Care Ministry
For any of these services, if you have a need, or are interested in serving, contact care@christmemorial.org or call 616-796-3342 unless otherwise indicated.- Care / Visitation Pastor, Faith Community Nurse, or elder visits upon request.
- Card Ministry – Volunteers mail personalized cards to those under CMC care.
- Bereavement Mailings – CMC mails a card with a personal message to the bereaved family along with bereavement “Care Notes” with supportive messages. These are sent at the 2-week, 6-week, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month anniversaries of the loved one’s passing.
- Sermon DVD/CDs and bulletins are mailed to homebound congregants upon request.
- CMC Prayer Ministry—Upon request, weekly intercessory prayer emails and prayer guides are e-mailed to congregants. The Prayer Ministry Team holds prayer events periodically. Prayer request boxes are placed around gathering points in the church building.
- Transportation is provided as volunteers are able.
- Memorial/Funeral Coordinator-CMC staff helps plan a funeral or memorial service.
- Memorial/Funeral Service Food Service Team sets up, serves, and cleans up after the luncheon as planned and provided by the family.
CMC has a team of volunteers who provide loving, compassionate relationships to support or improve our members’ bodily, mental, and spiritual needs. CMC Care Partners listen to suggestions and complaints; determine needs that require help; assist with problems (illness, family, grievance); comfort by prayer and scripture; encourage faithful responses to their situation; offer to deliver sermon CDs, bulletins, freezer meals or placement on the CMC prayer email; and invitation to events as appropriate.
- This ministry provides nonprofessional help and assistance, free of charge, with home repair and maintenance available to our members and non-member neighbors, targeting single mothers, senior saints, widowed, or those with ability challenges. However, requests from any and all are welcome regardless of the circumstances.
- Examples: window washing, power washing, window and door repair, ornamental maintenance, simple plumbing, minor painting, carpentry, and hardware installation.
- Material costs are the responsibility of those requesting the service, but CMC may be able to assist if there is a need.
- Contact: Rich Herbig, 970-215-2807 or rherbig47@hotmail.com
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- CMC has a medical equipment closet with supplies for individuals to take out on loan.
- CMC employs a Faith Community Nurse (RN) for health and resources support and networking.
- CMC has first responders available during services to respond to medical emergencies.
- Chemo Caps: This group meets on site on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from April through November in addition to group members who sew at home. The caps are delivered to four area cancer centers in addition to the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital.
- Prayer Shawls—Knitted shawls are available to present to our congregants under care.
- “Love Sews” Quilts—This ministry creates and provides individualized quilts to present to those under care.
- Dementia Caregiver Support Group and mailings
Meets monthly on the 2nd Thursday afternoon in a group setting or one-on-one with an Evergreen Commons Dementia Support specialist. Opportunities to talk and share with others who understand what you’re going through, learn coping skills and stress management, and receive encouragement to maintain personal, emotional, physical, & spiritual health.
- Griefshare Support Group
A 13-week grief recovery group led by grief recovery experts, with video seminar, group discussion, and personal workbook. Various locations and times including online.
- Journey on with Hope Widow/Widower Support Group
Meets socially on the 2nd Thursday or the month. Provides ongoing support in a group setting for widows/widowers during, through, and beyond their grief. Contact Heidi at hgilcrest@hotmail.com.
- P.A.U.L. (Prisoners, Abandoned, Unloved, and Lonely) This ministry keeps families and our community close to incarcerated men and women by volunteers who write letters and cards and provide inmate financial support and food boxes, make encouraging phone calls, and donate gas cards and supplies to family members.
- CMC staff can help you to prepare for and plan adult, child, and infant baptism.
- CMC can coordinate group communion services in multiple facilities such as RestHaven and Appledorn and for individual homebound congregants as well.
- “SERVE IT UP…with Love” Clients of CMC’s Doors of Hope ministry or our own CMC families can request a fresh, hot meal hand-delivered twice a month.
- Freezer meals are available in a CMC freezer and can be requested by those needing a ready-made meal any time.
CMC can assist you in connecting with outside resources such as
- Al-Anon & Narcotics Anonymous
- Be Nice Mental Health Awareness Group (mental & emotional health, bullying and suicide prevention)
- Escape Ministries (empowering struggling youth to thrive)
- Healing Hearts Ministry (Counselors who guide you through discovering how God’s Word offers hope and healing from tragedies and afflictions such as sexual abuse, domestic violence, abortion, rape, and catastrophic loss.)
- Holland Free Health Clinic (faith-based access to health services for the underserved.)
- Doors of Hope Ministry (Door of Hope equips people all over the world to live free from abuse and trauma through safe housing, educational conferences, support groups, trauma recovery counseling and prayer ministry.
- Prayer Groups (call church office for current options and meetings.)
- Mosaic Counseling (accessible, affordable, professional counseling, and personalized support.)
- 70x7 (Learning to forgive and be forgiven from wounds of pain, shame, and blame that causes anger, depression, relationship problems, spiritual separation, and substance abuse.)