In Your Time of Need
Our Pastoral Care Program offers a ministry of support for UUCL members in times of need.
We endeavor to:
Support people through crises, transitions, and difficult situations;
Listen and help individuals sort out what can and cannot be changed;
Be present with people in their pain, loss, struggle, anxiety, and joy;
Relate gently to individuals as whole people;
Offer encouragement and comfort in times of trouble;
Be available to individuals at any stage of life.
Our program is available to all UUCL members. We recognize that each situation is unique and levels of needed care are not the same for everyone. With this in mind, members are encouraged to reach out in their times of need. Our Community Minister Rev. Esther Hurlburt also offers advice on eldercare.
Contact the Minister if:
You need short-term counseling or spiritual direction
Crisis care or someone to be present during a time of transition or difficulty
Home or hospital visits
Member rites of passage, including but not limited to: funerals, memorials, weddings, naming ceremonies for children, and home blessings
Referrals to community resources such as food pantries, counselors, or other resources
Deciding if you need to connect with a Pastoral Associate
Finding a way to connect in the congregation
Pastoral Care Associates (PCAs)
PCAs are volunteers invited to serve on a small team in collaboration with the Minister. They are trained to meet with members one-on-one, to listen compassionately, respond skillfully, and to hold in confidence what is shared with them. Their work is intended to complement, and not replace, the pastoral care offered by our Minister. This is a ministry of “being” present and quietly listening, rather than “doing” or “fixing.”
Contact the PCAs for yourself or a loved one in these kinds of circumstances:
An important life transition (new baby, a major move, retirement, death)
Surgery, serious illness, or chronic health conditions
Loneliness
Grief, pregnancy loss, terminal illness
Job loss, divorce, or other loss or crisis
A personal struggle or dilemma for which a compassionate and impartial “listening ear” would be welcome
For church members who are experiencing hardship, the church maintains a Minister’s Discretionary Fund to provide some measure of relief to members who request assistance. It can cover the costs of delivering groceries, prescriptions, portions of bills, and other needs directly related to financial hardships. If you would like to donate directly to this fund, you may mail a check to UUCL with “Discretionary Fund” written on the memo line. Your support is greatly appreciated.