Pastoral

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Pastoral Bereavement Care

• St Andrews Parish Church
• Blantyre

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Introductions

• Elsie Balneaves
• Pastoral Bereavement Care Coordinator

Peter Johnston Minister
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Pastoral Care

• 1984 Contract with St Ninians, Crieff, on
  Mission Development
• Pastoral Care Group formed
• 10-12 visitors (elders and non-elders)
• Visit elderly and housebound
• Hospitalised and sick at home
• Taped services delivered

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Bereavement Care

• 1994
• Ministers suggestion follow-up care to bereaved
  in church and parish
• Bereavement Care Group formed
• Five visitors
• Training courses undertaken in-house, with
  attendance at bereavement courses

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Support Group

• No self-help groups for bereaved in area
• Through quinquennial visit by Minister at Dalziel
  St Andrews heard about GriefShare
• 2003 First GriefShare Group began
• Fifth group has just finished
• Groups do not need to be large

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GriefShare Support Group

• Publicity to local undertakers, and to all
  bereaved families in contact with church
• 13 week programme provided but used fortnightly
• Home-based
• 30 minute video for each meeting
• Mixture of professionals and lay people

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Pastoral Bereavement Care

• St Andrews Parish Church
• Blantyre

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GriefShare Support Group

• Group discussion is vital
• Emotions can run high
• Mutual support in a safe place
• Prayer concerns are addressed at the end of the
  meeting
• Homebakes!

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Resources Available

• www.griefshare.org
• Starter Packs
• Videos/DVDs
• Leaders Guides
• Workbooks
• Publicity Materials

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Increasing Interest in Bereavement Care

• Exhibit at The Big Saturday
• Exhibit Seminar at Re-Energise Church Without
  Walls Conference 2006
• Visits to local Nursing Homes to talk to staff
  about bereavement issues
• Close link to local undertakers

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Pastoral Bereavement Care

• Questions Discussion
• St Andrews Parish Church
• Blantyre

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Contact Information

• Rev Peter Johnston
• peter.johnston_at_standrewsblantyre.com
• 01698 828633