Lay Pastoral Care through "A Community of Hope"

Acting on Feedback from Focus on the Future
A WITNESS BY LINDA WALTON

“I have been looking for a way to plug in….” and “I was looking for a way to reengage, and then the letter arrived.” These are but a few of the observations of people carefully considering their role in the emerging lay pastoral care ministry at Christ Church.


The desire for a vibrant and enduring lay pastoral care ministry was clearly communicated during our Focus on the Future sessions and later stated in the Parish Profile used to recruit our rector. Participants recognized a need for Christ Church of the future to be a place where clergy still focus on pastoral care yet aren’t stretched too thinly. Ideally this will be done, in part, through better development of lay leadership.

Thankfully, there is a "A School for God's service" — the Community of Hope International. The mission of Community of Hope is “to create Christian communities of lay volunteer pastoral care givers united in prayer, shaped by Benedictine spirituality, and equipped for and serving in pastoral care ministries.” Christ Church is joining an organization which is already established throughout the world.

The Community of Hope uses a 14 week, 42-hour curriculum to equip caregivers for this ministry. After the training, caregivers are commissioned as lay pastoral ministers. Commissioned pastoral caregivers then agree to participate in The Circle of Care, which is a monthly group meeting where they worship together, take part in continuing education, and report and debrief on their visitations. The program demands intentional dedication but rewards by strengthening community relationships and growing awareness of the presence of God in our lives.

This ministry is a gift of grace to both care receivers and care givers. More importantly, it is a gift from Christ:

Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. — Ephesians 4:11-12

You will hear more about this ministry as it develops and classes are scheduled. But you can also learn more by visiting www.ccerva.org/care or contacting The Rev. Robin Teasley. Please keep this new ministry and the volunteers in your prayers as they work to effectively deliver it to Christ Church.

- Linda Walton is one of the lay leaders called to implement A Community of Hope here at Christ Church.

Faith in Action

On September 25,  congregations around the world participated in Social Media Sunday. This was an opportunity to express ourselves and share our faith online. It was inspiring to see members of the CCE community engaged as digital disciples. Thank you for participating!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SOME OF THE POSTS

Love Your Neighbor

A WITNESS BY LAURA LAFAYETTE

In the gospel of Matthew, when Jesus is asked which is the greatest commandment, he replies: “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” At this point, he has answered the question; but he goes on to say: “and the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus explicitly links the command to live in right relationship with God to living in right relationships with our fellow human beings. Many resources can aid our efforts to live in right relationship with God: the biblical texts, sermons that provide insights into the texts, the opportunity to gather in worship, and spiritual disciplines—chief among them, prayer.

But how are we to love our neighbors? Our neighbors must be fed, clothed, sheltered; that’s why so many at Christ Church are involved in ministries that meet basic needs. That’s essential. Those needs will always be there; and they must always be met.

And yet, what if we could envision a regional community in which the necessity for these kinds of yeoman efforts to meet basic needs was few and far between, a community in which each and every one of us—no matter the circumstances of our birth—had an opportunity to flourish? For me, to “love your neighbor” is to work towards the creation of “communities of opportunity.” Communities of opportunity are communities that boast attractive, affordable housing—both rental and owner occupied. These houses line safe streets. The children in these homes have the opportunity to attend high performing public schools. The adults earn wages that enable them to meet the needs of their loved ones. The jobs, education, and housing are all linked by a multi-modal public transit system that stretches across the region. And woven throughout all of this is a rich tapestry of natural and cultural amenities that are accessible and affordable to all. In a nutshell, the goal of building communities of opportunity is to secure social justice through public policy.

So advocating for Bus Rapid Transit, working to pass bond referendums that will funnel more money to schools, changing zoning codes to allow for the development of affordable housing (even in the suburbs!)—all are acts of loving our neighbors. The pursuit of social justice through systemic changes in public policy presents us with a chance not only to transform our neighbors’ lives but ours as well. When I lobby local governments, I speak their language—budget priorities, cost-savings, return on investment, etc. And every word of that is true; social justice is the most efficacious, cost efficient public policy we could possibly pursue. But I know as well that my faith compels the work; because to love our God is to love and serve our neighbors.

—Laura Lafayette is the chair of our Missions & Outreach Ministry Team and is the chair of the board of directors for the Better Housing Coalition.

Growing, Serving, Celebrating!

Yesterday was a wonderful day of growing, serving, and celebrating at CCE! The ministry fair and Block Party brought together hundreds of folks and we feel so blessed to be surrounded by such a vibrant community. A big THANK YOU to our community partners who helped make it happen -- Henrico County Police Department, Henrico County Division of Fire, East of Afton, Jadean's Smokin' Six O, Cheezilla's Grilled Cheese, Sweet Cakes RVA, Slideways Mobile Bistro, Mister Softee Richmond VA -- and many more helping hands, including our dedicated lay leaders who organized the event.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE PHOTOBUCKET