Annie Rae's Ministry Minute, 10/11/15

A little over five years ago, my husband, Jim, and I moved to Guilford.  We bought a small historic home on the Green.  We have five children, four grandchildren, three dogs, an occasional orphan bunny and two frogs.  We have a veggie garden and feed many friends, neighbors and visitors!
For me and many others in churches all over the world, Pastoral Care serves as a ministry to attempt to ensure that "no one walks alone."  A person who is trained and willing to commit to this calling will provide confidential emotional and spiritual support for the church community.  This small core group also reaches to the outer community to share and experience the Peace of God with others.
I was taught that Jesus fed the five thousand by having his disciples ("the Twelve") take the prepared loaves and fishes directly to the people.  So in short, they delivered, they got around!
I was born into service, it was infused in me.
My Father served his country in the Army Corps of Engineers, my mother spent  many hours volunteering to remake eyeglasses for "New Eyes for the Needy."  When our grandparents came to live with us, they were not well.  We took care of them until the end.  Sometimes it was not fun, but we took good care of them.  As a little girl, a bit of a tomboy who liked dolls, I joined a Brownie Troop, Girl Scout Troop, I was a Candy Striper in a hospital, a volunteer in a children's orphanage.
So this "infusion" is poured into us, and sometimes can be a voice that cannot be quieted!
Our pastoral team at Christ Church is ready, willing and able.
The three things I was told by a hospice nurse that cheer people who are having difficulties are music, a child's laughter and a DOG.  We have all of these.  My grandchildren go on calls with me frequently.  I have my ukelele, Sheward has his flute, Tony has a lovely voice, and the rest have many needed ingredients to share.
Speaking of ingredients, our signature "meat loaf" is something that has been a bit of a success.  At least 56 meat loaf meals have been delivered this past year.  And for me, the lay Eucharistic minister, the meal "taken to" is small... the wafer and the wine.  "The cup of salvation, the bread of heaven."  This quiet sacred time is sometimes the "a-ha moment" we all look for when serving.  There is such joy in seeing a smile, or hearing a sigh, even from the very weak.
So there you have it, in a Christ Church minute: Pastoral Care is for you!
Will you pray for our ministry?
Thank you so much for listening to my story!

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