Pastoral Care

Mission Statement
The mission of the Pastoral Care Committee is to facilitate a deepening awareness of others and to develop a system that promotes communication and caring among the family of St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church.

Contact information: Pastoral Care E-mail Address
The Pastoral Care Committee has its own email address; pastoralcare@stbartsyarmouth.org. . This provides the committee with a centralized e-mail for parishioner questions, concerns, requests for prayers, requests for Eucharist Visits, and requests for prayer shawls.  Please use this e-mail or contact a committee member directly.

St. Bart's Prayer Lists
We believe in the power of prayer and are grateful to have the St. Bart’s congregation pray for those in need.   At any time, a church member may request that their name, a family member, or a friend’s name be added to either the General Prayer List or the Prayer List for Those Who have Died.      Click here for more information on St. Bart’s prayer list policy.  To make a request send an e-mail to the Pastoral Care address noted above or contact the church office.  

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Eucharist Visitors and Healing Prayers
On November 20, 2022, Rev. Amanda Gerken-Nelson commissioned six Pastoral Care Committee members as licensed Eucharist Visitors. Eucharist visits will be done in pairs, in accordance with Safe Church practices. Requests may be submitted to committee members or through the Pastoral Care e-mail.

The Pastoral Care Committee also offers monthly healing prayers at Sunday services.  The Committee members are also available to offer individual healing prayers via a phone call or video call. To arrange such a call, please send an e-mail to the Pastoral Care address noted above. 

Pastoral Care Booklet: Words of Comfort
The Pastoral Care Committee has compiled a collection of prayers and psalms into a booklet titled, “Words of Comfort, for Times of Worry, Distress and Grief.”  The idea for the compilation arose as a means to support the community during the pandemic.  As the name implies, it is intended to be a resource for comfort beyond just our current situation.  Click here to view.

For ease of printing portions of the booklet, we have created a Table of Contents with page numbers and we have made the Psalms/Canticles a separate pdf.

St Bart’s Prayer Shawl Ministry
St. Bart’s Prayer Shawl Ministry was begun in 2004 by Carole (Closser) Sweet and other St Bart’s women. They were inspired by the book: Knitting into the Mystery, A Guide to the Shawl Knitting Ministry. Since 2016, the informal group of knitters has knitted over 200 prayer shawls and blankets, which have been given to parishioners and friends.

The Afternoon Handwork Group, led by Liza Chandler, is currently meeting twice a month by Zoom on Mondays from 3-4:30pm. The Zoom link is posted in the weekly St. Bart’s email bulletin. You don't need to knit; bring your current craft project or simply chat. If you are interested in learning to make a Prayer Shawl or Blanket, please join a Zoom meeting or email the Pastoral Care Committee noted above.

To Receive a Prayer Shawl/Blanket:
If you or someone you know would like to receive a prayer shawl, please contact the pastoral care group, pastoralcare@stbartsyarmouth.org or call the church office and leave a message, 207-846-9244.

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Pastoral Care Committee Members
Barbara Barhydt, Co-Chair            Paule French         John Perkins                Susie Peixotto
Imelda Schaefer, Co-Chair             Pam Hobson          Susannah White

Prayer Shawls knitted by St. Bart's parishioners