Having someone to care, to listen, to share God's love with you can help you get through the confusion, stress or loneliness you may be experiencing. Stephen Ministry is a caring group of volunteers trained to help those going through difficult times. If you would like to talk to a Stephen Minister or are interested in learning more about becoming a Stephen Minister, contact one of the pastors.

A wondrous connecting link to others, altar flower deliverys Sunday afternoon volunteer arranges Bethel's altar arrangement into three to five smaller bouquets. The recipient's list is provided by Pastor Ken Bancroft and left in the Sacristy. Volunteers not only deliver beautiful flowers and the worship bulletin, but most importantly, caring conversation and Bethel warmth. Time commitment is about 4 hours each time you sign up to deliver — time well spent with people who often are ill, grieving or losing physical strength and independence. This ministry promises you will receive much more than you give as you provide an important connecting link within our Bethel community. Coordinator Phyllis Gaffney is happy to assist the volunteers on most Sundays. If this service speaks to you, please contact Phyllis.

Partners In Caring volunteers supplement pastoral visits to members and neighbors who need community and spiritual support. Volunteers are assigned to visit a member or members, usually the elderly, shut-ins or people recovering from an illness, in between pastoral visits to give them support from the Bethel community. Some of the Partners in Caring are also trained as Lay Eucharist Ministers and take communion to the member or members they are visiting about once a month. Contact Pastor Ken Bancroft if you wish to become a Partner In Caring. Training and review meetings are held as needed.

Lay Eucharist Ministers are volunteer members who extend the communion service we share at Bethel to those members and friends who are unable to attend Sunday morning worship. Volunteers are trained in how to make a caring visit and to lead a private communion service with a shut-in, thereby extending the communion worship of Bethel to those who are unable to attend. Each trained volunteer is assigned one member or one couple to visit and share Holy Communion. Volunteers are then sent out once a month from either the 8:30am service on the first Sunday of the month or the 11:00am service on the third Sunday. The sending out takes place on the above Sundays with a handing out of private communion sets and prayer at the end of the communion service. Contact Pastor Bancroft if you would like to become a trained Lay Eucharistic Minister. One day training events are set up as needed.

When a prayer request comes to one of the pastors or the church office, the prayer chain starts. If you believe this ministry calls you, contact Ruth Wall via the church office. If you have a prayer request, you can contact the church office. Updates are also very much appreciated.