Information: Pastoral Care

Updated 11 Feb 2008

Being on the Parish List
You are put on the parish list and taken off at your request: use the Response Form and give it to the Sides-person, Incumbent or contact the church office. Once on the Parish List, you will receive newsletters and be invited to special events or to assist with fund-raising. The parish undertakes to provide pastoral care and the Incumbent or a shepherd will offer to visit.

Prayers: Sunday Worship
A book to write your prayer for intercession (request) and thanksgiving is kept at the entrance to the church. These requests are prayed for during the Sunday worship, and every family on the parish list is prayed for on a cycle of two families each week.

Birthday Cake Sunday
On the 2nd Sunday of the month we celebrate with people who are having birthdays that month. To participate, give the church office your birthday.

Incumbent
The Bishop licenses the Incumbent, who is normally a priest, to give leadership in the spiritual and worldly affairs of the parish on behalf of the Bishop. The Honorary Associate is a priest who helps in the parish.

Shepherds
Shepherds help provide pastoral care. Their role is to maintain contact with parishioners, letting them know that the church cares for them. They will also make the Incumbent aware of any special situations. A shepherd may visit new families and shut-ins. A Shepherd Ministry Description has been prepared. If you are interested in becoming a shepherd, please contact the Incumbent. 

Parish Visit, Private Communion or In Hospital?
If you would like a visit from the clergy or a shepherd, or if someone is sick, in hospital or shut-in and would like a visit or communion, contact the clergy.

House Blessings/Renewal of Wedding Vows
Please contact the clergy.

Marriage Counseling
The Incumbent has an inventory that helps a couple assess their relationship. The questions cover marriage expectations, personality issues, communication, conflict resolution, financial management, leisure activities, sexual expectations, children and parenting, family and friends, role relationship and spiritual beliefs.

Sacraments

Baptism
Baptism is by appointment with the clergy and it takes place during the Sunday Eucharist, unless there is a pastoral reason to do otherwise. Godparents or sponsors must be baptized, but need not be Anglican Some preparation is required. A fee is not charged for baptism.

Receiving Communion
Baptism has become recognized as the sacrament of initiation; that a person who is baptized is a full member of the church and entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership. Anyone who is baptized with water in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is welcome to receive communion. People who do not receive communion may come to the Sanctuary Rail and receive a blessing. Parents and their children decide when children receive communion.

Confirmation
The change in the thinking on baptism effected the thinking on confirmation. Confirmation was thought of as a completion of baptism as well as a completion of catechism (a course of study). Increasingly it is thought of as a completion of catechism as well as a commitment to a ministry.

The recommended age for confirmation is late teens. Studies show people confirmed at a later age maintain a greater commitment of the church. At an older age, their ability to think is greater and they have more life experience, which makes for a more mature faith commitment.

Children may be confirmed at a younger age in consultation with their parents and the Incumbent.

Confirmation preparation consists of classes, daily Bible reading, preparation of a worship service and a short paper on what you believe and why you believe it. Contact the Incumbent if interested in being Confirmed.

Wedding
To be married in the Anglican Church of Canada, the bride and groom must be 18 or older (if younger see the Clergy). One of them must be baptized and both must be free to marry. Sixty day’s notice is required. The wedding fee is $300, which includes marriage preparation, clergy's time and use of the church for the wedding, but not the organist's fee. The wedding fee is waived if the couple is financially supporting St. Stephen’s through envelope offerings. If one or both of the persons is divorced, an application must be made to the Diocesan Matrimonial Commission for permission to have the wedding or a blessing of a civil marriage in the Anglican Church. See Wedding - Couple Information.

Participating in the Parish's Ministry

Lay Ministry Formation/Volunteer Screening
The parish has a screening policy for certain volunteer positions including Sunday School Teacher. A Lay Ministry Formation Policy including Ministry Descriptions have been prepared. Contact the Incumbent or Church Wardens for further information. 

Sides-person
The sides-person greets people as they enter the church and gives them a bulletin, collects the offering and assists people. Side-persons are scheduled on a rotating basis. All ages are needed, contact the Head Sides-person if interested. See Sides-persons Instructions.

Reading Scripture/Leading Prayers of the People
Lay people read the Old Testament lesson, the epistle (letter from New Testament) and lead the prayers of the people. The Reader Coordinator makes up the list at the end of the month. If you would like to read or lead the Prayers of the People, contact the Reader Coordinator. See Reading a Lesson and Leading Prayers of the People.

Server
A server assists the Officiant by lighting the candles, receiving the offering from the sides-people, helping the clergy prepare the bread and wine. A server may also be the crucifer, carrying the processional cross. Servers are scheduled on a rotating basis. Anyone who has taken 'Life in the Eucharist' or been confirmed may become a server. All ages can participate, contact the Head Server if you are interested.

Choir
The choir meets Thursday evenings 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to  practice the hymns and service music. People who love to sing are needed. If interested, contact the organist.

Lay Reader
A Parish Lay Reader officiates at Morning Prayer, preaches sermons and is a Eucharistic Assistant. The Lay Reader-in-training undertakes a course of study. The Incumbent and Vestry annually appoints the Parish Lay Reader/Lay Reader-in-training. A Parish Lay Reader Ministry Description has been prepared. For more information contact the Incumbent.

Eucharistic Assistant
Lay people are appointed by the Incumbent and Vestry to assist with the distribution of communion at a public celebration of the Eucharist. See Eucharistic Assistant.

Altar Guild
The people on the Altar Guild set up for Eucharist, Baptism, Weddings and Funerals and clean up afterwards. They are on a monthly rotation and it takes an hour once a week. If interested contact the Altar Guild President.

Infants/Nursery
A nursery class for children 2 to 4 is offered during the 10:00 a.m. in the parish hall. A mother who wishes to nurse her child may use the meeting room off the parish hall. A change table is located beside the washroom.

Sunday School
Bible stories and activities are offered during the 10:00 a.m. service down in the parish hall. Children go to Sunday School after the children’s talk and come back to receive communion or a blessing with their families.

Camp Gitchigomee
It is an Anglican summer camp. Brochures are available at St. Stephen’s.

Bible Study
Bible Study and Christian education events are offered on Wednesday evenings. Ask the Incumbent for further information.

Soup Kitchen
4 to 6 volunteers from St. Stephen’s help out at the Dew Drop Inn (St. Andrew’s Roman Catholic Church, Red River Rd. at Algoma St.) on the 3^rd Thursday of each month. Contact the Soup Kitchen Coordinator to help.

Food Cupboard
The Current River Churches’ Food Cupboard is located at St. Stephen’s and people who need food can come on Tuesday mornings. Parishioners may donate food by placing it in the bucket at the top of the stairs. This food is presented on the 3^rd Sunday of each month food during the Offertory as a Reverse Offering.

Mission to Seafarers
Volunteers are needed to work at the Seafarers’ Centre at Keefer Terminal and drive the Mission’s van. Seafarers are helped to place phone calls, post letters and go to the shopping mall. Contact the Incumbent if interested. Visit  www.missiontoseafarers.ca

Finances and Administration

Vestry/Administration of the Parish/Church Wardens
The Vestry is comprised of the voting members of the parish (aged 16 or older, baptized, attended worship twice at the parish in the previous year and contributed financially to the parish). The Annual Vestry Meeting in January approves the budget. The Incumbent and Church Wardens (one appointed by the Incumbent and one appointed by the Vestry) are the executive of the parish. A Parish Council, appointed at the fall Vestry Meeting, assists with  decision making. See Primer on Anglican Government: Parishes.

Parish Finances
Parish income is from offerings, fund-raising and interest. Expenses ($74,678 in 2007) include those for Sunday worship, pastoral care, Christian education, outreach and administration.

People are encouraged to financially support St. Stephen’s to fund its ministries and in response to how Jesus has blessed you. What a person contributes is a matter of conscience, and the only person who knows what you give is the Envelope Secretary. It is okay to not put anything on the offering plate: you may give monthly or may not be able to afford it that week. We prefer that people participate in worship rather than not attend because they could not afford to put something on the offering plate.

Offering Envelopes
Single offering envelopes are at the back of the church for use by visitors and occasional donors, and a box of envelopes is available for those who wish to give regularly to St. Stephen’s. To obtain a box contact the sides-person,  Incumbent or church office. Quarterly statements are issued to identifiable donors; contact the envelope secretary for corrections. An income tax receipt is issued for identified donations $10 or greater in February.

Electronic Offering Program
Money is withdrawn from your account once a month and deposited to the parish's account. www.electronicofferingprogram.com.

Algoma Anglican/Anglican Journal
The Algoma Anglican is the newspaper of the Diocese of Algoma and is mailed with the Anglican Journal, the national Anglican paper. Identified donors are put on the mailing list. To add your name to or remove it from the list, contact the church office.

Bulletin
Office hours are Tuesday and Thursday mornings 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m.. Announcements for the bulletin should be in by 10:00 a.m. Thursday.

E-Mail
If you provide St. Stephen’s with your e-mail address, notices will be sent from time to time. For those on the Parish Council or committees, agenda and minutes will be sent by e-mail. Use of e-mail saves paper, is good stewardship and reduces expenses.