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. The Care and Support Ministries at Grace Avenue are designed to create a sense of emotional home for all.
Many of our Care & Support Ministries are currently on hold or functioning differently as we navigate Covid-19 concerns. Please reach out to Laura Echols-Richter at [email protected] with questions about how you can help at this time or to let us know how we can support you.
Care Ministires
“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 [email protected] 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 are in 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.
Support Ministries
Grace Avenue offerers a variety of support ministries to help those working toward emotional health. Some programs are operated through partner organization and others are exclusively via Grace Avenue staff and volunteers.
Redirected: Job Networking
Was your employment affected by Covid 19?
Do you need help with your job search in the new normal?
Are you in the job placement business and want to help others
If you answered Yes to any of these questions, then come join us at REDIRECTED. This is an approximately 30 minute weekly opportunity for you to connect with others who are or have been in the same situation recently. Currently meeting online. (CLICK HERE for details and meeting times.)
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. (Currently not meeting at Grace Avenue due to Covid-19 conerns. Please reach out to Journey of Hope directly for how they are able to support you at this time.)
Making Memories Respite Care Program
(Currently Not Meeting Due to Covid-19 Concerns)
Making Memories is a free “day out” program for those suffering with the early stages of dementia or Alzheimer’s. Caregivers are welcome to stay, but we exist to provide this time as a period of rest from the demands of care-giving. Contact Laura Echols-Richter at [email protected] for more information about the program or for volunteer information.
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 [email protected] for details about our next event.
Date Nights at Grace Avenue
We periodically schedule “Date Nights” for couples. Events might be a discussion about marriage, be a game night, dance lessons or any number of activities. Every event included dinner. Each is sure to be enriching to your relationship and FUN! Contact Kristen Lane at [email protected] with questions or to find out when our next Date Night is planned.
Divorce Care
Scheduled Periodically
This is a study/support group that invites participants to begin the journey toward acceptance and hope in the midst of divorce. Contact [email protected] with questions or to find out when the next group starts.