Our pastors continue to seek ways to provide our community with quality pastoral care while balancing the other demands of ministry. In an effort to be available, an “on-call” system has been implemented. If you need to reach a pastor in an emergency situation when the church office is closed, you may call 919-929-7191 to reach the on-call pastor for that week. Please be mindful when calling this number, as it is for emergencies only, like a death, critical hospitalization of a member, or other such situations. Pastoral care for non-emergencies, such as scheduled hospitalizations, can be arranged through the church office.
While the Rev. Tobi Nguyen coordinates our Congregational Care, our entire staff works as a team to meet the needs of our congregation. For resources on suicide prevention click here.
“Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort. God comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble” (2 Cor. 1:3-4).
PEER SUPPORT AND PRAYER REQUESTS
Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers are lay people equipped to provide confidential, one-on-one Christian care to individuals who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. If you are having a hard time, contact us to discuss whether a confidential, one hour, once-a-week conversation with a Stephen Minister may be right for you. This is meant to compliment, but not replace care from our pastors, mental health professionals, or medical professionals. Stephen Ministers have walked alongside those experiencing, grief, stress, divorce, illness, miscarriage, infertility, job difficulties, unemployment, loneliness and more.
Click here for information on the National Stephen Ministry Organization. Contact Stephen Ministry at University UMC (919-929-7191) for more info.
Divorce Recovery Support Group
A support group that offers a safe and loving place to find help, discover hope, and experience healing for those struggling with separation or divorce, regardless of where they may be in the process.
Please contact Lianne MacGregor for more information or to register.
Grief and Loss Support Group
A 7-week support group for those grieving the loss of a loved one as well as those who have experienced losses in other areas of life. It is our hope that with the loving support of other members of the body of Christ, we can learn together how to live with such losses in healthy ways
University UMC will be holding a Grief and Loss Support group this fall. This group is led by two trained Stephen Ministers, who have several years of experience. We aim to support anyone suffering from a loss: loss of a loved one; loss of a job, loss of a relationship, etc. Please contact Terry Hamlet
Prayer Requests
Our church staff prays together every week. Let us pray for you and yours. Click here to submit a prayer request.
VISITATION
Hospital Visitation
If you or your loved one is going to the hospital and desire a visit, please call the church office at 919-929-7191 and let a staff member know which hospital.
If you know a member of the church in the hospital, you may ask that person if he/she would desire a hospital visit and then notify the church office or one of the pastors on their behalf. If you would like Communion, please let us know.
Quiet Care
A supportive group who visits those who can no longer come to church and brings them flowers. Members of this group may also inform church staff of changes in members’ health status.
WHEN SOMEONE IS BORN
When a baby is born our Director of Children and Family Ministries places a rose and cradle cross on the altar for the baby and an announcement in the bulletin. The Early Childhood Council at University UMC provides two meals for the family.
WHEN SOMEONE DIES
When your loved one has died, please call the church at 919-929-7191 to let a staff member know. We will be in contact with you to see how we might be of support. If you would like to have the funeral at our church, we will set up a time to meet with you. We also have a memorial garden for ashes if that is what you and your family desire.
SENIOR ADULT MINISTRIES
The Caring and Visitation Ministry
The Caring and Visitation (C/V) ministry is a project of University UMC’s Senior Adult Team. This ministry is led by Sally Kocher, Arnold Pender, Mary Ann Kimball, Synthia Foskey, Annette Litzenberger, and Rev. Manual Wortman who recently retired as University UMC’s Minister for Visitation to Senior Adults.
The C/V team makes regular phone calls and sends “thinking of you” cards
and notes – and occasionally they make in-home visits – to a number of church members who are experiencing loneliness; health, family, end-of-life or other issues or challenges; or good news, too. If appropriate, they share this information with clergy, especially if they learn of changes in a person’s health or other aspects of well-being.
If you would like to receive a phone call or card or note from the C/V ministry please contact Sally Kocher. If you would like to request a pastoral visit please contact Sharon Smith.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Health Ministries Group
This group seeks to fulfill Christ’s biblical commitment to care for our minds, bodies, and spirit. Our ministry seeks to serve others, and build Christian community by identifying health needs, providing educational opportunities, and developing resources to assist with individual and group health.
Contact Gray Kirby for more info.
Community Garden
Tend to your soul by working in God’s creation and caring for our community garden. Read more here to see how you might get involved. Last year our Giving Garden was able to donate over 800 pounds of fresh produce to TABLE, who provides healthy emergency food aid to hungry elementary school children living in Chapel Hill and Carrboro.
