What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
James 2:14-17
With the continued cutback in free social services by public spending, it is more important than ever for the church community to be a central place of help and assistance to those in need. While prayer is first and foremost the call to ask God to help us in our need, God also calls upon us to be disciples of action in working to bring about His kingdom.
Our aim within the Pastoral Care Plan of Saint Anthony’s is to foster and facilitate groups/individuals to help others in the following ways:
click on the arrows below for more detail
Home Assistance
Whether through ailment, incapacity, or inability, there are times in life when we are not able to undertake tasks that are needed to keep our homes and our lives going. Home Assistance can provide much needed support either in the form of decorating, cleaning, gardening, or going to the shops to get provisions, etc.
Social Supper
Preparing a meal or simply having the means to afford a meal can often be a major problem for the more vulnerable members of our congregation. Social Supper aims to provide a chance for those members to gather together and share a meal to sustain both body and spirit. Our goal is eventually to secure a hall wherein this can be facilitated with a kitchen of our own but in the interim we can make use of our church annex as well as other local facilities.
Visiting the Sick and Infirm
Loneliness can be one of the major stumbling blocks to recuperating from an illness, an operation or a dramatic change in life. Having the physical presence of another person for a short time each week can lift the mood significantly and bring much needed hope and comfort to those struggling to cope.
Separation Support
Losing a loved one in life is always a traumatic time. It is a time when we experience many emotions all at once – often difficult to process in a positive way. We are full of questions needing answers and find it difficult to get the help we need. Separation Support may not have all or any of the answers, but it will have a person who cares to help bring you through this difficult period in your life.
Coping in the world
All of us at one time or another can feel overwhelmed at what the world throws at us. At these times it seems we are beset with trouble on all fronts and often find it hard to focus or make sound decisions. Following on principles established by the 12 Steps programme and AWARE, by meeting together and sharing our problems and successes we can encourage and assist others who are going through something similar.
