Who We Are
    The Pastoral Care Team at Mary Taylor Memorial United Methodist
    Church is composed of church members who have committed their
    time and care to help others through the ordinary and extraordinary
    challenges of life. Team members are available to listen, express
    concern and love, and point the way to further resources.
    What We Offer
    Team members provide a listening ear, so that individuals can
    express the feelings and fears related to their current life
    circumstances, as well as sharing the joys that life brings. Often team
    members will be able to help others find resources in the community
    that are appropriate to the needs of the moment.
    Pastoral Care Team members are not counselors, and their care
    should not be considered a substitute for professional counseling if
    that is appropriate. The Pastoral Care Team offers companionship on
    the journey of life and faith, knowing that God in Jesus Christ walks
    with us as well.
    Our Mandate
    Jesus called men and women to be disciples, learning from him that
    they might serve in God’s name. He sent his disciples into the world to
    heal and share the good news of God’s grace and love. Ever since
    the church began, followers of Jesus have offered hope and help to
    their sisters and brothers in the name of Jesus.
    (see Acts 3:1-10)
    Our membership vows call us to work against all the conditions that
    hurt or diminish human life and to provide for each other “a community
    of love and forgiveness that we may grow in our trust of God.”  Lay
    pastoral care is an expression of that commitment.
    Why “Pastoral?”
    The word “Pastor” comes from the Latin and means “shepherd.”
    Jesus is our chief pastor or shepherd, the one who watches over God’
    s children. In caring for one another, we are continuing the “pastoral”
    ministry of Jesus. Team members work alongside the ordained pastor
    of the church, sharing a caring ministry. Neither is a substitute for the
    other.
    Ways We Serve
    A Pastoral Caregiver might be found serving in any of the following
    ways:
    Visiting a hospital patient.
    Waiting at the hospital with family members while a loved one
    undergoes surgery.
    Spending time with persons in the weeks and months after the death
    of a loved one.
    Taking Holy Communion to homebound persons.
    Making a friendly visit to an elderly person or one who lives alone.
    Leading a worship service at Wicke Health Center, a United Methodist
    nursing home in Shelton.
    Providing friendship and support for a new mother or single parent.
    Having coffee or lunch with a person who just needs a listening ear.
    How to Request Care
    To request care from a Team member, contact the Church Office at
    203-874-1982 or e-mail mtmumc@sbcglobal.net
Caring Ministries Team
        MARY TAYLOR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Milford, CT 06460  
Get directions here!
203-874-1982
Email us at :    mtmumc@sbcglobal.net                                                        
Webmaster: Comments@mtm-umc.org
    Prayer Shawl Ministry -
    We have a very vibrant group of
    women at Mary Taylor who make
    time to serve in this vital program
    by making dozens of shawls and
    praying for comfort, healing, and
    peace to those who receive them.
    And, among this crafty crew is 11
    year old Callie Merva, who goes
    to the monthly "bees" with her
    Aunt Vicki (LaBonte) and her
    Noni, Fran Merva. " I like sitting
    with the ladies and also that [the
    shawls] are going to   people that
    need it", says Callie. Callie's
    grandmother taught her how to
    knit and crochet when she was 8,
    and she gets pointers from her
    aunt as well. Fran Merva
    comments on the pride she feels,
    having both her daughter and
    granddaughter taking part in this
    ministry with her: "It's nice to see
    three generations in the same
    family." The rest of the group
    couldn't be more pleased with the
    Merva family participation either,
    and fellow group member Faye
    Zeiner brought her camera to a
    recent ministry gathering to
    capture the scene. Thanks be to
    God for keeping it "all in the
    family", whether through our
    loving church family, or through
    three generations of Merva
    women.
    If you would like a shawl for a
    friend or loved one, please
    contact Joan Zauner at 203-874-
    1979.

    Stitching "bees" take place the
    third Thursday of the month in the
    evening in Wesley Center.
    Next One:  Thursday, Julyh 2st;
    7:30 PM!
    ...It happens at Monday night Healing
    Prayer and Anointing Service. Those in
    attendance gather in a circle with each
    participant holding or touching one or
    more newly crafted prayer shawl. The
    celebration begins with “Os” and
    “Ahs” and other comments about
    colors, patterns and stitches, prayers
    offered during its creation and quality
    of work. We then join hands, thus
    representing the MTMUMC family. A
    prayer of thanks and blessing for both
    the maker and recipient is offered. The
    sign of the cross is made on each
    shawl accompanied by the words “in
    the name of the Father, Son and Holy
    Spirit.”

    Each Healing Prayer and Anointing
    Service ends as we bless each other
    with these words: “The Lord bless you
    and keep you. The Lord make his face
    to shine upon you and be gracious unto
    you; the Lord lift up the light of his
    countenance upon you, and give you
    peace. Amen.”

    As I thought about the closing of
    Monday evening worship, the song
    “Love Grows Here” came to mind. I not
    only thought about it; I googled it and
    listened to a couple of youtube entries.

    Mary Lou Hastings
    Prayer and Healing Ministry
~Faye Zeiner—Prayer Shawl Committee

In April of this year I was returning from a visit to my son and family in Georgia via
Amtrak.  I boarded the train in Gainesville, GA along with several others.  We were all
shown to our assigned seats.
We settled in nicely.  After awhile I decided to get out my yarn and crochet hook to start
on a new prayer shawl.  I always bring the prayer shawl makings with me to Dr.'s offices
and other places where I am waiting so that I can keep busy and productive.  It always
stirs up interest when I am working on one.  This time was
no different.
The lady across the aisle from me asked me what I was making.  And I replied that it
was a prayer shawl for my church group.  She then asked about our prayer shawl
committee and our church.  Of course, I didn't need much urging and I told her all about
our great church, the prayer shawl committee and how it works and many other facets of
Mary Taylor church.
After my dissertation, she stated that our being seated next to each other was meant to
be.  She then said, "Now I know what to do with all the yarn I have on hand.  I have just
closed down my yarn shop due to health issues and have been looking for some place
or someone to give all the yarn."  She further said, "This is perfect because I am a
Methodist and my grandfather was a Methodist minister."    Needless to say, after our
goose bumps settled down and our overwhelming awesome feeling subsided, we then
exchanged names,     addresses etc. so that we could work out the details of her getting
the yarn to us.  We have been in constant contact since then via e-mail.  I was so thrilled
and chilled I had to call Joan Zauner right there from the train on my cell phone to tell her
of this awesome event!  She in turn was as awestruck and speechless as I was.
So the upshot of all this preparatory work, I am pleased to announce that the first of 6
boxes of yarn arrived on my doorstep yesterday June 6, 2011.  There are to be 5 weekly
shipments of these boxes.  Hallelujah!
Now that we have an abundance of yarn, we need more knitters and crocheters to put it
to use.  We have an ever increasing demand for these prayer shawls which are received
with gratitude and love and have also evoked some rather interesting stories and
events. Right now there are about 1/2 dozen of us trying to keep up with the demand. We
meet once a month from Sept. to June on the 3rd Thursday at 7 p.m. in Wesley Center
for about an hour to share fellowship, stories, patterns, stitches and obtain yarn.  Even if
you have never knitted or crocheted before, we have helped beginners with learning how
to do so.
If any of you are interested, please contact Joan Zauner (203-283-5643) or myself (203-
878-6186)for additional information or help. Let us keep this "God moment" going by
putting this generously donated yarn to the use He meant it to be as indicated by the
story above.  Also, please pray for this very kind lady, Linda Griffin, that her health issues
are resolved successfully.  I also hope that she may be able to visit us some day and I
will invite her and host her.  I have sent her the replica of our church which Missions is
selling as well as one of our beautiful prayer shawls as a thank you for her Christian act
and love for us.
Thank you and God bless everyone.  And wasn't the foregoing a God moment!!!






Our Prayer Shawl Ministry has been reaching
out beyond our local congregation. St.
Raphael’s Hospital had a shortage of
shawls—so we gave them five for their
patients. We also donated some yarn for their
program. St Vincent’s Hospital was also in
need of help—and we gave them four! We are
so glad we could help and proud of the
members of our group. We meet the 3rd
Thursday evening of every month and always
welcome new members! Next gathering is
Thursday, January 19th in Wesley Center.