The Lord’s Day
Minute for Mission: Caregiver Sunday

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Family caregivers are often among those missing at services, so support that can be provided by congregational care teams can be a very crucial ministry. Congregational Care Team Ministries are not a new approach to ministry. Congregations in one way or another have always come together as a community and provided care for their members and neighbors—through the care ministries of the session and the deacons, the pastoral care of pastors, and the one-on-one care of Stephen Ministers, health ministers, and parish nurses.

Caregiving affects all of us. Congregational caring and concern have resulted in a remarkable number and variety of approaches to this work. Examples of Congregational Care Teams Ministries range from those serving individuals who need assistance within their own congregations, to teams partnered with other faith congregations whose needs might be greater and that focus on older adults or on lonely or ill individuals. Some congregational care teams might choose to reach out to assist individuals from the larger community who require assistance or support.

Care teams may also be specialized efforts begun in response to traumatic events. They may work with single individuals as care partners or with a group, such as residents of a particular nursing home. Care teams also focus on issues, working on behalf of equitable funding for health care, to ameliorate a health hazard, or to secure necessary health resources for their community.

This year, surround family caregivers with encircling care on National Caregivers Sunday and beyond. You may go to the PC(USA) Web site or call the Health Ministries Office for more information.

—Patricia K. Gleich, associate for Health Ministries, National Ministries