The re-vitalized Pastoral Care Commission was commissioned by Father Andrew at the 10:00 service on Sunday, March 3, 2019, and met monthly from February – December. Our purpose is to reach out as a parish and support those in need.

Many are involved in this work, much of which has been ongoing even while the formal Commission was in hiatus. Members of the Commission in 2019: Susan Butterworth (chair), Sue Cool, Lynda Franks, Ellen Harrington, Jane McKenna, Frances Nilsson, Pam Oppelt, Blair Schmieg, Martin Schmieg, Patty Reilly, Gordon Spaberg, Pat Spaberg, the Rev. Andrew Stoessel, Valerie Wyckoff.

We have reached out to parishioners who are not able to leave home or assisted living and skilled nursing facilities, to those who are frail or ill or recovering from surgery, and those who are bereaved. We have made many visits, brought Communion as Lay Eucharistic Visitors, sent cards, offered rides, and prepared meals for approximately 35 St. Michael’s parishioners. Other examples of our work this year: we delivered Easter flower baskets to parishioners in assisted living and skilled nursing, checked in with elderly parishioners at home during the July extreme heat, sent Christmas cards to parishioners who have moved out of state, and established a weekly dinner rota for one of our frail elderly couples.

Ultimately, our goal is to support and take care of one another as a Christian community. I’d like to acknowledge the web of connections among the Wisdom and Friendship Group, the Prayer Shawl Knitters, the Thrift Shop, and St. Catherine’s Guild. All have a role in pastoral care.

Respectfully submitted,

Susan Butterworth, Chair
January 2020

Photo by Jude Beck on Unsplash