Pastoral care at St. Christopher’s entails emulating the compassionate acts of the Good Samaritan—by crossing the road to bind up the wounds, and make whole, any and all persons who suffer in mind, body, spirit or soul; and to reveal and share something of Christ the Healer with the world.
Pastoral Associate, The Rev. Brad Ingalls
Brad+ is available to see people in the Staff Office for support, pastoral care, bereavement support, and counsel. He is in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays or by appointment. He is also available for home or hospital visitations. Brad+ can be reached via email at FrBrad@yahoo.com or by phone at 352-409-2190.
Bereavement Support
St. Christopher’s offers two ongoing opportunities for bereavement support. One group meets in person every Tuesday from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. and another group meets via Zoom every Thursday 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Both groups offer support for those living with the sense of grief that accompanies loss, whether it be loss due to the death of a loved one or loss that is felt following divorce, retirement, and other life transitions. Please contact the office for additional information.
Lay Pastoral Ministers
The Lay Pastoral Ministers offer caring confidential ministry to those in our parish who may need some extra support. An extension of our pastoral care, Lay Pastoral Ministers have completed extensive training, providing them with the knowledge and skills necessary to be a compassionate and healing presence to parishioners in transition. Our Lay Pastoral Ministers work closely with the clergy, bringing God’s healing love to people who are grieving, in crisis, or experiencing other stresses in life.
Nursing Home Ministry
As many of us know, there are individuals living in long-term care facilities who have very few visitors. Liberty Commons has a small group of individuals from St. Christopher’s headed up by Brad+ who feel called to do visitations to residents living there. Please contact Brad+ for additional information.
Pastoral Care Steering Committee
A Pastoral Care Steering Committee assists the clergy with assessing the pastoral needs of the parish, both from a micro and macro level. Individuals on this committee serve in an advisory capacity, ensuring that the pastoral concerns of individuals and the parish are addressed.
Community Ministry
We have various connections with community service, such as the Beach services in the summer and Thanksgiving services in the fall. This ministry is part of our spiritual mission to have a presence outside of our walls and in the community. If you share a desire for this ministry, there is a place for you. All are welcome.
Friends Helping Friends Fund
The parish often responds with enormous generosity to parishioners who may need funding or other types of assistance for home repairs. Toward this end, we have established a Friends Helping Friends fund. The purpose of this fund is quite simple: to assist members of our parish with the cost of home repairs necessary for their safety and security. Opportunities for assistance will be identified by members of our parish who regularly do pastoral visits. As requests come forward, they will be reviewed by our clergy and members of our Friends Helping Friends committee. If you or someone you know could benefit, please contact our Pastoral Associate.
For more information about Pastoral Care at St. Christopher’s, please contact Brad+ via email at FrBrad@yahoo.com or by phone at 352-409-2190.