Pastoral

United Benefice Pastoral Work

Caring for the members of the Body of Christ is one of our priorities; we try to keep an eye on all those who are members of our congregations, and rely on a good “parish grapevine” to let us know if anyone is ill or in any kind of special need.

The clergy meet each week, and an item for discussion is always “people”. We aim to visit those in hospital each week, those in Nursing and Rest Homes each month, and frail or less mobile members of the Church as often as is necessary.

The clergy, and lay members of the Chaplaincy Team, all visit elderly and housebound members of the congregations (our “indoor members”) on a regular basis, to take them Holy Communion, to pray with them, to offer them Healing Ministry, and simply to befriend them.

The majority of the Rest Homes within the Benefice are visited each month. The Heron Ward at The Queen Victoria Memorial hospital is visited each week, as is the Day Centre which meets on the hospital premises.

The Pastoral Team meets regularly to keep in touch with one another and with our people, to pray together, and to take part in some of the Training Courses devised and provided by the Diocese.

Pastoral Care of the bereaved is an important ministry within the Benefice and will include as much help and support as is required in the planning of a funeral service, and then follow up visits and invitations to the Bereavement Support Groups afterwards.

There is an Emergency Prayer Chain which can be rapidly alerted should there be any kind of crisis.

During the warmer summer months there are afternoon Tea Parties, with gentle entertainment, held in St Bart’s (because of its ease of access) to which all senior members of the congregations, as well as residents in sheltered housing, rest or Nursing Homes are warmly welcomed – simply a cuppa and a cake and a chance to chat, followed by a simple prayer and a well known hymn.

United Benefice of St. Mary the Virgin, Reculver &

St. Bartholomew, Herne Bay with Holy Cross, Hoath

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