Denbigh Presbyterian Church

Shepherding Program

Denbigh Presbyterian Church is composed of 475 members. This membership is diverse in many ways. Some are elderly and housebound. Some are retired and free to do leisure things. Some have newborn babies. Some are ill. Some are children. Some are teenagers going through all the torments of that age group. Some are young married couples, maybe with children, struggling to meet the demands of time and money. Some are couples with extra time on their hands because the children have grown and are on their own. Some are looking after an elderly parent or an ill spouse. Some are college students or military personnel looking for Christian friends and spiritual fullfillment. Add to this group our many "friends of the church" who have not become members but worship at Denbigh Presbyterian Church on a regular basis.
Many of these people have personal problems and crises of many kinds. They may be the care of an aging parent, a troubled child, the death of a family member, or personal illness. All of us have problems, but we are part of a Christian community and do not have to face them alone. And we should want to show some kind of care and concern for others.

Our pastor serves this diverse congregation well. Much of the pastor's time may be spent visiting the sick in hospitals, or nursing homes, visiting potential new members of the congregation. After all there is just so much time in a day. As a result many needs of our congregation go unmet. This explains the need for a Shepherding Program.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of the Shepherding Program at Denbigh Presbyterian Church is to improve the level of pastoral care of our congregation by the utilization of lay persons as caring shepherds. The desired result of the program is that each member of our congregation feel that they are vital part of our church.

GOALS:

The Shepherding Program will provide a new communication link between congregational members and the officers at Denbigh Presbyterian Church. The Shepherding Program will also provide a vehicle for smaller groupings of the congregation's members (e.g., Youth, Women of the Church Circles, Men of the Church) to offer and supply support to one another as they learn of sickness, bereavement and other crises.

DUTIES OF SHEPHERDS:

  1. Become acquainted with each member of your group.
  2. Contact members of your group regularly by phone and at church.
  3. Relay information to the minister so they are informed and can be responsive.
  4. Relay certain needs to the Youth, WOC, MOC, Minister, Session, Deacons, etc. so they can be responsive.
  5. Listen actively.
  6. Be a one-person welcoming committee to greet members of your group at worship and other church events.
  7. Pray for the members of your group regularly.
  8. Pray for the success of this Shepherding plan.

Desired Participation of Shepherded Members:

  • Communicate with your Shepherd significant events and concerns: births, graduation, relocations, illness, death, hardship, divorce, promotions, etc.
  • Support this Shepherding Program and your church through prayer and giving help when need arises.

Shepherding Activities



  1. A letter will be sent from the pastor to the congregation and "friends of the church" explaining the Shepherding Program.
  2. Each Shepherd is to contact the members of his/her group by personal visit, letter or phone establishing the first contact about the Shepherding Program.
  3. Speak with each member of your group at least once a month. Establish rapport so that each of you will feel at ease and be able to talk freely about any concerns that they may have.
  4. Find out when their anniversaries are, birth dates, etc. Send them a card!
  5. If you don't see them in church for a few Sundays, call them to see if they are ill, disturbed about something, etc.
  6. Have their birthdays, anniversaries, etc. published in the Digest.
  7. Greet them each Sunday at church. Sit with them at worship.
  8. If a member of your group does not drive, volunteer to provide transportation for them.
  9. If there is a young couple with children in your group babysit one evening so that they may have a relaxing dinner date.
  10. If a member of your group doesn't drive anymore, take them for a drive.
  11. Send a card to any in your group who may be ill or bereaved.
  12. Be in prayer for those who are ill or bereaved.
  13. If a member of your group is not very active in church activities, encourage them to become so.
  14. If a member of your group lives alone, visit them, take them to dinner, have them to dinner at your house. Pick them up or they drive.
  15. Pray for the success of this Shepherding Program.
  16. As you obtain information about breavement, death, etc, pass it along to the appropriate committee.
  17. Pass along to the Youth Coordinator any needs of the elderly or infirmed for yard work, visits, errands, etc.
  18. Keep the pastor informed of any needs you may find.
  19. Men of the Church have had work days in the past to help rake leaves, do small repairs. If you find anything they may be able to help a member of your group with needs, pass it on to the MOC.
  20. If a member of your group is a "care giver", give them a break. Sit with the one for they give care, so they can take a "time out."
 
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