Pastoral Care Annual Report for 2024
The Pastoral Care Committee continued to meet monthly for the purpose of sharing news of members and attenders, with a focus on those in need of Spiritual support in the manner of Friends and identifying new attenders who might be considering becoming members.
The Committee provided a series of 5 informational and experiential programs Aging as Friends: Mapping Your Spiritual Journey, Housing Resources, Five Wishes and Advanced Medical Directives, Coordination of Care presented by Talbot Hospice, and Estate Planning. Pertinent materials from these sessions have been added to our on-line documents.
In the spring, we organized the friendly 8’s gatherings where members and attenders met for a meal in their respective homes 3-4 times, about once per month. Feedback suggested that this was a great success and will be repeated again in the spring of 2025.
We welcomed new member Amy Kimball. Mathew Gray transferred his membership from the Plumstead Meeting.
Deborah Cox’s memorial service was held in April. Committee members supported this event.
The Pastoral Care Committee team members volunteered to provide regular after-worship hospitality for the meeting for the months of April and May. We will plan to continue this practice to support the hospitality committee.
We hosted a Welcome Back Breakfast on September 15th for all members and attenders.
Advent calendars and gift books, “All Creation Awaits” by Gayle Boss, were approved and ordered. They were handed out to the children and their families on December 1st .
A healing worship centered around “holding in the light” was held in the brick meeting house after hospitality on October 20th . Dona Sorce and Katherine Johnson facilitated. There were 16 people attending and participating.
Several members have personally supported John Turner following the death of his wife Nancy by maintaining communications and helping him dispose of Nancy’s large collection of cloth.
Although it was not part of any action we took, we would like to include in the yearly report that our member Sara Morgan Watters was married to Jack Turner in September.