Pastoral Care
Pastoral PrayerWhether or not prayer and meditation are regular spiritual practices for congregants, there is power in our naming of that which is true, that which we yearn for, and that which matters most. Below are three prayers: two Sunday morning pastoral prayers, and a prayer offered for a pregnant couple in the hospital for monitoring when the mother’s water broke at six months. Anxiety was high and premature delivery of their baby was immanent.
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Pastoral CounselingMy pastoral counseling style is a process of “listening for the soul,” as author Jean Stairs would say. I listen to what is on my congregant’s heart, help draw their attention to their external supports and internal strengths, and affirm their experience, truth, worthiness, and resiliency. I have a warm, loving, non-judgmental pastoral presence; placing great importance on both pastoral availability and appropriate pastoral boundaries.
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Lay LeadershipA congregation’s pastoral needs are best served by lay leaders and clergy partnering to offer care. Recruiting, training, and supporting a lay pastoral team (such as “Pastoral Associates” or “Lay Ministers”) expands the reach of congregational care, allowing more needs to be met. Besides meeting the congregation’s pastoral needs, though, leaders in pastoral leadership roles also often find this service to be fulfilling and spirit-growing.
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Support ProgramsOffering support groups such as a group for those who are grieving, a group for new parents, or a group living with chronic illness, is another important function of the congregation’s pastoral ministries. Sometimes these groups are led by a minister, some lay-led, but these groups offer companionship, enable resources to be shared, and give those who are struggling a safe place to voice their pain and worries.
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Prayers
 Prayer for All Souls - April 21, 2013
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 Prayer for First Unitarian - September 27, 2015
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 Prayer for Jordan, Robin, and the Little One
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