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Loving our neighbors is the second of God's great commandments, and St. Andrew's offers many programs to help those who face different kinds of problems: hospital visits; home visits, including eucharistic visits; meal preparation; transportation; and help with odd jobs. In addition, a group of knitters creates prayer shawls, and our intercessory prayer circle offers up prayers for individuals.
Our pastoral care program offers every parishioner at least one way to demonstrate that love with some concrete service activity, and also offers every parishioner help when needed.
If you need pastoral care or know of someone who might benefit from some intervention or from one or more pastoral care services, please notify the monthly coordinator or one of the clergy. The monthly coordinator is announced in The Chimes.
Joining the Pastoral Care Team
Our Pastoral Care Program offers several opportunities for ministry for those who would like to share in meeting the short-term/emergency needs of parishioners. Most volunteer in response to a feeling of wanting to help someone else in need and gain the inner happiness which this kind of service brings them. Others also volunteer in response to God's second great commandment: to love one's neighbor as oneself.
Several parishioners are already in place for each ministry, but the Pastoral Care Team welcomes new people as well. If you are interested in volunteering for the Pastoral Care Team, here are some of the ministries:
Coordination of pastoral services. The coordinator, who serves for one month, supports the clergy as a resource person to connect a parishioner's short-term or emergency needs with someone who has offered to fill that need. A backup coordinator is assigned in case the coordinator is away for the weekend, ill, or otherwise unavailable.Food provision. This ministry provides and delivers food or a prepared meal for a parishioner in need, or prepares food for emergency use, which is stored in the freezer at church.
Funeral receptions. This team of parishioners facilitates the coordination/provision of food prepared by off-site providers for funeral receptions held at the church. Duties might include preparing baked goods, picking up food orders at a store, setup and/or cleanup, and shopping for paper products. The reception is produced at the expense of the parishioner who makes the request of clergy.
Greeting cards. Volunteers for this ministry send greeting cards to parishioners who are new to the church, homebound at the holidays, recently bereaved, ill, graduating, having a new baby, etc.
Home or lawn care and odd jobs. Volunteers provide one-time or occasional assistance with yardwork, snow clearing, trash removal, and odd jobs.
Home or hospital/nursing home visits. Visitors pay calls on parishioners in their homes, or at the hospital or nursing home, at the request of clergy.
Lay Eucharistic Ministry. Volunteers for this ministry bring Eucharist to parishioners in their homes or at the hospital or nursing home. Training is required for this ministry; inquiries should be directed to the Priest-in-Charge.
Prayer Circle. Several parishioners pray daily for thirty days for a parishioner in need.
Prayer shawls. Parishioner knit prayer shawls that are given from time to time to those in need of comfort. Instructions, knitting materials, and suggested prayers are provided to knitters.
Transportation, errands, shopping. Volunteers take parishioners to appoint-ments or to church; take them shopping; or run errands as needed. Such requests are usually occasional or one time only.
If you are interested in learning more about or participating in any of the above service activities, please call the parish office, 781-631-4951.
135 Lafayette Street / Marblehead, Massachusetts 01945
781-631-4951 / Fax: 781-639-7937 / officestandrews@verizon.net
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