I have learned that OUUC is a caring community.  Every week I observe people caring for each other in so many ways; sharing food, giving rides, offering a hug or a kind word, giving support.  I have also had the joy of working with the more formal ways that we offer support to each other, like the Pastoral Care Team and Caring Friends.  As the congregation has grown and changed over the years, these formal programs are changing, too.   

Over these past six months, the Pastoral Care team and have been working to clarify their role and build skills for a ministry of presence.  Each minister uses a team like this a bit differently and the Team has been wonderful about exploring yet another way of being with another minister.  This team of caring people offers one-time or on-going support to those who are in a life transition, which may include illness or caregiving or bereavement.   

The Pastoral Care Team and I are working on a process for people to be able to request pastoral care easily and quickly.  The Team is also talking about ways to support the congregation during Sunday services, in addition to staffing “the green book” of Joys and Sorrows.   

Caring Friends has also evolved over the years. This is a way that people can request practical help during times of transition, illness or stress.  This practical help might be a meal delivered or a ride to an appointment, or a visit, phone call or card.  Cheryl Hanks has done the job of coordinator for the past three years and just transitioned these duties to Wendy Tanner, with much gratitude to both of them. You can access help from Caring Friends by emailing caringfriends@ouuc.org. You can also sign up to be a caring friend by sending your name and email to that address.

One of the important aspects of caring for each other is confidentiality.  Each person has the right to decide how their personal information will be shared, or not.  When I meet with someone, I always check before I share any information about them, such as asking another congregant to offer help in some way.  

 Members of the Pastoral Care Team and the Caring Friends Coordinator hold the same confidences.  When someone asks for help from the Caring Friends network, the coordinator is clear that information will go out widely to those who may be able to help.  For this reason, we ask that people request Caring Friends assistance for themselves, or if you are requesting help for someone else, you do so only with their permission. You can expect the Caring Friends coordinator to ask if you have permission.   

This same sense of privacy is also important for anything shared during Joys and Sorrows.  We welcome people sharing their own lives with the congregation as they wish.  If you want to share a joy or sorrow about someone else, please do so only with their permission.  If I am not sure about the permission or it is not clear, I will not share it until I am sure.   

Keeping confidences is an important way that we show respect for each other and build trust. In this month of exploring integrity, it is a way that we keep our own integrity and support the integrity of others.  It is yet another way of caring.   

Thank you for your care.   

Blessings on your week, 

Rev. Mary