Lay Pastoral Ministries

For more information about these ministries, please contact the Rev. Cortney Dale, Associate Rector, at 252-633-2109.  

At Christ Church, pastoral care shows up in many ways.

Through Visitation:

• Newcomer Visitors receive the names and contact information of people who are thinking of becoming a part of the fellowship of Christ Church. These visits are available to those who have recently moved to New Bern or who may be at a place in their lives when they want to consider a new faith tradition. Newcomer Visitors share with newcomers the many ministries that Christ Church offers and help connect them to people who share their interests.
• Stephen Ministry trains people who are called to walk the journey of crisis with people who have experienced an overwhelming event in their lives. It may be a serious illness; the death of a loved one; loss of employment; or ongoing stress related to a challenging relationship, school or work. The four-month training program includes curriculum prepared by the national Stephen Ministry network and provides classes with experienced Stephen Ministers, professionals and other trainees for in-depth discussions. Stephen Ministers continue to meet with colleagues for continuing education and conversations designed to help them provide the best care possible.
• Hospital Visitors include Christ Church clergy, Eucharistic Visitors, members of the Order of St. Luke, and members of Stephen Ministry. One person from each of these groups visits the hospital six days a week to encourage and support patients who are Episcopalians in brief conversation and prayer.
• Clergy Visitation is available for parishioners who desire one-on-one conversation.
• Flower Team Visitors deliver flower arrangements from the altar on Sundays to parishioners in the hospital, in care facilities or to the home bound.

Sharing Communion:

• Eucharistic Visitors take communion to those who cannot be with us on Sunday. They share the love of Christ and the people of Christ Church by taking the sacraments from the altar to the home bound and to Episcopalians who are in the hospital
• Clergy and laity together take communion monthly to care facilities such as McCarthy Court, Homeplace and Sterling House.

Through Prayer:

The Order of St. Luke, The Order of the Daughters of the King, and the Prayer Shawl Ministry are all praying ministries.

• The International Order of St. Luke the Physician is an ecumenical organization dedicated to the Christian healing ministry. Members meet weekly to study Scriptures related to healing and to pray for those in need of healing.
• The Order of the Daughters of the King is a spiritual sisterhood of women dedicated to a life of prayer, service and evangelism.
• The Prayer Shawl Ministry is a prayerful ministry and spiritual practice through knitting and crocheting. By providing prayers shawls and knitted caps, this ministry reaches out to those in need of comfort and solace, as well as to those who are celebrating the joys of life.

In Groups:

• Grief Groups are provided for those who may benefit from being with others who have also experienced loss. This group is open to those who have experienced the loss of a loved one, who are care-givers for one who is chronically or terminally ill, or who are grieving their own serious illness, loss of employment, divorce or some other tragedy in their lives.
• Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. Membership is open to all who want help through mutual support and sharing.

• Narcotics Anonymous is a global, community-based organization that facilitates recovery from the effects of addiction through the twelve-step program. It offers an ongoing support network for addicts who wish to pursue and maintain a drug-free lifestyle.

Together in Koinonia we have the opportunity to support each other in many ways:

• Koinonia comes from a Greek word that translates into something like communion or fellowship. It is a long-standing tradition of hospitality from the days of the early church.
• The Koinonia tradition has been a ministry of Christ Church for many years, facilitating neighbors getting acquainted with and caring for neighbors. Parishioners in the same area of town sometimes show their care with acts of kindness – a telephone call, a card, a meal, or by bringing something from the store.
• Occasions of celebration or need might include play dates for children or pets, a newcomer in the community, a new baby, birthday(s), an ailing pet, checking on each other after a storm, illness, death or accident
• A directory for each geographic region of New Bern is available to help you know who your Koinonia neighbors are. Alphabetical directories for all parishioners are also available at the reception desk and are updated monthly.
• The clergy team is available for Home Eucharists, House Blessings and other special occasions.
• There are times in our lives when we all need the loving touch of another human being. As a congregation we try to stay tuned in to those around us, to sense when others might be in need of our care.