Pastoral Care
Pastoral care offers emotional, social, and spiritual support. The word pastoral originated from the Latin word “pascere’” (to feed) and is biblically described by the powerful metaphor of Jesus as the Good Shepherd caring for the flock. Pastor James is passionate about pastoral care and has made this his lifelong focus academically and vocationally. He holds an M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and a doctorate in Pastoral Counseling from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. For Pastor James, the emphasis in pastoral care is on healing and wholeness, which is encountered in the personal story of individuals and communities, a story that has ups and downs, life and death, sorrow and joy. Pastor James is always eagerly available to journey with each of us as we weave our personal stories together in the one family of God.
Christian Response
This committee will coordinate many of the volunteer efforts of FGCC to help our congregation in times of need. Below are the subcommittees who respond to those needs.
In-Home Ministry
This section of the Christian Response team performs an extremely important task as they deliver the Sunday Messenger to the sick and shut in parishioners weekly.
It is the visit from the In-Home ministers that is most important aspect of this ministry as much of the Sunday service is now available on our new & improved website. For example - Pastor James's wonderful sermons are posted online.
To effectively perform this blessed task requires a team of dedicated people. The need for this ministry is increasing and we continue to look for more volunteers to help with this task. If you think this ministry is something you would like to do, please contact the church office, who will put you in touch with the appropriate team member.
Greeting Card Ministry
This committee provides a greeting card exchange program and sends cards to members who moved away but still want to remain in touch. This also includes members who are ill and are now located some distance away. People are encouraged to donate unused cards to be set out in Fellowship Hall for anyone to take and use for free.
We also provide cards for Women’s Fellowship “Boxes for Soldiers” project each year and the Cumberland County Hospice House. Patriotic cards are also available to be sent to Veterans and Active Duty Military personnel. The “A Million thanks” organization has the ability to distribute these cards across the world. The local drop-off location is the Progressive Savings Bank on Peavine Road. For our church attendees who have been in the armed forces, an Honor album containing their photographs is available for viewing on the “military table” in our Fellowship Hall.
e-Prayer Ministry
E-Prayer ministry provides the opportunity to pray for our members and their family and friends while they are undergoing a life crisis or critical situation. Requests can be initiated by the Pastor or a congregant. Please confirm that the concerned individual wishes to have prayers offered by our members. Once confirmed, the request can be forwarded to directly to our e-Prayer coordinator. The coordinator then sends the information to those who have signed up to participate in the e-Prayer ministry. If you wish to be included in the e-Prayer ministry you can send your information to eprayerchurch@gmail.com. Any member can also send a request for prayers directly to eprayerchurch@gmail.com.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
This ministry creates prayer shawls for members and friends in need of comfort while undergoing a life crisis or critical situation. The coordinator works with volunteers who prayerfully create the shawls which when completed, can be checked out in the church office to be given to someone in need.
Stephen Ministry
Everyone is broken in one way or another. Losses, crises, and other painful life events show our brokenness and drive us to Jesus for healing and hope. In his cross, Jesus bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. In him we find the healing we need. Stephen Ministers bring hurting people to Jesus’ cross to find healing and hope. This is the meaning of the Stephen Ministry motto, “Christ caring for people through people.” Stephen Ministers care for the person—God cures the person.
Stephen Ministry is a distinctively Christian caring ministry in which clergy and lay persons work together to provide quality one to one care to meet the needs of people experiencing a wide range of life circumstances or crises.
Stephen Ministers are laypeople like you and me who have been trained through the Stephen Ministry Training Program in the theology of one to one caring and in specific caring skills.
If you would like to speak to a Stephen Minister, please contact the church office at 931-484-7412 and they will put you in touch with the appropriate person.