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8 Wickford Way, Fairport, New York 14450 Phone: 585-248-5993 Fax: 585-387-0517 E-Mail:  fstjohno@dor.org St. John of Rochester Stephen Ministry When You or Someone You Know is Hurting. "If we love one another, God lives in us and God's love is perfected in us" 1 John 4:12 To obtain a Stephen Minister please call, 585-248-5993 ext. 16 To receive information on becoming a Stephen Minister please call, 585-248-5993 ext. 12 Next year's Training will begin on September 2008. Current Stephen Leaders and Ministers What is Stephen Ministry? A one-to-one caring ministry through which one Christian reaches out to another in time of need. A committed group of persons, trained and commissioned, who, through prayer and service, reach out to live the Gospel message of Jesus to "bear one another's burdens." A spiritual and educational system of training and organizing named after St. Stephen, one of the first deacons in the early Church, who was commissioned by the disciples to care for the community's needs. What does the Stephen Ministry mean for you personally? That a member of St. John of Rochester Church, having received training in many helping skills, is available to you in times of need. That through the caring relationship of a Stephen Minister, you could come to know more fully the love, care and concern of the Lord for you. That you can encourage a family member, friend or neighbor to seek referral to a Stephen Minister. Needs & Opportunities for Stephen Ministry Stephen Ministers care for: people currently or recently hospitalized individuals and families of those facing serious or terminal illness those grieving a death or serious loss those suffering from depression or loneliness the homebound or institutionalized prisoners, ex-offenders and their families those experiencing a job loss or some business or financial crisis those with disabilities and their families people who are new to the community or those in process of leaving town the separated or divorced and their families couples experiencing infertility, a problem pregnancy, a birth or an adoption persons experiencing family tension those facing a life transition those experiencing a spiritual crisis people simply wanting the support of a Christian friend many others... What is a Stephen Minister? A Stephen Minister is: a child of God who walks beside a hurting person a caring Christian friend who really listens a lay person who has received training in how to provide distinctly Christian care a trained lay minister who continues to meet twice a month during his/her term of ministry for the purpose of continuing education and peer supervision. During these sessions he/she receives support and help through sharing problems and concerns. a person who is committed to the rule that "all transactions, all observations or impressions and all records made concerning the care receiver are and must remain confidential." A Stephen Minister is not: a counselor or therapist a problem solver a casual visitor How does the referrals process work? A person - either you, a relative, or a friend -- is hurting and in need of Christian care. The Stephen Ministry Referrals Coordinator learns about this need for care -- from the pastor, the person, or a friend, always with the person's permission. The Referrals Coordinator meets with the person to talk about Stephen Ministry. With the person's permission, the Referrals Coordinator assigns a Stephen Minister to meet on a regular basis with the person. The Stephen Minister continues to provide distinctively Christian care for the person, with strict confidentiality. Who Benefits from Stephen Ministry? The Community: Our community maintains a lasting lay commitment to caring. Our community as a whole, grows in warmth and love. Caring is contagious! The Care Receivers: People receiving the caring and support experience an increased ability to deal with their own lives and a new sense of wholeness. The Care Givers: Stephen Ministers experience personal growth and enrichment in their own lives. Current Stephen Leaders Director/Referrals: Barbara Hesenius, SJR Pastoral Associate Supervision: Bill Volkmann Training: Richard Morales Continuing Education: Rosemary Taub Current Stephen Ministers Sr. Constance Bickford Sheila Brady Norman Brown Barbara Cain Ken Cooke Janet Guarino Judy Knab Marilyn Muench Betty Murrer Patricia Palomaki Jim Strassell