Pastoral Care

One of the most challenging aspects of serving as a Pastor in a multi-generational church is to balance simple pastoral care with the responsibilities of providing leadership to various councils and committees, teaching, preaching, and all the many hidden expectations of a Pastor. In a growing, transitional Church like Ivy, there will be times these responsibilities get out of balance and one area or another might get neglected for a short time.

There are some things that can’t get neglected: preparation, prayer, preaching, and pastoral care. This brings me to the purpose of this column. There is a large number of people who are a vital part of our fellowship and who, for one reason or another, are unable to attend Church on a given Sunday. In addition, there are an equally large number of people who are friends and families of our members who are in need of pastoral care. I pray daily for these people, for those names I know, and those that I don’t.

I need your help! There are people in need of a pastor’s care who are living in the shadows of our fellowship and are facing hard times. If you are aware of this and should you feel so led, please let me know by calling the Office, and Bill or I will follow up with either a visit or a phone call as soon as we can. We keep a board in the Office for such as this, and we look at it several times a day.

There is one other thing. I am never too busy to stop by for a visit to those who aren’t facing hard times. I cherish every opportunity to get to know you in your own home. I wish I had the time to do that with every member of our Church. Short of that, I would love to be invited for a visit. In the past week, I traveled to Richmond to visit with one of our beloved displaced members. Prior to that, I spent a lovely afternoon with a dear, dear lady who invited me over for lemonade.

One can barely get to know the many special people in their Church by saying “hi” on a typical Sunday. I would love the opportunity to turn acquaintances into friends. If this is something you would like to do as well, please call the Office, and we’ll find the time for a visit.

You are a very special and wonderful Church. I am honored to serve you and represent you as your Pastor.

PJ