Answering God’s call to be ministers, we can be His hands and feet in the world. We can be Christ caring for people through people. We can get out to give care. Many at St. John’s care for their church friends and family in informal ways as diverse as the people themselves. The ministries below are St. John’s formal pastoral care efforts. Orientation/training is provided to volunteers as needed.

In addition to clergy visits, pastoral care at St. John’s is a ‘member to member’ ministry. Volunteers provide care to our congregation members as we experience all kinds of life needs and circumstances. Welcoming newcomers, visiting the sick, comforting those in need, sharing the Eucharist with those unable to come to church – these are acts of loving neighbors.

PASTORAL CARE COMMITTEE
This committee receives professional assistance from clergy regarding preparation for pastoral counseling and educational events. Recently, those parishioners visited regularly by members of this committee have numbered about 20 and those visits have taken place in 15 different institutions and homes.

(LAY) EUCHARISTIC VISITING MINISTERS
Clergy and lay members of the congregation work together to carry the Eucharist from our altar to those of the congregation who are unable to be physically present with us for any period of time. *Participation as a Eucharistic Visiting Minister is limited to those who are baptized.

FUNERAL RECEPTIONS AND LUNCHEONS
Volunteer your donations of prepared or purchased food or your time to serve the day of the service. Leadership of this ministry rotates every 3 months.

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING
This group of women are committed to a life-long program of daily prayer, service and evangelism and are dedicated to the spread of Christ’s kingdom and the strengthening of spiritual life of our congregation. Our DOK chapter meets monthly to maintain a confidential prayer list; pray for the church, the clergy and others in need; make prayer beads to share with those in need of prayer; and to prepare approximately 500 stamped Christmas cards for the clients of SAMS Pantry to use. They also coordinate an emergency prayer chain for any members of St. John’s who are in need. Last year, the Daughters sponsored a workshop on Centering Prayer which led to the formation of a Centering Prayer group that continues to meet monthly.

PRAYER CHAIN
In each Sunday’s bulletin and announcements, there are names of those we’ve been asked to remember in prayer. During the week, some of our members keep these and other intentions in their daily prayers. To ask for someone to be remembered in our prayers, or to share in the daily prayer needs of our congregation, please contact us.

If you wish to speak with someone at St. John’s about pastoral care, please call our office at 989-631-2260 or email us.

If you have an interest in loving your neighbors through pastoral care, please let us know by indicating your desired service role on our volunteer form.

Fellowship… This ministry is open to anyone with a heart for greeting, entertaining and bringing people into the full life of our parish. We always seek ways to warmly invite people of all ages and interests into our midst and to further link their lives with ours in the love of Christ.

Fellowship at St. John’s comes through a variety of social events for parishioners as well as through the warmth of all who help newcomers become part of our congregation. Celebrating in the community keeps our church vibrant and our members meaningfully connected to each other. Loving neighbors can begin close to home.

SPECIAL EVENTS
St. John’s holds a number of stand-alone events for the entire parish throughout the year. Members are always invited to participate in, lend support to or help lead events. In recent years, our community has enjoyed events including musical and dramatic presentations, a euchre/ games night, summer barbeques, pancake suppers, Loons baseball games, and a pool party at the Midland Country Club.

LOAVES & FISHES
Loaves & Fishes is a fellowship opportunity for St. John’s members to get to know one another in smaller groups, over a good meal. Groups of about 6-8 fellow parishioners are formed with an eye to shuffling participants as much as possible year to year, so you get to meet new folks. In a given year, each member or couple hosts a pot-luck dinner once for their group at their home or organizes a group dinner at a local restaurant. If you prefer eating out to hosting, simply indicate your ‘restaurant’ preference when you sign up. The sign-up period is typically early fall; look for bulletin announcements or on the bulletin boards just outside Williams Hall.

COFFEE HOUR
Regularly following our 10 am worship, our time for coffee and doughnut holes nourishes fellowship among members and allows newcomers to learn more about St. John’s in a casual atmosphere.

ST. MARTHA’S GUILD
This women’s group meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month Sept-May. In its usual activity, the guild served up a strawberry shortcake social for the congregation, sent holiday cards and treats to St. John’s college students, and donated to several other ministries associated with the church like King’s Daughters’ Christmas Closet and SAMS Pantry.

St. John’s is open to new fellowship groups… get-togethers that may serve different interests, age sets, or different family dynamics (i.e. empty nesters)… please let us know if there is an interest!

Fellowship is weaved into the fabric of much of what we do in and out of church, so it’s common for it to be part of an event that may also include worship, stewardship, formation, outreach, or pastoral care. At all these events/ gatherings, we need…pictures! Whether we are celebrating with each other or helping others, we need pictures that tell the stories of our church and experiences. In an increasingly visual communications world, St. John’s needs to be able to share what we do in illustrative images. So please, when appropriate, aim your camera to capture St. John’s – who we are and what we do – and get them to our office however you can or share them on our Facebook page. Help us complete the ‘picture’ of St. John’s!

FACEBOOK
We’ve got likes and followers, but how ‘bout posts, pictures & comments from you? Visit our Facebook page if you haven’t already. If you’re thinking about testing the Facebook waters, but are still a bit hesitant, contact St. John’s Ministry Coordinator Carol Sullivan about it. It can be a great tool to spread awareness about and engage others in support of St. John’s ministries.