Outreach Program Overview

"So many have felt neglected at a time when an outreach could touch them in a healing way. My heart is full of gratitude for all the caring you give..."

- MB; an outreach recipient

The Problem: Unaccompanied Illness and Grief

Too many times, in the midst of community, people feel alone in sadness, isolated in loss. In days past, when families and communities were much less mobile than today, people lived and died in the midst of a neighborhood - an intact community of care.

Today, in times of duress, it is much more common for extended families to be separated by distance. Thus, when a family member is seriously ill or dies far away, even fellow congregants might be unaware of the heartache and grief being endured by a neighbor, friend, or person in the pew next to them.

Sometimes, literally, there is no one to journey through illness or grief with, no one to 'stay with them' on the way of their cross or on the road to Emmaus, when evening draws near.

Gentle Compassion:

""But now they were near the village where they were staying (Emmaus), and he acted as if he were going farther. But they pressed him: Stay with us. It is nearly evening -- the day is practically over ... So he went in to stay with them."

- Luke 24:28-29

Most faith communities do a wonderful job providing some support during serious illness and comfort immediately following the death of a member of their congregation, assisting with funeral planning, conducting a funeral service, and in some cases coordinating the food for a reception following the funeral.

This illness and grief support is essential, but at times incomplete. Unfortunately, many faith communities lack either the infrastructure or the trained volunteers to implement an effective outreach ministry.

The Solution: Consoling Grace

Consoling Grace offers assistance to faith communities who wish to begin or expand a ministry to seriously ill or grieving congregants and their families. This replicable, ready-made, easily imported program is intended to serve and support parishioners and their families who are seriously ill or grieving the death of a loved one - even if the loved one is ill or dies in a different city or state (or country).

We realize that every community of faith is different, and that some may already have components of a Ministry of Consolation in place. We are happy to do a complementary on-site evaluation, meet with church staff and volunteers, and discuss how Consoling Grace grief program components might augment existing ministries, and increase outreach effectiveness.

Because everyone experiences illness and grief, an outreach is one of the few programs which literally touches every person, in every pew, and can make a difference in their lives and the lives of their children.

In this way, a truly seamless garment of Christ's Consoling Grace can be evidenced "from generation to generation."