Caring for Others

      One key aspect of St. Andrew’s United  church is our commitment to our faith community. Members and adherents are considered part of a family within the church which means their well-being is important to us all. 

      To better meet the needs of this community our church has a committee whose purpose is to oversee the membership and pastoral care of the congregation. The committee’s duties include a variety of items such as welcoming newcomers, gathering and maintaining information about members/adherents and recruiting new members. In regards to worship, the committee is responsible for sponsoring non-members for baptism, helping with transfers of membership professions of faith and approving baptism requests. 

       The Pastoral Visitors sub-committee consists of dedicated volunteers from the congregation who reach out to those in need (within and outside the church). These members provide assistance in many ways – from transportation and meals – to the formation and operation of palliative care teams. 

      One glance at the list of tasks these volunteers perform shows just how essential their work is to the people whose lives they touch. These tasks include:

• To stay in tune with the needs of those requiring special care 
• To give informal pastoral care before and after Sunday Service 
• To visit members living in residential care, hospitals, rehab. settings and those unable to leave their own homes 
• To maintain phone contact between visits 
• To provide a listening ear 
• To communicate prayer needs to the Prayer Covenant 
• To track new admissions to hospitals and residences 
• To deliver copies of sermons monthly to interested shut-ins 
• To consult on flower distribution 
• To facilitate formation of palliative care teams where needed 
• To meet monthly for worship, education, fellowship and business