Ministers Musings
The Reverend Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry
How We Care
Dear Ones,
I write this column just four days after little Quinn Paulson’s memorial, and seven days after we learned of the death of little Orion Burman, Diane Witt’s grandson. Words are inadequate to express the myriad of emotions that are circulating in this community as we join together in this most tender of times. And even as we’ve each processed these passings in our own ways, in this past week we’ve embodied the vision of being a Caring Congregation. Our love has been poured out in meals, cards, emails, calls, flowers, donations, rituals, crying and just plain being there for those most in need, and for one another.
While so much of our caring happens organically in this community, this seems to be a good time to remind you all of the services of the newly-reorganized Caring Committee. The Caring Committee now has Care Coordinators, each of whom has taken on a different portfolio of care — Chronic Illness, Urgent Care and Hospitalizations, Family Needs, Grief and Loss, Homebound Members, Family Transitions (divorce, child leaving home, etc.), and Share-the-Care.
What do you do if you have a need for help from the congregation? First, call or email Jill Nichols and Elena Slusser. They’ll figure out which Care Coordinator will be your primary contact person. That person will coordinate care for you — things like rides or meals or visits — engaging a host of volunteers who’ve signed up to provide these services. Please let Jill or Elena know if you’d like to volunteer as well.
While we try to keep up with the needs of this vibrant congregation, the process works best if you let us know what you need. Being a Caring Community means being able to both provide and receive care. So please don’t hesitate to engage our Caring Committee when you have personal or family needs. In addition, I am available to address your pastoral needs.
And now, in the days and weeks to come, let us be gentle with ourselves and with each other, as we learn once again the hard lessons of living with loss.
In gratitude for this community of care,
Lydia