Pastoral Musings: BeFriender Ministry Opportunties
Happy New Year! As we begin another new year, it is a good time to both look ahead, and just as importantly, review the year that just passed. Given that, I wanted to provide an update on what our BeFriender Ministry did at the end of 2011, and where we are going in the months ahead.
The BeFriender Ministry trains volunteers, who in turn can provide a listening presence for members during times of transition. This is a national ecumenical organization that provides leadership training and program support for a listening ministry of lay pastoral care. Plymouth has had a BeFriender Ministry for approximately six years. Our ministry has gotten smaller over the last few years, due in part to so much transition here.
This fall, we were able to join forces with University UCC, and had our first combined training. The beauty of this collaboration was utilizing those from both churches who could teach. We had pastors Amy Roon and Peter Ilgenfritz each teach a session, as well as two other member volunteers from “U Cong”, and the Plymouth crew of Terry Propst, Jocelyn Coit-Durland and me. What resulted was a rich and diverse training that had breadth and depth. We also had a lively group of participants from both churches, and some from Bellevue UCC as well, sixteen total participants, with nine total leader/trainers. The ten sessions concluded in November.
Later this month we will continue to work with our eight trained volunteers from Plymouth as they discern their role in this ministry. Ultimately, we will commission those who feel a calling to this ministry at this time in their lives. Please look for that, hopefully in March! Thanks be to God.
—June Hayakawa-Fung, Parish Nurse
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