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Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care seeks to model the caring heart of Christ in our relationships with the members and adherents of First Metropolitan as well as those in the larger community. If someone is ill or hurting, the Pastoral team members will seeks to respond in a manner that best meets the needs of the individual.

A caring group of folk, with the assistance of the ministerial staff and our Health & Wellness Ministry:

• visit members of the congregation who are in hospital, care facilities or confined to their homes, bringing a small gift of a plant or home baking during special seasonal visits. Birthdays of those who are 90 years and up are remembered with special cards and visits.
• Prepare and take communion to those in hospital or homebound.
• Provide support and comfort to the bereaved
• Link with the team providing memorial/funeral receptions.
• Hold an annual Spring tea for homebound parishioners.
• Hold a six week series on Accepting Loss, assisting those who have experienced loss, say goodbye to the past and welcome tomorrow.

Spiritual Companions

Twelve volunteer lay persons have been trained as spiritual companions to help elders reflect on their life experience and record the spiritual lessons at First†Metropolitan United Church. The program is designed to reduce the isolation of elderly, frail members of First†Met through building a mutual spiritual friendship, and to ensure the wisdom of our elders is passed on through an Honour Our Stories project.

Stories United:
Harvesting Elders' Wisdom
Available Now!

First†Met hopes to grow as a community in which all members are valued and involved regardless of their age or physical circumstances. The volunteer companions are "hearts with ears and a pen" and meet with their elders every two or three weeks to record their stories and build a relationship. For more information or to participate as an elder or companion, please contact Terry Dance-Bennink at (250) 220-6834 or by .

In September 2008, First†Metropolitan published Stories United: Harvesting Elders' Wisdom, the funny, sad, moving and always interesting stories of the first group of sixteen elders as told to their companions. Stories touch on such themes as early memories, love and friendship, accepting loss and death, building a faith community and the many faces of God. The book is available at a cost of $22 through the First†Metropolitan church office, by mail (download a copy of the order form [PDF]), locally in Victoria through Koinonia Books, or nationally through the United Church of Canada Resource Distribution .

Knitting Group

The Pastoral Team sponsors a knitting group that meets to make scarves, hats, socks, toques, mittens, gloves, dishcloths, children's sweaters, booties, lap robes for here and abroad. This summer we have been working on afghans and lap robes for the refurbished rooms at the Hospice. We also donate items to Cridge Centre for the Family, the Sandy Merriman Shelter for Women, Our Place, The Compassionate Warehouse and other locations. For more information about the group or projects, please call Joan Mickelson at 744-3047.