Ministry of Reaching Inward
The Caring Ministry to people within our parish family includes visiting and taking communion to the hospitalized and shut-in, welcoming new people, taking meals to people, providing a parish health ministry program, meeting special needs through the Vergers’ Guild, offering assistance when there is a death in the family, and praying for those going through difficult times.
AGAPE
The Agape Ministry provides meals to parish families at times of illness, new baby arrival, death or other need throughout the year. Please help us do this by making the church office aware of these situations so that we may respond in a timely manner. Presently we have four teams of four individuals who have offered to serve in this way, and we would welcome additional volunteers. Our goal is to form at least two more teams.
Contact: Coordinator Sherry Shadle (270-442-6552)
COLLEGE CARE PACKAGES
Once a year we gather all sorts of treats to send our college students. Even though they are far away, we want them to know they are still very much a part of their home congregation.
Contact: Youth Minister Stefan Jagoe (270-443-1363)
WELCOMING NEWCOMERS
While it is the responsibility of everyone to make newcomers and visitors feel welcome at Grace, some people are particularly gifted at the ministry of hospitality. If you are one of those people, please consider offering your time to be a shepherd to a newcomer, help with a newcomers’ gathering at the Rector’s home, serve as a greeter at worship services and parish events, or prepare welcome packets.
Contact: Vestry Member Dr. Greg Baur (270-443-8330), Membership Secretary Sherry Threlkeld (270-443-1363)
PREPARATION FOR LIFE CYCLE EVENTS
Our clergy, assisted by lay staff and volunteers, provide preparation as needed for baptism, confirmation, and marriage. Short-term counseling around life crises and issues is also available with referral to professional counselors as needed.
Contact: The Rev. Libby Wade (270-443-1363), The Rev. Meghan Holland (270-705-6252)
VINTAGE GRACE
(This group will not meet in November or December 2011.) Vintage Grace, a group for those 60 and older, was organized in August of 2009 to increase opportunities for socialization, education, and service for the senior adults of Grace. The group meets regularly for luncheons with speakers and has assisted with packing boxes for the Christmas on the River project. Another aim is to provide assistance for older adults who need help with transportation to church, doctor appointments, the grocery, etc. or help with small chores at home. Luncheons are generally on the last Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m.
Contact: Marian Bates (270-443-1375), Ruby Armstrong (270-442-6443)
VERGERS’ GUILD
The members of this men’s service guild use their collective talents to help church members and care for the church grounds. Recent activities have included assisting parishioners with moving, driving people to the airport or appointments, doing yard work for the ill or homebound, and performing minor maintenance and repair around the church. Through cooking and serving monthly Sunday breakfasts, the Vergers regularly bring the parish together in fellowship. Proceeds from the breakfasts help fund youth activities, camp scholarships, and kitchen equipment. The Vergers’ Guild also takes responsibility for the Lenten NoonBreak Lunch, Pentecost Picnic, and other special meals at Grace. New members are welcome at any time.
Contact: Coordinator Ron Slatick (270-554-5919)
PARISH HEALTH MINISTRY
The Parish Health Ministry focuses on spiritual health and physical wellbeing. In 2007, we held a Grief Workshop led by a Lourdes Hospice Chaplain, initiated a recurring short series (“Refresh and Renew”) that focused on spiritual, physical, and emotional health, and brought in a guest speaker on prayer and health. Is someone interested in restarting this ministry?
Contact: The Rev. Libby Wade (270-443-1363)
PRAYER MINISTRY
God is present with us during our most difficult times. Persons placed on our Parish Prayer List are prayed for at least daily by the Daughters of the King (DOK), clergy, and/or others. Prayer Request Cards are provided in the pews and DOK maintains a Prayer Request Box near the side altar in the church. A prayer list is also maintained on the “Parish Family” bulletin board.
Contact: The Rev. Libby Wade (270-443-1363),
DOK Prayer List Manager Jane Rutter (270-443-2932),
Parish Prayer List Manager Sherry Threlkeld (270-443-1363)
PARISH VISITATION & LAY EUCHARISTIC VISITORS
Lay Eucharistic Visitors are licensed by the Bishop to take the Eucharist to homebound and hospitalized parishioners after our Sunday services. They perform an important pastoral and sacramental function. Equally important are those people who have a gift for comforting shut-ins through a phone call, card, or visit. Training for both informal pastoral care visitors and the more formally licensed LEVs is offered as needed.
Contact: (for training) The Rev. Richard Paxton (270-442-3857),
(to schedule an LEV visit) Parish Administrator Kimberly Stevens (270-443-1363)
MINISTRY AT TIME OF DEATH
More and more people choose to have funeral, burial, and visitation at the church. When requested, the parish family provides a ministry of hospitality in the form of a reception or light meal. On-call hosts and cooks are needed.
Contact: Parish Liaison Fran Kraus (270-442-0872)
PARISH DIRECTORY, PHOTO CD, PHOTO ALBUM
The regularly updated Parish Directory is always available in Fletcher Hall. Please notify Membership Secretary Sherry Threlkeld if your address or other contact info changes so that our database will always be up-to-date. Also, remember that a Photo Directory on CD is available upon request. To submit a new photo, simply e-mail one of your choosing to gracebookkeeper@paducah.com or contact Church Photographer Dan Songer to have one taken. Dan also maintains a photo album in Fletcher Hall.
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