Ministries of Care & Support

St. Augustine's Church has a long history of "in reach" to one another in the parish community, focused on four organized and ongoing ministries described below. Contact persons for each ministry are listed below.

Good Samaritans: Julia Joehl

Eucharistic Visitors: The Rev. Nadia Stefko

Lay Parish Visitors: Julia Joehl

Prayer Shawl Ministry: Carolyn Eby, Kristie Webber, Sue Nebel

Good Samaritans serve as an immediate and loving presence to those among us who are in temporary need, by providing concrete assistance. This support might include meals, rides, shopping, visits or phone calls, and written notes or cards. Good Samaritan volunteers serve two-week shifts. When "on call" the Good Samaritan, in collaboration with clergy, makes contact with parishioners identified as needing support and arranges help using the list of volunteers. Some rotations are very busy and others are quiet, depending on the needs of that time.

Eucharistic Visitors bring the consecrated bread and wine from the Sunday service to members who are shut-ins, are in a hospital or nursing facility, or have temporary conditions that don't allow them to attend church. These Visitors "take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration." This ministry allows individuals in those situations to continue feel a part of the St. Augustine's family even while unable to attend services.

Lay Parish Visitors act as the faces, voices, and spirit of St. Augustine's Church when our members are unable to actively and regularly participate in the life of the parish. There is no specific training needed for this ministry, just the ability to share news, listen with care and patience, and often relieve the loneliness of older parishioners. We visit those who are not able to get out easily, telephone them occasionally, and hope to ease the isolation of members whose spiritual and social circles may be lessening because of illness or physical disability and lack of mobility. When a person is unable to be in church, it is a wonderful comfort to have the sense that you are part of the whole, that your presence is missed and that your friends are reaching out to you.