Care
What is Care at KOG?
Pastoral Care is something we all need. While that includes the Means of Grace through Word and Sacrament, it also means knowing someone is there to pray for you, to visit you, to listen to you, and to notice when you're not there. That can be hard in a bigger church; it's easy to get lost in the crowd.
At King of Glory we are blessed, as the body of Christ, to care for one another. There are three main care ministries at King of Glory to make sure all know the love of Jesus. The Elders serve to connect every family to the Church, to pray for them, and to be their advocate in crisis. The Deacons serve to make sure to provide spiritual care and visitation as needed. The Stephen Ministers walk with you one-on-one during transition, loss, or hard times. Many other ministries bring flowers, food, prayer shawls, and companionship.
Care at King of Glory is about the Holy Spirit working through the whole body to meet the needs of all her members. Explore the links below to find out more.
What are Elders at KOG?
Every family at King of Glory is given an Elder. The Elder serves as a resource to connect you with information, spiritual care, and community. They help make a large church feel more like a family. They pray for you individually, they notice when you're gone, and they listen to you in times of joy or distress. They connect you with opportunities to grow in the faith, and live out the Gospel in service. In times of crisis, they are your personal advocate ensuring that you receive the appropriate care, visitation, and resources that King of Glory has to offer.
Ministries
Parish Nurses
Our Parish Nurse is a registered nurse here to support you as you navigate health and faith. She does not provide hands-on clinical medical care like injections or wound dressing. She does serve as a health educator, compassionate counselor, and advocate. Whether you need help understanding a new medical diagnosis, navigating complex healthcare systems, finding local community resources, or simply want someone to pray with you through a difficult health journey, our Parish Nurse is here for you. We invite you to reach out to learn how she can walk alongside you on your journey of faith and wellness.
Contact susan.booher@kogva.org to request or serve as a Parish Nurse.
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one caring ministry where trained Stephen Ministers offer confidential, Christian care to individuals experiencing difficult times. These might include grief, hospitalization, divorce, job loss, or loneliness. Stephen Ministers walk alongside those who are hurting, providing a listening ear, encouragement, and spiritual support. They create a safe place to open up and be encouraged in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Every Stephen Minister receives over 50 hours of training in Christian caregiving on topics such as listening, feelings, assertiveness, confidentiality, and ministering to people in specific situations such as divorce, terminal illness, and grief.
Contact dan.scungio@kogva.org to request or serve as a Stephen Minister.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry
The Prayer Shawl Ministry welcomes all who would like to use their knitting and crocheting talents by making items for those in need of comfort and those celebrating occasions. They make scarves for Prayer Bears that are given to children as well as pocket crosses for Confirmands and those in the service. The Prayer Shawl Ministry also makes Prayer Scarves for high school graduates in their school colors or the King of Glory colors.
Flower Visitation Ministry
Flowers are given for worship services to the glory of God, in loving memory of family and friends, in celebration of milestones, or in honor of dear loved ones. After worship services, the Flower Visitation Ministry delivers those flowers for the care and blessing of the ill, shut-ins, bereaved, or those in need of a friendly visit.
Meal Ministry
The mission of the Meal Ministry Team is to provide delicious meals to those who may need a helping hand during recovery after a surgery or illness, or for funeral receptions when needed.
Divorce Care Support Group
The Divorce Care group is open to all individuals affected by separation or divorce, whether the process is current or happened years ago. Divorce Care addresses the emotional impact that a person and his or her children are experiencing along with avenues of empowerment to continue a healthy Christian journey. The study is Christian-based and situated in a safe and confidential environment to encourage sharing feelings freely.
GriefShare
The GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotion of grief. Through this 14-week program, attendees will discover what to expect in the days ahead and what is normal in grief. Talking with other people who understand brings great comfort, normalizes the grief experience, and offers a supportive environment to work through one’s grief.
Lay Deacons
Lay Deacons are trained through the Southeastern District of the LCMS and commissioned in their local congregation to serve. At King of Glory Lay Deacons serve in almost every aspect of congregational life, and take a special role in Spiritual Care by visiting the sick or homebound, as well as organizing chapel services at local long-term care facilities.
