The Care & Support Ministries of

Clarkston United Methodist Church

“Let love be genuine…love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers…Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly…take thought for what is noble in the sight of all…so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Excerpts from Romans 12: 9-21

Sharing the love of Christ in real and tangible ways in the face of life’s difficulties is the mission and guiding principle of the Caring and Support Ministries of our church. Whether you are a church member, regular attendee, visitor, member of the community, or someone simply seeking to deal with the challenges of your life with loving and non-judgmental support, we welcome you to experience the love of Christ through our caring ministries.

If you or someone you know is in need of the caring support of our church, please contact
Rev. Richard Dake, Senior Pastor
(248) 625-1611, ext. 232
rdake@clarkstonumc.org

Clarkston UMC offers a variety of caring and support ministries to assist you or someone you know.

SHARE YOUR CARE! Are you looking for a way to use your gifts of caring and nurturing others in 2009? Would you like to make a difference in someone’s life by sharing the love of Christ with them in practical and meaningful ways? If so, we have a place for you in the Congregational Care Ministry of our church! Contact Rev. Richard Dake in the church office to learn how you can be a special blessing and partner in our caring and support ministries.

In addition to listing the names of service members in the prayer concerns in our bulletin; we would like to go the extra mile and start a bulletin board, perhaps with pictures, maps, places and dates of deployment, and maybe an occasional “care package” sent to them from their church. If you feel like becoming involved in the ministry please get in touch with Pastor Reed in the next couple of Sundays, and we’ll get it started!

Prayer Requests:  As people of faith, we believe that prayer can embrace the pain of those who suffer in our midst and that there is perhaps no better way to transform that pain than to place it before God. If you would like to submit a confidential prayer request, please click on the Prayer Request Form link.

Stephen Ministry:  We all face challenges in life – times when we could benefit from the support of a caring Christian friend. Stephen Ministry is a confidential, one-to-one caring ministry that provides emotional and spiritual care to those facing a difficult or challenging time in their lives. To learn more about how you or someone you know might benefit from this ministry, click on the link above or contact Rev. Reed Swanson , Associate Pastor at rswanson@clarkstonumc.org

Parish Visitors : We are looking for people interested in being a connection and representing Christ in human form.  You would adminster to parishioners who are home bound, hospitalized, recuperating or just in need of support.  If interested you would need to attend 1 of 2 classes offered: Tuesday, March 31st or Thursday, April 2nd from 7-9pm.  Contact Rev. Dake for more information or to register email him your name, phone, and address.

Career Transition: We offer job search support, including a basic handout covering resume writing, networking, interviewing and other related topics and a list of resources available at the Independence Twp Library. Learn more at http://www.clarkstonumc.org/adults/careertransition.html

Grief Support: We know that death is a part of life, but its stark reality and finality often leave us searching for answers and feeling helpless. If you are struggling with a loss, regardless of whether it has been 10 days or 10 years, we are ready to assist you in the healing process. Contact Sharon Sherrow at griefsupport@clarkstonumc.org.

“Martha’s Helping Hands” Meal Ministry:  When a hospitalization, death in the family, or some other significant life event limits a member’s ability to prepare nutritious meals for themselves or their family, we can help. Contact Joyce Bleim at marthashelpinghands@clarkstonumc.org.

“Caring Hearts” Card Ministry:  Cards of encouragement, support, sympathy, congratulations, etc. are sent weekly to those persons listed in the Prayer Requests section of our church bulletin. If you know someone who would enjoy or benefit from our card ministry, contact caringheartscardministry@clarkstonumc.org.

The Stephen Ministry Library is a special section of the Church Library.  It has many books to check out dealing with:  Christian Living, Devotion & Prayer, Comfort & Care, Grief & Loss, Suicide, Drugs & Alcohol, Fears, Stress & Depression, Healing, Aging, Aids