Health & Wholeness Ministries

Bereavement
Living Letters
Parish Nurse
Special Friends
Touch A Heart
Young at Heart

The Bereavement Ministry provides bereavement support, care, and follow-up to congregational members who have lost a close family member. Packets are mailed at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and one year.

Volunteers meet every other month on Tuesdays at 1:15 pm

Living Letters Ministry touches hearts by sending created cards that uplift and encourage those who share their gifts, time and talents with the Ascension community including outreach to neighbors and friends who are in need of encouragement due to illness, life losses, surgery etc.

Homemade cards are mailed monthly for encouragement, support, fellowship, and prayer.

People interested in helping with this ministry are always welcome.

Meets the second Monday of the month at 7:00 p.m. to create and mail these cards.

Parish Nursing Ministry helps bridge the gap between keeping people well and supporting them during episodes of illness. It serves as a liason between the health care system and members of Ascension.

It educates and counsels members about health care issues, identifies health care problems/issues early and refers appropriately, facilitates programs that promote wellness and healing. It offers monthly blood pressure checks, flu shots, health fairs, speakers, and resources.

Our Parish Nurse Barb Cowle has been instrumental in providing the vision to expand our Health and Wholeness needs keeping in mind that Spiritual Wholeness affects our daily health. She is available to all members and provides direction and resources to anyone with health and wholeness concerns. Our vision for Health and Wholeness is exponential growth in health care services.

Our Parish Nurse is in the office Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Blood Pressures are taken on the first Sunday of the month between services.

Our Special Friends Ministry allows children/adults with special needs to participate in all activities including worship, Sunday School, monthly meetings, sharing meals, Christian fellowship and fun.

Our Touch A Heart Ministries take "caring" to another level. The collection of ministries that make up Touch A Heart address the immediate physical and spiritual needs of people and is staffed by volunteers. Some of the ministries are:

Audio Tape Ministry - provides a recording of the Sunday service for shut-ins and others who request a tape.
Baptismal Baby Blanket Ministry - providing beautifully knitted baby blankets for Ascension members and friends whose babies are being baptised at Ascension. The knitter prays for the designated recipient while knitting the blanket.
Care Basket Ministry - assemble home or hospital baskets. These baskets are delivered when the need occurs (i.e. long hospitalizations, needs after discharge).
Care Package Ministry - support college students and members of the military, who are away from home for extended periods of time. The desire is to let these individuals know through letters, cards and a package how important they are to the Ascension family and they are not forgotten
Crosses for Christ Ministry - a craft-based ministry, which will bring great somfort to those suffering a loss or a serious illness. It is also a great way to make Ascension's presence felt in the entire community. Prayer is a crucial step in all procedures done in any ministry. Pray for healing, wisdom, peace and salvation for those who receive the crosses.
Meal Program Ministry - to offer a prepared meal to families and individuals who may be temporarily fragmented due to the arrival of a new baby, a death, a hospital stay or someone who just needs a meal to carry them through the day.
Phone Call Ministry - to check on people who are home bound. The call lets people know Ascension cares, but it sometimes connects people to services or needs that shut-ins may not want to ask for or don't know exist.
Prayer Shawls Ministry - knitted and presented to persons with illness, deep loss, spiritual decline, and other personal concerns. The knitter prays for the individual during the making of the shawl and then it is presented in prayer to the person. This is a deeply moving and gentle embrace of the power of prayer and caring.
Transportation Ministry - for people who need to get to an appointment, or meeting at Church.
Visitation Ministry - visits to the ill and elderly, to the hospitals, nursing homes, and to the individuals home.

Gather together in Christian fellowship with the Young at Heart (55 and older). This group meets the 3rd Wednesday of every month from noon until three for fun and socialization.

Each gathering starts with a pot luck luncheon, has a short presentation, and ends with fellowship including cards and games. There will be two special outings each year (spring and fall).

Come next month and bring a friend!