Our hope at Platt Park Church is that every person in our community feels known and cared for in the challenges of life. Pastoral care includes helping with practical needs, and also emotional and spiritual encouragement. While pastoral care includes coming alongside someone in a health crisis or other serious situation, we want to expand our idea of pastoral care to include connecting in community and caring for one another as the family of Platt Park Church.
Having needs doesn’t make us “needy” — it makes us human. And the more we share our needs with each other and lift each other up, the more we demonstrate the love of Jesus to each other. The reality of living in Denver is that many of us don’t have extended family here to support us in day-to-day life, but we do have the family of Platt Park Church. Small groups are a great way to foster this community and support. Pastoral care doesn’t replace what is happening in small groups, but it does extend this care and ensures that people who aren’t currently in a small group are also cared for.
Pastoral care is lived out through ministries such as the prayer chain, Sunday morning prayer time, casserole care (meal train), practical and financial help (previously called “Blessing team”), visitation, and more. Charlie Dodrill oversees pastoral care as part of his responsibilities on the pastoral leadership team. Carol Schmidt is a liaison with the elders. In addition, many others already participate in the various aspects of pastoral care. Dave and Carla Foote are joining Charlie to help support, organize, and extend the ways we care for each other in the PPC family. They will be hanging around outside church on Sunday, September 29 to answer questions or connect in any way you’d like.
Have a need?
Platt Park Church is a safe place to be vulnerable and receive care and love. It’s easy to dismiss pastoral care as for “someone else with a huge need.” But it is truly for everyone at any time. Why not reach out to your PPC family and say something like, “I’m having a stressful season in an area of my life …. Can someone come alongside me?” You matter to God, and to our community, and we want to encourage you in any way possible. We aren’t meant to go it alone. You can reach out via the connection/prayer card, to any of the staff to whom you feel connected, through your small group leader, or to Dave Foote (daveafoote@gmail.com) or Carla Foote (carlacfoote@gmail.com).
Have the heart to come alongside someone?
God has uniquely shaped each of us through our journey of faith and the various experiences we have walked through in life. You can support the family of Platt Park Church by coming alongside someone and caring for them through prayer, a listening ear, a meal, a visit, a note, a text, or practical help. Pastoral care isn’t giving advice or “fixing” someone’s problem, it’s journeying with each other to be the tangible love of Jesus.
From Carla Foote:
“When I was 19 my father had a serious health crisis. I remember sharing with an older woman at church that I didn’t know how to pray in that season. Her answer has stayed with me for many years and formed my view of the family of church. She said, ‘That’s what the body of Christ is for, we lift each other up when one of us doesn’t know how to pray or doesn’t feel God’s presence.’”
From Dave Foote:
“I have a friend who models what pastoral care should be. He listens well and is interested in what God is doing in my life. He asks probing questions, has a “pray first” approach, rarely leading with advice. And he provides a safe place to express my spiritual struggles and experiences. I hope and pray that each person at PPC can experience that type of care.”