The first responsibility we have in this care ministry is to communicate the needs. We strive to be a caring church and so we ask everyone to please let the church know when they are going to the hospital, have a death in their family, or need help. If you have information about a death, please let Diana Zylow know ASAP. Hospital information can be relayed to Martha Aenchbacher. If you cannot reach either of them please notify Cookie Daniel or Margie Shedd :

Our second responsibility is to coordinate what we do!
Here is what is happening now.

• Prayer Ministry:   Carol Kohl is leading a prayer ministry that meets at 10:30 on Friday mornings to pray for our members.   If you have a name that needs to be on this list, let the church know.  
   
• Prayer Shawl Ministry:  Dianne Morrison leads a group that makes prayer shawls.  Shawls may be knitted or crocheted and given to someone you know, or made available to the pastors to give to those seeking comfort in times of need.  If you knit or crochet, get in touch with Dianne Morrison. A group meets on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. to knit. 
    
• Visitation:   Visitation of our shut-ins and homebound members is conducted by clergy and lay volunteers.   The United Methodist Women have organized visitation through their circles.  If you have a name of a member who might enjoy occasional visits, please let us know.   If you are willing to visit, please let us know!  Contact Martha Aenchbacher. 
   
• Bereavement Care:   When someone has lost a loved one, we want to comfort them.   We have a variety of ways we can offer care.  We will accomplish this by putting the information out to our committee members and the first one to volunteer to take something of their choice will be asked to do it.   You are encouraged to take an offering of food with a note that it is from the Congregational Care Committee of the Athens First United Methodist Church.
   
• Caring Cards:  If you are at the church for a meeting and have a spare moment, there will be a box of cards at the reception desk for all to use.   You may know someone who might appreciate a personal note.  Take a moment to sit down in a corner and write a quick note to the person of your choice to let them know they are in your thoughts.   If you are interested, please call or email Cookie Daniel  706-543-1442, ext. 201.

Time of Prayer and Reflection
All are invited to come Sunday, December 18 at 5:00pm in the Chapel for a special time of prayer and reflection.   The holidays are not always easy.   Many persons struggle with loss, have need of healing, are discouraged or simply feel empty.  Prayer is a blessed way to encounter the living God and to refresh our hearts.  Let us pray together for one another and to prepare well for the celebration of Christmas.   Come and lay your burdens down.  Seek the Lord in prayer and light a candle of hope.

Prayer Shawl Ministry
You are invited to join a group of expert and novice knitters and crotcheters as we create prayer shawls by praying as we knit the shawls. Completed prayer shawls are prayed over by the group and given to those who are grieving or have special needs so that as they wrap in a shawl the prayers of the ministry surrounds the recipient. The group meets weekly on Wednesday evenings beginning on August 17 on a come as you can basis between   5:00and 5:45p.m. in the Parlor at the top of the elevator near the Hancock Street entrance. Come join us or work at home as you prefer. For more information, email Dianne Morrison at dianne.morrison@gmail.com or call 706-207-5538 (cell).