The Care and Support Ministries at Grace Avenue are designed to create a sense of emotional home for all.
SUPPORT MINISTRIES
As a part of Grace Avenue Mission to "eradicate homelessness in whatever form it presents itself" we believe the everyone needs and emotional home. Our experience teaches us that loved people love and hurt people hurt. When people have an emotional home, they thrive in their sense of well-being and vocation.
Meets on 2nd Sundays
4:00-5:15 pm
Brides Room
(Next to Sanctuary)
Grieving Hearts (Details & Registration)
led by Susan Bryan, LPC
This is a monthly support group focused on persons who have lost their spouse/partner. The group is open anyone at Grace Avenue or the wider community.
In our time together, we will learn about the on-going journey of grief, how to care for ourselves, ask for what we need, and be able to share what we miss the most. This is a free community event. Please contact Susan Bryan at susanbbryan@gmail.com with questions, to sign up, or get on the email reminder list.
Parents of LGBTQ+ Discussion Group (Details)
Join us for this discussion group for parents of LGBTQ+ children. This will be a non-judgmental and confidential space where we can learn from and support each other. To register or for questions, email katrina@truenorthcoach.net with subject line: Parent Group.
LGBTQIA+ Support Group
2nd Sundays | Beginning Sept 10 | 2:00pm | Bride’s Room Facilitated by Katrina Watland
You deserve to live in a welcoming and affirming world. Yet many people in the LGBTQIA+ community experience negative mental health issues due to the prejudice and biases they face. Research shows that the biggest protective factor for LGBTQ+ people is social support. This queer support group will meet once a month with an experienced facilitator to provide a safe outlet to discuss the challenges of being queer and find a sense of community through peer-to-peer interaction. To register or for questions, email katrina@truenorthcoach.net with subject line: Queer Support.
Journey of Hope
Grace Avenue hosts grief group support sessions from Journey of Hope for children, adolescents, and their parents or adult caregivers who have lost a loved one to death. Find more information at www.johgriefsupport.org.
Check back for Updates
Sober Speak
Are you or a loved one navigating the path of recovery? Are you interested in learning more about the AA community but uncertain about attending a meeting for the first time? Sober Speak is a podcast for those in recovery, those who love someone in recovery, and those who support someone in recovery. It is a podcast where stories of the power of redemption are shared. We know our stories matter. We know sharing our stories in an honest way is important to our own mental and emotional health. Sober Speak has become a place where stories are shared, and we discover we are not alone. Learn more at www.SoberSpeak.com.
Grace Avenue periodically hosts live Sober Speak events. Email John M. at john@soberspeak.com for details about our next event.
Awakenings: Alcoholics Anonymous
Mondays & Wednesdays in the edge room
6:30am-7:30am
Awakenings is an ongoing AA group that meets at Grace Avenue UMC and is always welcome to new members! Contact WD Hall at 69wdhall@gmail.com for information about this group.
Eating Disorders Anonymous (EDA)
Led by PJ Hall
Saturdays at 10:30 AM starting September 2nd
Prayer Room- exterior entrance in the corner at the top of the Circle Drive, located between the Sanctuary and Learning Center Lobby
EDA is a Twelve-Step fellowship of individuals who share their experience, strength, and hope with each other that they may solve their common problems and help others to recover from their eating disorders. This is an open meeting with a rotating format with a focus on EDA literature. For more EDA information please visit our website at: www.4EDA.org In EDA, recovery means living without obsessing on food, weight, and body image. In our eating disorders, we sometimes felt like helpless victims. Recovery means gaining or regaining the power to see our options, to make careful choices in our lives. Recovery means rebuilding trust with ourselves, a gradual process that requires much motivation and support. As we learn and practice careful self-honesty, self-care and self-expression, we gain authenticity, perspective, peace and empowerment. Contact hallpj@yahoo.com with any questions.
Abundant Life: A Support Ministry for those who are living with a chronic health condition
Led by Handi Jo Dolloff-Holt and Heidi Stevens
2nd & 4th Thursday evenings | 7:00pm | Room 218 [Online available]
Are you looking for a safe and confidential place to journey with others facing the challenges of living with chronic illness? Join us the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month starting August 24. In this support ministry we will learn about coping strategies, health advocacy, and grow from our shared journeys. We will meet in person at 7 PM with a zoom link for those who need to participate from home.
Contact Handi Jo at revhandijo@gmail.com for more details and to sign up for the zoom link if you need one.
CARE MINISTRIES
“In loving and appreciating our neighbor, we’re participating in something sacred.”
--Fred Rogers
Care Ministries at Grace Avenue is comprised of members living out our call to love our neighbors during life’s difficult times. We do this by offering to join with and serve both those in our congregation and the community at large through prayer, meals, transportation, connection, conversation, and worship.
Please email laura@graceavenue.org if you would like more information on volunteering with these ministries or if you or someone you know is in need of care.
Care Partners
Serve through committed presence at a Sunday worship service each month where you welcome members and/or visitors who need of prayer or a listening ear.
Prayer Partners
Serve through weekly commitment to praying over all prayer requests presented to the church for those in need.
Visitation Partners
Serve through visiting members of our community who are in long term care or homebound. (This includes Prairie Estates)
Meal Partners
Serve through helping in cooking and/or delivering meals to those in need.
Worship Partners
Serve through assisting a minister in taking elements of worship to those unable to attend services on campus.
Transportation Partners
Serve through providing a ride to those with the ability and desire to attend a service but who are unable to drive themselves.
Prayer Shawl Partners
Serve through making blessing blankets and other items of comfort. Read more about the Prayer Shawl Ministry HERE.
Hospitality Partners
Serve through assisting with all church meals as well as providing comfort in times of grief for families who have lost a loved one by helping with luncheons following funeral services.