Grace Cathedral

Dear Grace Cathedral Family,

In John’s Gospel, “Love one another as I have loved you,” is Jesus’s simple yet profound call to us.

In an effort to provide care to our congregation in the way Jesus calls us to do as lay and ordained people, Grace Cathedral has formed a small group of people to serve as Stephen Ministers, caregivers who are trained to walk with others in one-on-one relationships during times of need such as long-term care for a loved one, divorce, job loss, chronic or terminal illness, relocation, or grief.

Stephen Ministries has trained lay caregivers since 1975 in more than 13,000 congregations and organizations, so we are part of a well-established and refined practice of care.

Stephen Ministers served at Grace Cathedral several years ago, and we are enthusiastic about reviving the ministry with these newly trained congregants, a group of members representing the diversity of the cathedral. Together with parishioners from St. Mary The Virgin, the group has trained for three hours on Monday nights for 20 weeks to receive Stephen Minister Certification. While serving, Stephen Ministers will participate in a supervision group and continue to reflect and grow in best practices.

The current group will finish the intensive training this summer and be commissioned at Congregation Sunday on September 8. After that time, parishioners seeking longer-term pastoral care with a Stephen Minister will be matched to meet for weekly conversations and prayer for up to a year or two. Be on the lookout for more information about meeting with a Stephen Minister this Fall.

We are very grateful to this faithful group of caregivers who are responding to Christ’s invitation to heal the hurt of the world, one relationship at a time, with love like his.

With gratitude and love,

Mary Carter