The Health and Healing Ministries Committee defining statement is:

"The Health & Healing Ministry shall assist the pastor to lead and train members of the congregation so that they may provide Christian care and healing of the body, mind and spirit.  This shall include prayer, visitation, health, memorial and personal care."

The activities of the Health and Healing Ministries at CGS are:
§ The Prayer Chain is a means to communicate prayer concerns to those of the congregation willing to offer individual prayers for those in need.  Prayer requests may be made by calling the Church office. 
§ Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one lay listening and caring ministry to those in times of crisis.  Though somewhat inactive the past few years, it is available as desired and needed.
§ The Memorial Shepherds provide a reception after funerals and memorial services.
§ The Healing Station provides personal prayer at worship services during the Eucharist.
§ The Columbarium Committee cares for the Columbarium niches, holds healing services, provides a connection with loved ones, and provides a scrapbook for remembrance of those deceased members. 

The committee itself has not been meeting, but the individual ministries, other than Stephen Ministry, are very active. 

Prayer Chain
CGS is supported by a Prayer Chain of ten people who are committed to praying for those who have special requests.  To place your concern on the Prayer Chain, please call me at the office, or at home during non-office hours.  If you would like to join the chain, please let me know - the power of prayer is an awesome thing.
There are also other opportunities for prayer at CGS.  In each weekly bulletin and monthly newsletter is a printed prayer list.  To have your request added, either call the office or write the request on one of the green cards during worship.  You may also add your request on the white board in the church narthex on Sunday mornings.  The chapel (located off the Great Hall) is available for prayer and meditation.  There is also a time of prayer each Sunday morning at 9:45 in the office before the worship service. 

Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministry is an ecumenical, lay listening and caring ministry, which began in 1976 in a Lutheran church in St. Louis, Missouri.  Stephen Ministers are trained and supervised lay persons, and provide confidential one-to-one Christian care to those in their congregation facing a crisis or life change, such as divorce, death and dying, moving, job loss, the birth of a new baby, depression, hospitalization, etc.  Stephen Ministry has been a part of CGS since 2000, but has been fairly quiet in the last couple of years.  However, we are always available to anyone needing someone to listen and care.  If you feel the need to talk to someone about what's happening in your life, please contact Pastor Bea.

Healing Station

The Healing Station is available during communion for private prayer, and is located at the rear of the sanctuary.  A Stephen Minister will be there to pray with and for you.  Prayer requests may be for you, another person or any situation on your heart.