Pastoral Care and Caring
No matter what has drawn us to Unitarian Universalism, community is an important aspect of our congregational life. We are a caring community. We care about each other’s joys and sorrows. It is important that our members and friends feel that others truly care. It strengthens, elates and comforts us. To know that we can, each in our own way, join in this embracing bond strengthens our sense of inclusion and gives it meaning.
The Minister is available for conversation and pastoral counseling, available by zoom, phone, or in person at the congregation location at 474 Broadway, or with a scheduled visit to a health care facility or your home. You can reach Rev. Margret by email at minister@uucatskills.org, or by leaving a message with the office at 845-331-2884.
Members of the Caring Team also help to maintain connection especially with congregants in times of need, or for those unable to attend worship and other congregational activities in person – sending cards, notes, emails, and making phone calls to members who may benefit from a little extra support.
The minister can also help organize other forms of support as needed, by mobilizing the network of members and friends as needed. Assistance can be organized to meet needs for
Transportation – Helping to arrange rides to and from medical appointments, worship services and events.
Food and meals – Arrange for preparation and delivery of meals to members in need.
To learn more about how the Caring Team can help and/or to learn how to get involved as a volunteer with our team, please contact caring@uucatskills.org.
Joys and Sorrows
Even though some think of it as “community-building,” in a deeper sense, Joys and Sorrows is a pastoral component of the worship service. In some faith traditions it is a “prayer list” or “prayers of the people” or “pastoral prayer.” This is a sacred ritual and responsibility, one aspect of the caring connections in a faith community.
We honor the emotional and pastoral importance of the process by inviting anyone with a joy or sorrow to share, either by completing one of the yellow/blue cards in the Sanctuary on Sunday, or by using the online form (link in each weekly news with the worship service announcement and HERE), to identify the life events or circumstances they would like to share with the community in search of acknowledgement and support.
The cards must be “signed” with the full name of the person submitting in order to be shared, and if someone is disclosing a joy or sorrow that is not their own (for another congregant) they must have explicit permission to share, in respect for everyone’s boundaries and privacy.
This approach is designed to create greater inclusion for those who are not comfortable with public speaking, reduce the potential for inadvertent harm to vulnerable people, and make it easier for us to follow up on sorrows and needs. We have stones to place in the water bowl for those who want a private way to honor their emotions.
After the service, the cards are reviewed by the Minister for any issues that need to be followed up. And of course, if any member of the congregation has a personal need or sorrow for which they would like support, contact Rev. Margret at minister@uucatskills.org.