Department of Pastoral Care


"Come unto me, all that labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest."

The mission of the Department of Pastoral Care is to extend a ministry of presence and caring to those confined or in pain and to encourage those persons in finding and expressing their full ministry in Christ. 

Interim Associate Rector for Pastoral Care
The Reverend Carolyn West

Clergy Assistant for Pastoral Care
The Reverend Neal Hern

 Assistant for Pastoral Care
Jean Baty


The Pastoral Care program at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church coordinates lay people and clergy around a model of care that focuses on empowering ministry. Care-givers are trained to listen for both the needs and the gifts of care-receivers. This means that help is oriented toward enabling each person to recover with a renewed sense of personal ministry. As they have received, they want to give to others.

The main strength of Saint Michael and All Angels is the large number of very talented and dedicated lay people. One of the ways that these individuals have been expressing their gifts has been through the ministries of the Department of Pastoral Care. While the clergy have important sacramental and professional roles, pastoral care is provided primarily by these very special persons.

 
Lay Ministries
 
Pastoral Friends are individuals who are specially trained to visit our homebound parishioners, those in hospitals and in residential centers for the elderly. They break long days of worrying, discomfort or loneliness with a visit in the name of Christ.

Immediately following a Sunday service, Lay Eucharistic Ministers (L.E.M.s) bring communion on a monthly rotation to those who are known to be homebound or unable to attend Sunday services. Persons who perform this service are trained in both pastoral care and liturgy. The entire process is carefully regulated to maintain reverence for the sacraments and care for those being served.

Community of Saint Benedict is a unique program consisting of "Lay Chaplains" whose primary ministry in the church is pastoral care.

The Parish Nurse Program helps us minister to the whole person, recognizing that the Incarnation calls us to be good stewards of our bodies.

Recovery Advocates is dedicated to enhancing the spiritual, physical, emotional and social well-being of the communicants in matters of substance abuse and other additions.

Prayer Ministry is available for your prayer needs and offered for those suffering with illness, work issues, family needs and other concerns. Prayers of thanksgiving are also welcome.  You may pray as you feel the most comfortable - with the support of others attending the service, or quietly and privately with the clergy.  All prayer requests are kept in strict confidence.


              Get the facts about SUICIDE:  www.sccenter.org

The Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) offers catered monthly bereavement luncheons
which are open to anyone in the community who is grieving the death of a loved one in the past twelve months.  For location information please call 214/689-2633.  Reservations are required. 


 Sudden cardiac arrest  (SCA) occurs when the lower chambers of the heart (the ventricles) suddenly stop beating normally and develop what is called ventricular fibrillation (VF).  VF is a chaotic heart rhythm where the heart muscle begins quivering which prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood. If this condition is not corrected immediately; death will follow within 5 to 10 minutes.
 
A defibrillator is the only known device/technique that stops the chaotic electrical heart activity and allows the heart to re-pace itself to a normal rhythm.  Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) now bring defibrillator technology to the masses and allow immediate access.  
  
Although reliable and durable enough for all the fire fighters and EMS who use it...it's easy enough for a 9-year-old to operate. 

For a Zoll AED Instructions FLASH Demo
press on the following web page and begin with Item #3:
http://zoll-aed.com/FLASH-zoll-usage/index.html

  Currently, Saint Michael has (2) Zoll AED units available for emergency use.

If you are interested in joining a group training session on this product please contact
the Pastoral Care Department at 214/363-5471.





For more information on any of these groups or programs
please contact the Pastoral Care Department at (214) 363-5471.