Pastoral Care

The Gospels and New Testament teaches us to love others as God has loved us and to do this in practical ways as well as spiritual. We have therefore developed a number of ways of looking out for those who are in need or are vulnerable.

Fellowship Groups.  These are our first line of pastoral care and support as people look out for, and support each other in their small group.

The Pastoral Web. This is a programme to link every memeber of the church with two people who are willing to visit them if they become ill or in need. We use the Parish roll to link two names next to each person so that hopefully no one slips through the net if they are ill and we know about it.

Visiting. Parish staff make a point of visiting those in need and responding to every request for a visit.

Daily Phone Call. Those who are elderly and living at home are encouraged to join this programme that provides a morning phone call to each elderly person alone at home, just to make sure they are ok and have not fallen over during the night. (This was in response to one of our church members laying on the floor alone at home for more than a day.)

The Caserole Ministry.  A numbers of people in the church are involved in cooking meals and being ready to take them at a moments notice to anyone who is ill or in need. This can be an elderly person or a family, and can continue for a number of weeks as required and helpful.

Food Parcels. We have many folk in the community who don't manage their money well and often get into trouble with no food. We collect food at our services every week to take to the local Food Bank, where it is distributed to those in need. This happens from a central source so that it can be monitored accurately who is using it and to assess the need.

Home Communions. When people become house bound due to health we can respond to a request or offer a monthly communion at their home. We want to acknowledge people's life long walk with God in faith and allow them to maintain that faith through home communions.

Rest Home Communions. We have eight Rest Homes in Levin and each one has a monthly communion. Many of those taking communion are from different denominations but are very welcome to share together in this act of faith and devotion in our Lord Jesus Christ. (When we get to heaven, God won't be asking us "which denomination were you?" He will ask us "Do you love my Son?" and of course we will say "Yes!")