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Healing Ministries

"To provide healing that offers hope to the broken."

 

Healing Ministry Goals:

  • To reflect God’s love for all God’s people
  • To promote a climate of caring community in our church  family
  • To continue the healing ministry modeled by Christ

The Healing Ministries of Woodlake UMC:

 

Prayer Ministries

  • Prayer Team – confidential ministry team that receive weekly and emergent prayer concerns offered by the congregation and pray at least daily for these concerns
  • Prayer Shawl Ministry – volunteers gather twice a month and also work on these knitting/crochet projects on their own. The future recipients are prayed for as the shawl is being created, the group prays for the recipient together upon its completion and they continue to pray for the recipient each time they meet. The shawls are made with a pattern that involves three stitches, representing the Trinity. The shawls are symbols of God’s loving presence and comfort in times of need.
  • First Fruits Prayer Service – Our weekly Christ centered, prayer focused worship service. You will find the tone is as before - quiet, reflective, Christ centered and healing. It will strengthen your prayer life and offer time for a very prayer focused worship experience. Each service is designed around contemplative music, prayer, Holy Communion and a prayer focused and healing message. To strengthen caring community and fellowship with other church family, we have addedd a family dinner that starts at 5:45 PM, nursery and ministry opportunities for children and youth run simultaneously during the worship service. We will have you on your way home by 7:45 PM. Please consider this as a way to connect with your church family and even more closely with God!
  • Prayer Retreats - each year we offer a two-day overnight prayer retreat that focuses on personal and group prayer time.  Each year the theme helps participants grow in their prayer life and explores different styles of prayer.  Ministry staff and congregation find this a time of renewal and reflection.  Watch for dates on the web site, bulletins and newsletter.

 

Caring Ministries

  • Pastoral Care – the director of congregational care is available along with other ministry staff to support and counsel church family and members of our community during difficult situations. These interactions are managed confidentially.
  • Lay Communion- volunteers take consecrated elements to the home, facility or hospital of those unable to participate in worship. This occurs monthly on each Communion weekend, for special observances and as requested. This can be scheduled with the director of congregational care or one of the pastors.
  • Metro Richmond at Prayer - we are partners with the ecumenical Richmond Hill community and many area churches who commit to praying throughout the week for Metro Richmond to become a city of healing and hope to all who live here and to our nation.

 

Relational Groups

  • United Methodist Women- we offer several circles of this large international organization to accommodate the schedule/preferences of all our participants – each group meets monthly- there is study, fellowship and many service and mission opportunities in each circle
  • United Methodist Men’s Fellowship- meets monthly on the 4th Saturday morning for fellowship, devotions and service / mission projects 

Helping Groups

  • Divorce Recovery - For individual counseling related to this and other family issues, or for connections with a divorce recovery group, please contact one of the pastors or the director of congregational care at 739-4535.
  • TGIF (Through Grief in Friendship) - Widow's Support Group Lunch that meets on the first Monday of each month at 1:00 PM.
  • BeFrienders – a nationally organized program that offers confidential, supportive, caring presence of specially trained congregational volunteers during times of difficulties
  • PALS – a disability ministry - multigenerational, inclusive program for individuals and their families who are experiencing a disability.  WUMC's goal is to remove barriers to individuals so that they are able to fully participate in worship and to serve in various  ministry opportunities.  We offer reserved parking in the front and on the right-hand side of the church, wheelchair accessible entrances and restrooms are located throughout the building, as well as hearing devices for use during each service.
  • Bereavement Hospitality – a group of volunteers coordinated by UMW that offer hospitality as needed for funerals, such as receptions, serving as greeters at memorial and funeral services, etc.
  • Another helping group that meets regularly at our church is AA.

To access any of these healing ministries contact Julie Warren, Director of Congregational Care at 739-4535, ext. 32, Rev. Erin Reibel, Associate Director of Congregational Care at 739-4535, ext. 37 or contact one of the church pastors.  To serve in any of these ministries, or to learn more about them, contact Julie Warren.  Your recommendations for current or new ministries are welcomed.