At St. John’s we believe in the mutual ministry of the baptized; pastoral care is the responsibility of all members, not just the clergy. We define pastoral care as how we, individually and collectively, reach out to one another in the name of Christ. The pastoral care ministries offered at St. John’s include:
o    Baptisms - - Baptismal Form
o    Blessings – For Animals, Babies, Houses, Life Transitions
o    Confirmation
o    Counseling - Family, Individual, Grief, Premarital
o    Death and Dying
o    Funerals/Memorial Services - - Funeral/Memorial Planning Form
o    Informal Pastoral Care
o    Looking for Work Group
o    Membership Transfers - - Transfer Form
o    Mending Hearts - support group for persons who have lost a loved one.
o    Prayers - Birthdays, Anniversaries, Healing
o    Reconciliation
o    Stephen Ministry - Lay Pastoral Care
o    Visitation - Clergy, Flower Delivery, Lay Eucharistic Ministers 
o    Weddings and Commitment Services - - Marriage Planning Guide
o    Welcoming Liturgies - Adopted Children, Newborns, New Members

• Baptisms - Adults and children are baptized during regular worship at either service, especially on the following days: The Baptism of Jesus, the Easter Vigil, the Feast of Pentecost, the Sunday nearest the Feast of the Transfiguration, All Saints’ Day and during the Bishop’s visitation. Baptismal Instruction is provided by the rector.  The relevant information for the baptism is recorded on the Baptismal Form. (The form is available online in PDF format for printing and completion).
• Blessings - Animals are blessed on the Sunday afternoon closest to the Feast Day of St. Francis on October 4th. Newborn babies are blessed at the hospital by the rector. Adopted children are blessed in their homes. Roses are placed on the altar the following Sunday to celebrate this occasion. House blessings are arranged with the rector. Special milestones and life transitions may be honored during the worship service or privately on request.
• Confirmation - Confirmations are held in various churches in the diocese during Eastertide. Confirmation instruction is provided by both clergy and lay people.
• Counseling - Family and individual counseling is provided on a limited basis by the rector, with referrals to counseling professionals if necessary. Grief counseling is also provided by the clergy and a grief support group, Mending Hearts, meets on an ongoing basis throughout the year. For those who are getting married or entering into a committed relationship at St. John’s must attend premarital counseling sessions with the rector.
• Death and Dying - Clergy will be present with dying parishioners and pray with them and their families, if present, the special prayers in The Book of Common Prayer designated for the time of death.
• Funerals/Memorial Services - Convenient service times may be arranged with the rector and may include evenings or weekends. If a reception at church is desired, arrangements should be made with the kitchen manager. Details for the service can be listed on the Funeral/Memorial Planning Form.  In addition, a list of Funeral Readings is available. (Both the Funeral Planning Form and Funeral Readings are also available in PDF format for printing.)
• Informal Pastoral Care - In addition to formal ways of caring for one another, just as important are the informal ways we show our affection: taking one another to lunch or dinner; calling to see if there is anything the person needs; driving others to church, the doctor’s office or other places; visiting one another both at home and the hospital/nursing home; mutual support when a new baby arrives; baby sitting services; sending greeting cards to the ill or those celebrating special birthdays; and much, much more.
• Looking for Work Group - This support group led by a parishioner for the unemployed and underemployed meets Monday at 8:30 am in the Library. New members are always welcome. Guest speakers are also invited.
• Membership Transfers - Those who wish to transfer their membership in or out of the parish should complete the Transfer Form to request a transfer. (The Transfer Form is also available in PDF Format for printing and completion.)
• Mending Hearts - This is a support group for persons who have lost a loved one.  We provide a safe place, a sanctuary, if you will, to talk about your loved one and receive assistance with the grief and mourning process.  Sometime we pray, laugh, and cry together, as well as just sit and listen if one chooses.  Contact person is The Rev. Jeffernell Howcott 313-862-6049
• Prayers - Parishioners celebrating anniversaries are specifically prayed for by name during the worship service in the Prayers of the People. The first Sunday of the month when parishioners celebrate their birthday, they are invited up to the altar for a special prayer. Also during both Sunday services people are prayed for by name; trained healing ministers also offer individual prayers and anointing with oil. On Thursday mornings a Healing Service is offered at 11 am in the Chapel. There is also an online list of prayers you can use yourself for different situations.
• Reconciliation - The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered by the rector on request.
• Stephen Ministry - St. John's comissioned the second class of Stephen Ministers in April, 2013. Two years ago, we commissioned eight Stephen Ministers who have carried on this valuable ministry of caring and listening. More information is available on the Stephen Ministry web page and the links to resources on that page.
• Visitation - Clergy call upon parishioners in their homes and hospital/nursing care facilities for pastoral reasons. Flowers are delivered every Sunday and holidays to parishioners by parishioners. Lay Eucharistic Visitors take communion to the sick and shut-ins on a regular basis. Members of the Welcoming Committee bring bread to newcomers who have filled out the form on the back of the bulletin and are available to answer questions about the parish.
• Weddings and Commitment Services - These worship services are provided by the rector for parishioners of St. John’s only. After the Marriage Planning Guide has been read, couples should call the Rector for an appointment. Premarital counseling is required. (The guide is also available in PDF Format for reading and printing.)
• Welcoming Liturgies - The first Sunday that a newborn or adopted child is in church the family is invited up to the altar rail and a special liturgy is prayed. Several times a year new members are formally welcomed into the parish.

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