I need a friend, Lord, someone who will just listen. Not someone who will try to fix me or attempt to solve my problems, but someone who will accept me for who I am. Not someone who will become anxious, suspicious, or frightened when I share the deepest feelings of my soul, but someone who will accept me. Not someone who will give chatty advice or scold or judge me, but someone who will quietly point me to you. I need someone to listen, Lord, someone like you.
I need a friend, Lord, someone who will just listen. Not someone who will try to fix me or attempt to solve my problems, but someone who will accept me for who I am. Not someone who will become anxious, suspicious, or frightened when I share the deepest feelings of my soul, but someone who will accept me. Not someone who will give chatty advice or scold or judge me, but someone who will quietly point me to you. I need someone to listen, Lord, someone like you.
Stephen Ministry at First Pres is up and running. Stephen Ministers have met with care receivers and God's work has begun in this ministry. It has become quickly apparent that the number of commissioned Stephen Ministers we have is not adequate to meet the needs in our church. So, Brent and I will be seeking additional candidates for Stephen Ministry. If you think you are being called to this ministry, please let Brent or me know.
If you know someone you think would make a good Stephen Minister, let us know that, too. We are hoping to start another class January of 2011. During this time of transition in our church, it becomes even more important for each of us to reach out and care for others in our congregation. Please pray that God nurture the Stephen Ministry in our church.
Did you ever wonder what a person might ask of a Stephen Minister?
I want you to call me and let me know I exist.
Tell me you are there and that you care.
Ask me how I feel and then let me tell you how I feel.
Let me express my anger and loneliness, and let me cry if I need to.
Ask me if I want to be touched with a hug or a prayer, and then let me decide.
When I say no, accept it.
When I say yes, do it.
Hear me, not only with your ears, but also with your eyes, touch, and your heart.
Let me feel your humanness, and please be honest with me.
(by Faith Wilkerson, Stephen Leader at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lebanon, Oregon.)
Stephen Ministry training is already more than half over. We are moving deeper into the meaning of some pretty heavy subjects. Depression, crisis, grief are subjects that are currently being studied. These emotions are some of the heaviest that we all, at one time or another, must deal with in our lives. In the past couple of weeks, we all have had to face the loss of our Pastor and Music Director in the coming weeks. These people are linchpins in our lives and their loss can create a myriad of painful feelings.
So, we must care for and comfort one another. We must pray for one another. We must trust in God. His plan is ALWAYS better than ours. Below is a prayer I want to share with you by John Gugel, from Cries of Faith, Songs of Hope: Prayers for the Times of Our Life:
Loving God, change is a part of life, people say. I know that, Lord, but change troubles me still. I feel as if I am in a high-wire act at the circus. I have let go of one trapeze and am flying in midair, reaching for the next one. I worry about outcomes. I wonder what will become of me. I fear what might happen in this interval between here and there. Catch me, gentle Savior. Let me trust your larger purpose for my life. Strengthen my resolve to follow where you lead. And assure me that when I have reached the destination, you will be there just as you have promised.
Stephen Ministry training has begun. At the end of February, six of the required 20 sessions were completed. The Stephen Team participated in a retreat at Highlands Retreat Center and continued the Christian bond that was begun in the first training session in February. The Stephen Leaders, as well as the Stephen Minister trainees are learning more about Christ-centered caring relationships. Your prayers for us are a comfort as we continue to prepare to serve in our church and our community. Below is an excerpt from a care receiver in another congregation: "Through Stephen Ministry, I have learned the meaning of Christian love and Christian virtue. After years of thinking that nobody cared about me, I know what it means to have somebody who really does care--and keeps on caring, without growing weary of it. And my Stephen Minister was always there for me when I needed him! He was there for me when my mother became ill, and he was still there after she died. He was there when I moved to a new home. In fact, I cannot really recall what life was like when he wasn't there. And I can count on the fact that he'll be there at our visit next Tuesday..." Please continue praying that God would guide us each in the path for which He created us. We are praying for this congregation as well.
Stephen Ministry is now officially launched at First Pres. We have several caring, committed Christians in our midst who will need your prayers for the next several months as they begin their training. Prayer is a constant in our lives. Below is a prayer that some of you may need sometime in the future. It comes from some Stephen Ministry literature. I wanted to share this with you, just in case you are the one who is in need. Brent and I thank you in advance for your prayers for us as leaders AND learners, as well as for those who will be studying with us to become Stephen Ministers.
Stephen Ministry is now officially launched at First Pres. We have several caring, committed Christians in our midst who will need your prayers for the next several months as they begin their training. Prayer is a constant in our lives. Below is a prayer that some of you may need sometime in the future. It comes from some Stephen Ministry literature. I wanted to share this with you, just in case you are the one who is in need. Brent and I thank you in advance for your prayers for us as leaders AND learners, as well as for those who will be studying with us to become Stephen Ministers.
Stephen Ministry training has begun. At the end of February, six of the required 20 sessions were completed. The Stephen Team participated in a retreat at Highlands Retreat Center and continued the Christian bond that was begun in the first training session in February. The Stephen Leaders, as well as the Stephen Minister trainees are learning more about Christ-centered caring relationships. Your prayers for us are a comfort as we continue to prepare to serve in our church and our community. Below is an excerpt from a care receiver in another congregation: