Fulfilling the historical charge to Deacons to be care givers, many such opportunities are available at Fourth Presbyterian Church. Most are found on pages 13–14 of the Volunteer Catalog; others have been requested by members or suggested by staff and will be included in the next catalog. Requests for Deacon assistance normally come from the Associate Pastor for Congregational Care. If a Deacon is approached directly by a member who is asking for assistance, the Deacon should relay the request to the Pastor, who will vet it and determine the appropriate action.
The care-giving opportunities include
- providing transportation for medical appointments and services or accompanying someone (for same) in a cab
- preparing and delivering a meal
- feeding and walking pets
- shopping for groceries, picking up pharmacy needs, and running errands
- sitting with children in an emergency
- contacting family and friends when asked to do so by the Associate Pastor
- being with someone in the emergency room or surgical waiting room
- providing transportation for older or incapacitated family members or friends to visit their loved ones in the hospital
- taking mail to the hospital or opening it and bringing time-sensitive pieces to the attention of family
- pushing a neighborhood member in a wheelchair to/from church (the outreach does not include hands-on assistance, as the member is capable of sitting in and rising from the wheelchair and pew)
- serving as a Caring Connector for an elderly person, offering friendship and emotional and spiritual support to individuals who are becoming frail and isolated (ongoing, long-term commitment)
- serving on a care team, which cares for an individual or family living with a chronic, debilitating condition by assisting with household chores, transportation, friendship, support, and (to the primary care giver) respite (ongoing, long-term commitment)
- serving on a bridge team, assisting an individual in the manner described above but for a short period of time (often one to three months), especially following a hospitalization
- reading to and assisting blind members of the church with their mail, bookkeeping, magazines, and books
For more information about Congregational Care, contact Ali Trowbridge, Associate Pastor
for Congregational Care at atrowbridge@fourthchurch.org (312.573.3360)