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
