

Caroline also deserves a special mention. She has been a pleasure to work with. We have worked very closely over the past few years, with our groups overlapping. She has always come up with great ideas especially for crafts. I couldn’t have done everything without her. So thank you.

Finally, Sarah and myself would like to say a huge thank you for all the support, prayers and fellowship from everyone here. We will miss you!!! God bless.

Nathan Bendell, youth minister

‘God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.’ Hebrews 6 verse 10

In the office Tanja and I are always really hoping to serve God, first and foremost, and also our neighbours, including our church family here. We interact with so many people: church members, staff, members of the public contacting the church with very varied enquiries, and people from other organisations or businesses. As we go about our ‘tasks’ each week, we try to keep in mind who we’re doing this for (not just what we’re doing), and how we can best help those involved or affected. And also, we try to smile!

So, who does what? A quick resumé!

Obviously Tanja and I work closely together, and there is overlap in our roles – we both try to welcome visitors, help with enquiries, look after general office matters, attend team meetings, and liaise with Andy the vicar, but we also have some very distinct areas of responsibility …

If you need to contact either of us, you can ring the office number 01202 430078 or email us, and we’ll be happy to help.

Clare Shearing, communications officer

Some exciting news from Daniela Eisentraeger …

At the beginning of this month, Kelvin wrote a lovely article about our retired clergy and associate ministers. I thought, ‘I’m going to finish this month by writing about the next generation of clergy.’

We are those who are called by God and being tested by God, the parish, the diocese and the national Church of England. This process is called the discernment process. It’s a loooong process with many interviews, forms, and loads of prayers. The whole process climaxes in the selection procedure called the national Bishop’s Advisory Panel (BAP). There you are assessed by a panel of three advisers over three days.

Let me describe it in this way: it feels like being a tomato on the BBQ, grilled for three days, losing all juice and shape. The panel was tough. The few things which kept me going were the many encouraging text messages, the constant reminder of God’s faithfulness, the knowledge of people praying, and the mutual cheering on by the other candidates. I don’t know how often I got down on my knees, praying to God for stamina, wisdom, and peace of mind. At the end of the final day I questioned God’s call on my life, my confidence hit rock bottom, and the only feeling I had left was an overwhelming sense of tiredness and disappointment.

Then the nerve-racking period of waiting for the report and the decision to arrive. It’s funny how life feels when everything is on hold, because you don’t know which way to go and even God seems silent. During this time, I held fast to God’s promise and Proverb 3:5 became my safety buoy in the ocean of uncertainty: ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’

Waiting… waiting… waiting…

Then the phone call: ‘You are recommended for training. Congratulations!’ … Shock, relief, excitement, thankfulness, humbleness, and the unbelievable affirmation of God’s call on my life.

I’m so grateful for all your prayers, support, and just your listening ear during these last two years of the discernment process. Phew, what a journey…

Well, what does it mean, you might wonder…

It means, I’ll be an ordinand from September. I’ll be studying, again – the endless joy of essay-writing ahead. It means commuting to London once a week and some weekends. My placement will be with St Saviour’s and the wider benefice (if the Bishop agrees), but most of all it means the start of a new season.

Daniela Eisentraeger, lay minister

Cartoon from: https://www.cpg.org/global/online-resources/cartoons/