Hillcrest Congregational Church

What is the Care Ministry All About?

Alphabetically, the Care Ministry is responsible for:

• The Hillcrest “Caring Hands” program support and volunteers.
• Our Friendly Visitors.
• Haelen (Healing Touch) Center sponsorship and support. (See separate page)
• Memorial support of the family before, during and after a Memorial Service and reception.
• New Members’ Class participation and orientation to church programs.
• Support Groups: Organizing and leadership of Caregivers’ and Grief Groups, when needed.
• Willing Helpers.
• Our Coordinator.

The “Caring Hands” program is a Central and East County faith based program that brings trained volunteers into the homes of elderly persons. What do they do there, you might ask? They “do” whatever is needed to help keep the older persons functioning in their home environment. The volunteer also may get help from a social worker if needed. It is funded by support from the John Muir Hospitals and voluntary funds from local churches, such as Hillcrest. Bill Cunningham is our volunteer from Hillcrest. Please call the church (925-689-8260) and leave your name and phone number and Bill will return your call, if you’d like more information and/or if you’d like to find out how to become a volunteer.

Our Friendly Visitors consist of people from Hillcrest who visit, on a regular basis, some of our members or friends who may be lonely or not able to get out or just need a friend to share with. We have several of our members participating in this worthy activity, both for them and those they visit.

Memorial Support: Sometimes the family of a person, who has passed away, needs support from other persons. Our coordinator of the Care Ministry is privileged to be able to help. Questions such as where are the restrooms, can I get some programs for my family, where do we sit in the sanctuary and other similar questions are asked. She is with the family and the ministers, to provide whatever help is needed.

New Members Class and beyond:  Our church has three Sunday meetings, after the 10:30 service. Questions such as where is the parlor? Questions for our minister also come up. How long are the sessions? It is a time that the Care Minister coordinator listens to the candidates and finds out what their questions are, for another time, after they become members. In the works is a follow-up session that will answer the questions that the new members, any member or friend may attend. We also sponsor a church “walk about” to familiarize new and present members with the church “campus” and what goes on in each location.

Support Groups: Our coordinator has been trained to help organize and lead both Caregivers’ and Grief support groups, when needed.

Willing Helpers: At present, we have 42 people signed up to help our members and friends in various ways. The services that are offered are: providing food and transportation when needed. All you have to do is call the church and leave a message for the coordinator. Other Willing Helper services available are: Occasional Phone calling, choosing one month of the year to send cards or notes of our concern, several handy men are available to advise you or to help out with some of the problems that arise at your home.

Our Coordinator is a nurse gerontologist and specializes in the care of the elderly and other younger persons. If needed, she meets with individuals and/or families, to determine how best we can help them. She develops a mutually agreeable plan to determine how best the Care Ministry can help them and then carries out this plan.

If you need more information, please call our Church Office (925-689-8260) or email and leave your name and phone number and/or email address. Our Coordinator, Betty Mac Kenzie will contact you and answer any questions you may have. Our services are available to any of our members and friends of Hillcrest.