Pastoral Associates
Listening, Loving, Healing Support Because everyone needs an extra loving presence sometimes…
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Who Are the Pastoral Associates? |
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We are lay members of the congregation who offer confidential, practical, and emotional support to congregational members in need. We have trained with the Ministers and meet with them regularly for ongoing training and support. In addition, we have covenanted with the congregation to deepen the loving embrace of this spiritual community through our gifts. We work in conjunction with the professional Ministers to meet the pastoral care needs of the congregational community. These needs may include: - Major life changes, such as birth or adoption, loss of a job, divorce, retirement or other life transitions;
- Isolation because of age, mobility problems, or other factors;
- Health problems, illness, or hospitalization;
- Death of a family member, friend, or companion animal;
- Other life changes or events causing stress or upheaval.
Our services are oriented to guide people through transition; they may be short term, for a agreed upon time, or one time only. We will work with you, your family members, or any other people you choose to provide listening, loving, healing support during difficult times. |
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As Pastoral Associates we are available to talk to you by telephone or to meet with you in person. Our services are confidential unless you make a request that we contact the Ministers, News and Needs email list serve, or light a candle for Joys and Sorrows during a Sunday service. No one but you, the Minister, and the Pastoral Associates need know you are receiving pastoral care. We are here to help in the following ways: - To be present during a difficult time
- To provide you an opportunity to talk and to be heard
- To offer empathy and emotional support
- To refer you to other sources of support or help, such as the Ministers or United Way Help Line (call 211)
- To offer to light a candle for Joys and Sorrows
- To offer to put out a request for help on the News and Needs email list serve (
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)
- To contact the minister or any other UUFG members or family on your behalf
We provide a caring presence and will gladly refer you to others who might be able to provide respite care, such as meals, transportation, shopping, child care, housing, or medical appointments. |
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You may call the congregation directly and speak with the Office Administrator (Cam Pierce at 352-377-1669 or
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, although this email is not confidential). The administrator will gather some basic information and then refer the call to the Minister or to a Pastoral Associate. Generally, you may expect a return call within 24 hours. You may also contact the Ministers directly at 352-377-1669 or leave a message in their confidential voice mail box, or email them at
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. The Pastoral Associate will then contact you and arrange a time for talking or for a visit. After the visit you and the Pastoral Associate will make arrangements for any further visits. If you two determine that there is a need for repeated, long term visits then you can be referred to the Ministers or to professional help depending on your needs. Occasionally when the Ministers are unable to make initial contact during a member’s hospital stay, or emerging situation, a Pastoral Associate will contact you on behalf of the congregation and offer services. |
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Our congregation is a community that embraces one another when in need. This is part of our vision: "to be a diverse religious community committed to life long spiritual growth and compassionate care of one another, our community, and the earth." This reaching out in understanding and compassion also rises out of our rich Unitarian and Universalist roots and traditions. We seek always to listen and be present to one another and to life so that we may heal as we ourselves are healed. Listening to each other and abiding with each other during the rough spots of our lives attunes us to wholeness as we move away from our sense of disconnection and brokeness. We are a covenanting people, a people who promise to walk in the ways of love with each other. Our Pastoral Associates both symbolize our faith and actualize it in their service to others. We ministers are always available to you during the difficult moment. We hope you will call on us when we can help. We also hope you will seek out the services of the Pastoral Associates. Rev. LoraKim Joyner
Rev. Meredith Garmon |
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Would You Like to Help Extend the Work of the Pastoral Associates? |
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The Pastoral Associates do not work alone. They meet regularly to support one another and learn together with the Ministers. In addition they appreciate each member spreading the word about this exciting and rewarding ministry. If you think you might be interested in learning more about deep listening, empathy, and pastoral care, both for members of the congregation and for your friends and family, contact Rev. Joyner. We will be looking to train more Pastoral Associates and to broaden the chance for others to grow their gifts in this area. In the meantime, we invite you to keep your ears open to one another so that our hearts may grow to hold the beautiful and tragic in our lives. |
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Feel the wondrous grit of life, less structured, find all wounds, debts stamped canceled, paid. I once asked a bird, how is it that you fly in this gravity of darkness? She responded. Love lifts me. – Hafiz
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