Care Ministries
Our St. Luke’s Care Ministries provide love and support during the joys and trials of life through group programs and individual ministries. Listed here are the ministries where you can find support or volunteer to assist others with the support that they need.
If you are facing a challenge, have any questions, or want to serve as a volunteer, please contact Kim Paredes, Director of Care Ministries, at 407.876.4991 ext. 262.
In case of an emergency involving the death of a loved one or a hospitalization, call the Church office at 407.876.4991 ext. 316 so a pastor can support you through this time.
Prayer Requests
Click here to submit a Prayer Request Online
Coping with Caregiving – Loving Support for Caregivers
Caring for a spouse, parent, or child with a long-term illness, special needs or age-related issues brings stress and unforeseen challenges to our lives. St. Luke’s invites you to attend a safe space for you to share your concerns, challenges and blessings with others who are experiencing similar situations. Take a small break from your routine on Sunday, April 18 from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and join Pastor David Stephens and Care Ministry lay leaders online for candid conversations where you can share your struggles and blessings when caring for a loved one. This month’s topic is “Communication Challenges.” Click here to register. We hope you will join us.
Life Events
Hospitalizations
- In case of an immediate need involving the death of a loved one or a hospitalization, call 407.876.4991 ext. 316.
Births
Weddings
Pictures of the Sanctuary
Please know that these pictures were taken during Easter and the banners would not normally be hung in the Sanctuary, however also know that during certain Christian seasons the Sanctuary will be decorated with decorations that may not be able to be removed for the ceremony.
Sanctuary Stage – facing West
Choir Loft, facing South
Aisle leading to Back of Sanctuary, facing East
Sanctuary toward Memorial Garden, facing North
Learn about our “Before You Wed” couple’s class offered at the Community Counseling Center.
Deaths and Funerals/Memorial Services
Gary Goetsch- Memorial service will take place on Wednesday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m. in the sanctuary. The service will be family/invite only due to Covid protocol but will be live streamed. A link will be published here in the coming week. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Dave’s House in Gary’s honor.
Church Member Assistance
St. Luke’s Care Ministries Directory
Parenting Solo Support Group
Parenting Solo is a support group designed to provide helpful tools, education, encouragement and fellowship for single parents. The support group is led by trained and caring St. Lukers who are or have been single parents themselves. St. Luke’s offers a different curriculum each fall and spring to support single parents in their daily lives and the many responsibilities they have.
Parenting Solo is currently taking a break and hopes to be able to meet in person later in the spring. For additional details about this support group, email or call the Care office at 407.876.4991 ext. 262.
Divorce Recovery Ministry
At this time St. Luke’s is not offering DivorceCare on campus or virtually. To locate a church that is currently offering DivorceCare, click here. Please email or call the Care office for additional information.
Buddy Break
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Support Ministry
Next Meeting: This support group will continue meeting online during this season of COVID-19. Our next meeting is Thursday, May 13 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Please contact the Care office for the Zoom meeting link and password.
Cancer Support Team
If you or someone you know has cancer or is a cancer caregiver and would like to have support from a team member, please contact the Care office at 407.876.4991 ext. 262 or email.
Card Ministries
- Sends holiday greeting cards three times a year to those 80+, new members, military, and shut-ins
- Veterans’ writing group gathers to share fellowship and write holiday greeting cards four times a year to veterans in Orlando
Care Visitation Team
St. Luke’s Care Visitation Team (CVT) is comprised of trained lay members who provide follow-up care in partnership with St. Luke’s pastors to provide compassion, encouragement, and support for church families during illness, hospitalizations, and/or long-term care. We will open recruitment of new Care Visitation Team volunteers in the summer of 2021. Know a St. Luker that can no longer come to church but wants to remain connected? Contact the Care office to schedule a visit with one of our Care Visitation Team members.
Caring Kitchen
Next Cooking Date: Caring Kitchen will meet next on Thursday, May 6. Volunteers must register beforehand. We can only have a total of six volunteers along with the leadership team due to social distancing guidelines.
Click here to sign up for the May 6 cooking date.
If you know a St. Luker who would benefit from a crockpot meal during this time, email or call the Care office at 407.876.4991 ext. 262.
St. Luke’s Community Counseling Center
Grief Support Ministry
GriefShare Weekly Support Meetings
GriefShare consists of weekly support group meetings designed to help you rebuild your life after losing a loved one. Our group is led by caring lay members who have experienced intense grief themselves. You’ll find a warm, caring environment and will see your group as an “oasis” on your long journey from mourning to joy. Meetings include videos, small group discussion (support group), and personal study exercises that reinforce weekly session topics.
Click here to view a short video about GriefShare.
St. Luke’s offers two classes for the winter/spring cycle beginning on February 4 (an evening class) and February 24 (a morning class). These classes are virtual classes offered via Zoom to help keep everyone safe.
Classes meet weekly for 13 weeks. Participants will purchase their workbooks directly from GriefShare. There is a $15.00 fee for the workbook. Contact the Care office at 407.876.4991 ext. 262 or email for more information.
Winter/Spring 2021 Class Schedule:
Below are our offerings:
Hearts to Hands Ministry
- Knits and crochets prayer shawls, newborn and preemie hats and blankets, and prayer squares.
- You don’t have to be experienced in knitting or crocheting, just have a willingness to learn and an eagerness to create. Free classes offered on Wednesdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. upstairs in the Attic of Building C. Wear a face mask while social distancing and knitting/crocheting with friends. Contact the Care office at care@st.lukes.org or call 407.876.4991 ext. 262 for more info.
In Home Care Ministry
- Provides care and support for families and individuals in crisis
- Provides meals and transportation as requested through a team of volunteers
Opening Doors Ministry (Special Needs)
- Promotes opportunities for full participation in worship and programs for persons with special needs
- Provides sensory friendly accommodations at church-wide and community special events
- Connects with and support area ministries and organizations which serve persons of all ages with disabilities and their families
- Works to make the church campus and programs safe and accessible to all
- For more information email or call the Care office at 407.876.4991 ext. 262
Prayer Ministry
- Prays in the chapel on Sundays between and during worship services
- Receives prayer requests submitted on the church website (see form below)
- Prays in the chapel on Wednesday mornings for those on the prayer list, Connection Cards, and submitted prayer requests
Stephen Ministers
- Are children of God who walk beside a hurting person
- Are caring Christians who really listen and provide confidential one on one support
- Helps meet the needs of those who are facing illness, loneliness, bereavement, job or spiritual crisis, etc.
- Serves communion
- Receives extensive training in how to provide distinctively Christian care
Stephen Ministry is an international lay caring ministry used by more than 13,000 congregations worldwide. Click here to learn more about Stephen Ministry. If you are in need of a Stephen minister, you may mark your Connection card on Sunday, email or call the Care office at 407.876.4991 ext. 262 to be confidentially matched with a caring Christian listener. Women are matched with female Stephen Ministers and men are matched with male Stephen Ministers.
Transportation Ministry
Volunteer Opportunities within Care Ministries
- Administrative Volunteers: Volunteers are needed to follow up via phone with those sick, hospitalized or recovering at home. May also assist in data entry, mailings, copying and other administrative duties. Training provided.
Local Care Groups
Alcoholics Anonymous
St. Luke’s is host to the Dr. Phillips Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) group. A.A.’s Twelve Steps are a group of principles, spiritual in their nature, which, if practiced as a way of life, can expel the obsession to drink and enable the sufferer to become happily and usefully whole. Click here and select the “month tab” at the right hand top of the page to learn the days, times, and meeting rooms for AA meetings at St. Luke’s.
Al-Anon
Al-Anon meetings take place Fridays on Zoom and Sundays on campus. Click here and select the “month tab” at the right hand top of the page to learn meeting days, times, and locations on campus.
Overeaters Anonymous
Overeaters Anonymous provides guidance and support to anyone facing problems with food — compulsive overeating, under-eating, food addiction, anorexia, bulimia, binge eating, or over-exercising. This support group meets weekly on Fridays from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Building B Room 202. To learn more about Overeaters Anonymous, click here.
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
NAMI’s Connection Support Group meetings follow NAMI’s Connection model and are open to adults 18 years of age and older living with a mental illness. There is no cost to attend meetings. Meetings are drop-in and confidential; you do not need to make a reservation or call ahead unless you need more information. Meetings take place the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in Building C, Room 206.
NAMI’s Family Support Groups are open to family members, caregivers or friends of people living with a mental illness. Meetings are drop-in and confidential; you do not need to make a reservation or call ahead unless you need more information. Meetings take place in Building C, Room 208 on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. To learn more about NAMI, click here.
Connect and Care Mission Statement
As we affirm faith in God through our ministries, we claim a sacred place where Christ’s love unites us with compassion and the caring of others.
In order to make the love of Christ a real presence in the life of each person we reach within our faith community, our ministries:
- Extends support during the trials of life and celebrate the joys
- Leads persons to resources appropriate to their needs
- Creates and maintain innovative programs to minister spiritually, emotionally, and physically
- Encourages all to explore and maximize their individual spiritual gifts for the work of the church and to the glory of God.