Pastoral Care & Prayer
“Love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus of Nazareth
The clergy, lay staff and volunteers work together at St. Benedict’s to provide Pastoral Care Ministries that encourage and support experiences of the fullness of God’s love through prayer and acts of loving kindness. The reasons for needing Pastoral Care can be many and varied but whatever your reason, and whether the need is acute or an ongoing burden, we hope you will contact us. We will work with you to find meaningful ways in which we can support you, be that to pray with you, visit you, or listen to you, whether you are in hospital or at home, or prefer to come in to the office.
We invite you to contact Lesley-Ann Drake, Director of Pastoral Care, or by calling 678-279-4308 to share a concern or a need.
In the case of a pastoral emergency, please call the church office (678-279-4300). If it is after hours, the message on the office machine will direct you to the clergy on call.
Alcoholics Anonymous
The AA group meetings are Thursday nights. Click here for more information
Assisted Living Communities
St. Benedict’s leads monthly worship services at three local assisted living communities. If you can sing, read, or smile, you can help! The residents love to talk about something other than what’s on the menu for lunch or what medication they are taking. Click here to learn more about St. Benedict's Seniors Ministry. To get involved, please come to one of the following locations:
1st Wednesday each month at 3:30PM - The Court at Vinings
2nd Monday each month at 3:30PM - Woodland Ridge
3rd Wednesday each month at 3:30PM - Delmar Gardens
Career Transition Ministry
All transitions challenge us to move from our “old” familiar routines and expectations to some “new” unknown ways of being in the world. Work transitions are particularly challenging and touch every aspect of our lives. Click here for more information.
College Ministry
Reaching out to college students who are connected to St. Benedict’s in one way in which we hope to keep these young adults connected with their faith. Click here for more information.
Eucharistic Visitors
The mission of the Eucharistic Visitors is to be a pastoral and sacramental presence to those who are homebound, are in the hospital, or are recovering from illness by taking the consecrated bread and wine to these parishioners after the Sunday service. Eucharistic Visitors are trained by a member of the clergy, and are licensed by the Bishop.
Godly Aging Ministry
We have a wonderful group of elders at St. Benedict’s, and we have parishioners in the sandwich generation with aging parents or other relatives. We are working to develop meaningful programs for our elders that could include ideas such as birthday cards, lunch and learns, or altar flower delivery. And we are looking at ways of providing support to those who are in the sandwich generation. Our first step – one that is for everyone - is the Final Affairs Fair on August 28th, that will feature exhibitors providing information on the varied aspects of aging. The exhibitors will include assisted living communities, hospices, elder care attorneys, funeral homes and cremation societies, etc.
Diocean Elder Network
This is a diocesan-wide ministry that is forming at the grassroots level. From a small group getting together in the fall of 2008, this has grown to eight parishes and counting! The group's purpose is to "identify and connect with the eldercare issues of our parishes by supporting individuals and families through education, resources, emotional care and spiritual care." St. Benedict’s is taking an active role in this ministry.
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Guild of the Christ Child
Offering support to expectant and new mothers, we provide 3 frozen dinners through our Manna Meals ministry ahead of time, and make a visit to the hospital to ensure everyone is healthy. After delivery, we make home visits to present a hand knitted blanket for the baby, and to bring a book for an older sibling. Click here for more information.
Healing Prayers
Healing prayers are offered in the Chapel the first Sunday of each month at the 10:30AM service. Members of this ministry team feel especially called to this ministry out of their own life experiences. Through the laying on of hands, they will offer prayers for healing of mind, body and spirit to members of the congregation who wish to receive prayers for themselves or others.
Hospital Admissions and Visits Be sure and call the church!
Governmental regulations (HIPPA) prohibit release of health information to third parties, therefore hospitals no longer notify us when a member is a patient so please call the church to let us know when a parishioner has been admitted. You may reach the Church Office at 678-279-4300; if it is after hours, the message on the office machine will direct you to the clergy on call. If you know in advance that you will be going in to the hospital, please let Lesley-Ann Drake know so that she can share relevant contact information with you.
One final note: letting the church office know about a hospitalization does not mean automatic inclusion on the prayer list. Please tell us if you want an individual name added to the prayer list.
Manna Meals
Cooking a meal for someone is a wonderful way to give of ourselves and to feed our own souls. The Manna Meals ministry helps to provide meals for new families but also keeps the church freezer stocked for emergency food for those who are recovering from surgery, have experienced a sudden loss, or for various other reasons find themselves in want. If you need food, know someone else who needs food, or are interested in preparing food, please contact us.
Pastoral Companions
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A small group of trained lay people, the Pastoral Companions are committed to being with you in times of transition. Click here for more information
Paws 4 Ministry
Paws 4 Ministry takes trained and licensed pets to provide companionship to residents and caregivers at nursing homes, assisted living and hospice facilities. Click here for more information.
Prayer
Prayer is like breathing for the soul. There are times in life when prayer feels like breathing, the most natural thing in the world - and there are times when even saying the Lord's Prayer is too difficult. At St. Benedict's we are happy to pray with you, in times of joy as well as in times of sorrow -and at all the times in-between. Our clergy and trained lay people welcome your request.
Prayer Lists
We maintain a Parish Prayer list that is read aloud as a part of the Prayers of the People during the Sunday worship services. The names are also printed in the Sunday bulletin so that the congregation may pray for them as well.
To have a name added to the Prayer list, you can complete a form on Sunday if you choose; these forms are in a basket in the Narthex. Or you can complete an online form here. Names are on this prayer list for 4 consecutive weeks, although a name may be removed at any time. After 4 weeks, names are subsequently moved to the Daughters of the King prayer list for an additional four weeks of prayer – or longer if needed. Please let us know how the person is doing.
We care, and God is healing people in our midst.
Rite of Reconciliation of a Penitent
The Episcopal Church has a Sacramental Rite called "Reconciliation of a Penitent". This private and confidential Rite offers a penitent (person with sin seeking forgiveness and reconciliation) a formal pastoral setting to confess and offer penance to God in the presence of a Priest. The Priest offers counsel and proclaims absolution. Such Rite often follows Pastoral counseling. Contact the Rev. Stuart Higginbotham if you are interested in receiving this Sacrament.
Pastoral Counseling
The Episcopal Church offers counseling at time of need or crisis (e.g. marital, grief, anxiety, depression, spiritual, etc.) through professionally trained counselors. Most counselors are licensed in the State of Georgia as marriage and family therapists or in social work. Many are certified as members of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors ("AAPC") a professional association with standards for care and counseling. The counseling center is located in the Lanier House on the grounds of the Cathedral of St. Philip, 2744 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta, GA. 30305. Counseling is offered on a fee basis yet many insurance policies may provide coverage. Your gift to the Vicar's Discretionary Fund can be used to offer assistance to those who need financial help.
Touched by these ministries? If you need more information about any of them, either as a recipient of care, or as someone who is interested in providing care, please contact Lesley-Ann Drake, Director of Pastoral Care via e-mail or by calling 678-279-4308.
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