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
Pastoral Care
MARY TAYLOR MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
168 Broad Street                                                                                                 
Milford, CT 06460  
Get directions here!
203-874-1982
Email us at :    mtmumc@sbcglobal.net                                                        
Webmaster: Comments@mtm-umc.org
             Prayer Shawl Ministry...

Just an update as we approach our second anniversary.  

We are a small group of 8-10 members, but have already made 215
prayer shawls!  The need for them is endless, and the response from
those receiving them is amazing.  We do most of  our knitting and
crocheting at home, but do meet the 3rd Thursday of the month for
sharing and prayer.  Please join us.    We’ll even give lessons!

For additional information please contact the church office - the
information is in the banner at the bottom of this page.

                  Next Ministry
 Thursday, October 15 at 7:00 PM,
                 Wesley Center













             READING THE BIBLE AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIME
    The Spring Study will be team-led by Pastor Hal and Pastor
    Ginny, in the familiar format of Tuesday evening (7-8:30 PM)
    and Wednesday morning (10-11:30 AM) to which we are
    accustomed.  The book is by Marcus Borg, the Hundere
    Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture at Oregon
    State University, and author of several books.  Dr. Borg was
    a member of the Jesus Seminar several years ago, and is a
    world-renowned educator/scholar.  Please contact the
    office asap to obtain your copy of the book ($15.00) in
    preparation for the study.  Classes begin the week of        
    February 2, 3 and continue through the 3rd week in May.
Healing Service:
Where Mary Taylor UMC Church on the Green
When: Every Monday evening; 7:00 - 8:15 PM

                BEING OPEN TO GOD’S HEALING GRACE
I have been healed through healing prayers and healing services a
number of times, and wanted to share this simple story as a way
of invitation.  It is my hope that by sharing a part of my own story,
you might be inspired to attend a healing service or ask for healing
prayer.  It was a few years after I was divorced and I was invited to
preach in a little Methodist Church where I attended. Being a
Methodist Elder I had had plenty of opportunities to preach, but
always in the back of my mind were doubts—did I say what
needed to be said?  Was I prepared enough?  But now, since I had
been divorced and had left the parish, a sense of fear had
replaced the subtle self doubt.   I did indeed accept the invitation to
preach, but always in the back of my mind I thought -- what if
someone should say—“who are you to stand and preach—didn’t
you break your marriage vows?”  A very unlikely scenario, I
realize, but weighing on my spirit none the less.

Later that year, I attended an ecumenical healing service at St
Louis Catholic Church, mainly to support the idea of ecumenicism,
not with any intention of being healed.  What did I have to be healed
from?  I was physically healthy, and simply went to support our
pastor, who was participating in the service.  I found myself drawn
to the Alter, however, when the time came for healing prayer, and I
went forward.  I knelt down, and asked for the fear I had been
caring in my heart to be taken away.  The minister at the Alter
simply placed his hands on my head and said a simple prayer, and
I walked back to my seat. That was over 10 years ago, and I have
never had another moment of fear when it comes to preaching.  It
was as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders, and all fear
was gone.  Just like that!

Sometimes things weigh us down that we simply take for granted,
thinking, “That’s just the way it is, or the way it has to be.”   God
has taught me that that is not true.   I am so thankful that God put it
on my heart to go forward during that healing service and open
myself up to God’s healing grace.  I would invite you too to be open
to God’s healing grace.  Every Monday evening, at Mary Taylor
United Methodist Church in Milford , (on the Milford Green) a
healing service is held from 7:00 - 8:15 PM, and I would like to
extend an invitation to you to attend. It is a small and simple
service, and open to all.

The Rev. Cynthia Dodd United Methodist Elder in Extension
Ministries, Bridges (Mental Health Clinic)