Pastoral Care Volunteers at St. Anne’s
The Pastoral Care Team
Our Pastoral Care Team encompasses all our Pastoral Ministries and includes clergy, lay leaders, and lay volunteers. If you would like to consider training for a pastoral ministry, please contact The Rev. Dr. Olivia P. L. Hilton
Stephen Ministry
A Christian program sponsored by many denominations in the USA and around the world.
A means of assisting the clergy and staff in the ongoing needs of their congregations.
An effective way of nourishing the spiritual lives of church members as they seek to serve each other.
A program of specific training and supervision through which God’s love is conveyed in a variety of situations.
Stephen Ministers are...
Caring Christians who offer support to others in need.
Sharing Christians who bring their own personal witness to each helping relationship.
Trained Christians who have developed their helping skills through intensive course work.
Dedicated Christians who are commissioned by our church to provide confidential, in-depth caring.
Giving Care
Stephen Ministers are trained and supervised in their caregiving. Prior to enrolling in the 50-hour training program, a potential Stephen Minister must complete an application and an interview with the Stephen Ministry leadership team. Upon successful completion of these steps a candidate is enrolled in our church-sponsored Stephen Ministry training program. Caring individuals from within St Anne’s and the surrounding community participate in leading our training. Upon completion of the training, new Stephen Ministers are commissioned to serve and begin their two-year commitment to one-on-one caregiving. To explore becoming a St Anne’s Stephen Minister, contact anyone wearing a blue Stephen Ministry badge.
How Does Stephen Ministry Work?
Stephen Ministry is the one-to-one lay caring ministry that takes place in congregations that use the Stephen Series system. Stephen Ministry congregations equip and empower lay care givers, called Stephen Ministers, to provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care to people who are hurting. There are three groups of people involved in this ministry: Stephen Leaders, Stephen Ministers and Care Receivers.
Stephen Leaders establish and direct Stephen Ministry in a congregation by building awareness, recruiting and training Stephen Ministers, matching care receivers with Stephen Ministers and providing Stephen Ministers with ongoing supervision and continuing education. People learn to be Stephen Leaders by attending a one-week training course.
Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by Stephen Leaders to offer high-quality one-to-one care to people going through tough times.
Care Receivers are people who receive one-on-one care from a Stephen Minister. These are people struggling through a difficult time in life. The relationship between a Stephen Minister and care receiver is confidential. Men are matched with men, and women with women.
Leadership Team
The Rev Dion Thompson; The Rev. John Smith; Hearon Dickson, Patricia Jennings, Sue Smith, Hutchey Doley and Dino Mattessich.
Healing Prayer
In the Holy Family Chapel, at the time of the offertory during our Sunday Morning Services, we offer prayer with any who desire it. The prayer ministers provide compassion, anointing, laying on of hands and prayer in the name of Jesus. If you to wish consider training and service in this ministry, please contact: Heather Strang (keepthefeast@verizon.net).
Eucharistic Visitors
Our Eucharistic Visitors are trained at St Anne’s and certified by the Rector and the Bishop. These ministers take hospitality and consecrated bread and wine to people unable to come to church because of illness, disability or other impediment. Rev. Kathy Shahinian coordinates this ministry. If you desire to have a Eucharistic Visitor or wish to explore being a Eucharist Visitor, please contact: Rev Kathy Shahinian (kshahinian@stannes-annapolis.org).
Hospital Visitors
Our Hospital visitors are the Eucharistic Visitors who visit patients at Anne Arundel Medical Center (AAMC), Monday through Friday. They liaison with clergy and other pastoral services. If you desire a hospital visit at AAMC, or a visit in any medical or nursing care facility, please contact The Rev. Dr. Olivia P. L. Hilton. (ohilton@stannes-annapolis.org).
Prayer Shawl Ministry
Our devoted group of knitters make prayer shawls for those who are ill or infirm, and baby blankets for newborn babies and the newly baptized. They knit prayers into their colorful works with each stitch.
Intercessory Prayer
What a joy to know that someone is lifting you up to God in their hearts and minds! A simple and profound way of caring for someone and being cared for by someone. If you wish to add a person to one of these ministries, please contact: Rev. M. Dion Thompson (dthompson@stannes-annapolis.org).
Prayer Offerings Include:
The Prayers of the People: At our Sunday services, we pray publicly for those who request it. Generally, the person we are praying for is suffering from illness, loss, or grief. We usually include the first and last name of the person, so we need the person’s permission.
The Prayer Letter: We publish the Prayer Letter weekly and copies are available in the church narthex. The Letter includes first name and last initial of the person. We pray for these persons at our weekday worship services.
Prayers for Those Deployed: We pray for persons deployed overseas in military or government service at our weekday services. We also name these persons in our weekly announcements.
Elder Caregiver News
We welcome you to join our community of caregivers, which consists of those living in or caring for someone who lives in Anne Arundel County. As this group of volunteers continues to grow, we wanted to give you the opportunity to find ways to help those elderly in our community. For more information please contact: Rev. M. Dion Thompson (dthompson@stannes-annapolis.org) or visit Department of Aging and Disabilities | Anne Arundel County, MD (aacounty.org).