A Congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America

Shepherding Center

 Upcoming Events:

 Tuesday, April 24, 7-8:30 p.m. - Dr. William Petrie,   Alzheimer's - What We Face Ahead 

 Tuesday, May 8, 7 p.m. - GriefShare  

 Saturday, May 12 10am - Caregiver Support Group

 

The Shepherding Center: Who We Are

  The Shepherding Center is part of the Christ Presbyterian Church Congregational Care Ministry, supporting the following ministries: Caregiver Support Group, GriefShare, Heart for Children- Adoption and Orphan Care, Loving in Deed- Elderly and Homebound Outreach, Parish Nurses Network, Restore Ministries and Stephen Ministries.  The Shepherding Center is located in the Hope House on campus, along the East Drive at the Chickering Road traffic light. Please read about the various ministries to learn how you can be involved. For more information, feel free to contact Mary Sue Curtis, Shepherding Center Director, at or 615-301-3507.

The Shepherding Center: History & Purpose

The Shepherding Center was established at CPC on August 18, 1997. Its purpose is twofold:to provide resources and means for individuals seeking help and healing and to offer opportunities for individuals to be trained and serve in these ministries.

Our Anchor: Sacrificial Love

The center finds its roots in John 13:34-35,

"A new commandment I give you: love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

In His summation of the moral law, Jesus said, "You are to love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). The new commandment was to the church. The words "one another" were substituted for "neighbor," and "as I have loved you" for "as yourself." Christian love has Christ’s sacrificial love as its model, and the community of believers as the primary, but not exclusive, place in which it is expressed.

Shepherding Center Ministries:

Stephen Ministry
GriefShare
Parish Nurses Network
Loving in Deed - Elderly and Homebound Outreach
Heart for Children - Adoption and Orphan Care/Safe Families
Restore Ministries
Caregiver Support Group

See below for more information about the Shepherding Center ministries:

STEPHEN MINISTRY 

This ministry is made up of men and women in our congregation who are trained to listen, care, encourage, pray, and walk alongside you during difficult times.  It's confidential, free, and very helpful.  Stephen Ministers are there for you.  Also, it's not too soon to think and pray about taking the Stephen Ministry training which will be offered again in the fall of 2012.

GRIEFSHARE

If you have lost a loved one or know someone in the community who could benefit from this ministry of hope and healing, please contact the Shepherding Center. The classes are held on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m. Cost is $10 for a workbook which follows the video presentation.   The next class will begin May 8 in the Shepherding Center at the Hope House.  Call 301-3507 to register or to get more information.

PARISH NURSE NETWORK

The Parish Nurse Network is made up of health care professionals who volunteer their services in various ways to the congregation.  They sponsor the annual CPA/CPC Red Cross Blood Drive and provide screenings on Wednesday evenings.  They are available on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings if members need assistance and can accompany a member on an occasional visit to the doctor.  They are also responsible for the medical equipment which is kept under the AED machine in the church lobby.

LOVING IN DEED

CPC offers a ministry of encouragement to our elderly and shut-ins. If you have a heart for these who have served us well in the past, and would like to visit or send cards, please contact the Shepherding Center for a list with names, addreses and birthdays. Let them know that they are not forgotten.


HEART FOR CHILDREN

CPC’s Adoption and Orphan-Care Ministry:

  • Gathers and provides information to those who are considering adoption
  • Serves as advocates for the adoption process
  • Provides an arena for fellowship among adult adoptees, adopting parents and their children
  • Offers prayer and emotional support
  • Links couples and individuals who have previously adopted or have been adopted to serve as mentors for persons considering adoption

This January was Orphan Awareness Month at Christ Presbyterian.  The purpose of this emphasis was to inform the congregation about opportunities available to care for orphans around the world.  On Sunday, January 22nd we hosted representatives from H.E.A.L. Ministries, Bethany Christian Services, Show Hope, and 147,000,000 Orphans in the Narthex.  Kelli Rearden from Bethany also spoke briefly during our worship service about the Safe Families for Children program. 

Safe Families assists parents experiencing a temporary crisis by providing a loving Christian family with whom their children may stay until the crisis has passed.  Safe Families volunteers can have a powerful impact in the lives of struggling families while practicing Biblical hospitality, extending the love of Christ to people in need, and sharing their faith.

Heart for Children feels that there are many, not only Christ Pres, but in our community who may be interested in learning more about Safe Families which is fast becoming a national model for protecting at risk children.  We want to encourage each of you to come learn about this program even if it only prepares you to tell others about it.  We also want to encourage each of you to pray for this program and to tell others you know who may have an interest in hearing this story - all are invited.  Let Pam and Richard Flohr (377-7939) or Mary Sue Curtis (301-3507) know if you have any questions.

Some are called to adoption, but all are called to care for orphans.

Online: bethany.org/nashville

SHOW HOPE  showhope.org

H.E.A.L.  heal-ministries.org

147 MILLION ORPHANS  147millionorphans.com


CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP

This group is for anyone who is caring for a loved one either in their home, in a facility or even in another town.  The group is led by Lauren Kelley, LCSW, and meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 10 a.m.  At the April 14 meeting, our guest will be a chaplain form Alive Hospice who will talk about hospice within a spiritual framework.  On June 9, we will have elder law attorney Tim Takacs to talk about Life Care Planning - legal, estate planning, care coordination, medicare/insurance and advocacy.

Want to Learn More?

For more information about any of these ministries or to register for a group or class, call Mary Sue at 301-3507 or e-mail by clicking .