Congregational Care Ministry

First UMC Congregational Care Ministry is modeled after the ministry of Jesus, who offered compassion, understanding, healing, and wholeness as a way of offering God’s redemptive gift of grace. 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” ~Jesus (John 13:34-35)

We seek to respond to the needs of our members and their families and offer support for all aspects of life. We endeavor to walk with persons through life’s many changes due to relationships, parenthood, illness, aging, grief, and loss.

Caring for each other helps us to have wholeness and shalom with God.  It then strengthens and empowers us to reach out and care for others in our community and in our world.

“Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)

Prayer Ministry

Prayer is at the heart of who we are and all that we do. We invite you to submit a prayer request form or email your request to . Please select one of the following when you submit your request:

  • Pastoral Care Team – First UMC’s Pastor and Congregational Care Minister will keep the utmost confidentiality for prayers when requested to do so; these sensitive prayer requests will not be shared with the Covenant Prayer Group or others.
  • Covenant Prayer Group – this intercessory prayer group of volunteers commits to dutifully praying for all submitted prayer requests and maintaining confidentiality; prayer request information will be shared with this group at the level designated by the person requesting prayer (first name only, full name, any specific information).

Visitation Ministry

  • Hospital Visitation – visitation by the Pastor and Congregational Care visitation team
  • Care Facility Visitation – regular visitation of members in nursing homes or assisted living facilities by the visitation team
  • Homebound Visitation – regular visitation of homebound members by the visitation team
  • Home Communion Ministry – volunteers serve Holy Communion to members unable to attend our worship services

Support Ministry

  • Meals Ministry – volunteers provide temporary assistance with meals following illness, injury, death of a loved one, or birth of a child, or other life circumstances
  • Transportation Ministry – volunteers provide temporary assistance with transportation to appointments for those unable to drive
  • Card Ministry – volunteers send cards to our members who are homebound or in care facilities; cards also available to the congregation each week for occasions such as sympathy, get well, or birthdays of members age 75 or greater

If you or someone you know could use care and support, or if you would like to volunteer to serve in one of the areas above, please contact the church office at 717-533-9668.

“Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray.  Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.” (James 5:13)