May 17, 2012

• Pastoral Care
• The Theology Forum
• The Parochial Church Council (PCC) 
• Friends of the Abbey
• The Mothers Union
• St Mary's Sewing Guild
• St John's Guild
• The Flower Guild
• Children & Young People
• The Abbey Guild of Bell Ringers
• Touching Souls Tea Room
• Garden Club @the Abbey
• Boys' Brigade
• Kneeler Project
• Lindors 2010
• Credits & Thanks

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PASTORAL CARE

We aim to offer helpful and appropriate pastoral care to all. We recognise that people do not always know what is available, so below is a summary of what we offer.

The best and most used resource is one another - friends and other members of the church.  This is one of the most potent and useful sources of pastoral care and not to be overlooked! However, we have a team of Pastoral Visitors are available for you to talk to should you feel the need. You can find the name of your visitor on the board at the back of the Abbey and they can be contacted via the Abbey Office on 01684 850959. If you have a need for longer term counselling or spiritual direction you will usually be referred to others.  The clergy are often able to help members of the congregations in finding suitable resources.

The Ministry Team -

The Revd Canon Paul Williams - Vicar 01684 856144

The Revd Sarah Miller - Associate Vicar 01684 290765

The Revd Charles Whitney - Associate Priest 01684 296764

The Revd Wendy Ruffle - Curate 07768 182769

The Revd David Coulton - Curate 01684 293523

Dr. Howard Bluett - Reader 01684 296262

Mr. Ron Williams - Reader 01242 576723

or The Abbey Office - 01684 850959 to make an appointment.

If you would like a meeting with a particular member of the clergy you can speak to them after any service or call them on the number above.

A member of the clergy can be contacted outside office hours, for urgent situations, by phoning this number - 07588 615645.  The clergy will not always be instantly available, but the on-call member of the Ministry Team will respond as soon as possible to any messages left.

If you are ill - please let us know. We may be able to organise a visit from a member of the congregation or clergy team and, with your permission, add your name to the prayer list. If you go into Tewkesbury Hospital our Chaplaincy Team will see you on their weekly ward rounds.  However, if you go into another hospital please will you let us know so that we can be in touch with the hospital Chaplain who will then visit you. 

Healing Ministry 

 Once a month, usually on the second Tuesday at 19:00, there is a Healing Eucharist, which gives an extra dimension to the peace and beauty of the regular Tuesday evening Eucharist.  This is a said Communion service with the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. During the service the priest places his hands lightly upon your head and prays that the Holy Spirit will bring wholeness and health. Later in the service the priest will anoint your forehead and the palms of both your hands with holy oil, invoking the Spirit of Christ to give forgiveness, healing and the fullness of life. 

Confession

Ministry of Reconciliation.  Reconciliation was at the heart of Jesus’ ministry and is at the centre of the Church’s proclamation. When a person’s conscience is burdened with a particular sin, when a person wishes to make a new beginning in the Christian life, or as part of regular personal discipline the Vicar is available to help.

If you become housebound there is a team of lay people who visit regularly with Holy Communion. Staff in the Office will be pleased to arrange this for you.

While we are pleased to welcome all to the Abbey and are happy to speak with those in need/distress/trouble, it is not possible for us to offer long-term pastoral care to those who live at a distance. We can, with your permission, put you in touch with your parish priest or another local priest who will be pleased to speak with you.