Congregational Care Team

An important calling of the church is to care for each other. In Acts 2:41 the early church “devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” This calling not only includes caring for each other spiritually, but also to caring, as we are able, for physical and emotional needs. At Connections we encourage each person to become a member of a small group where the caring described in Acts 2:41-47 can occur. People in a small group are more aware of each other’s needs and are therefore in an excellent position to encourage, support and pray for each other.

In addition to small groups, Connections has identified Congregational Care leaders who are available for visitation, prayer and consultation. You are encouraged to reach out to one of these people in cases where there are spiritual or physical emergencies and acute needs. The Congregational Care leaders are also available for those who are unable to participate in a connections group. Additionally, Pastor George and the elders/deacons are available to address spiritual and physical needs, especially if the Congregational Care leaders are unavailable.

While the elders (including the pastor) and deacons are responsible for spiritual and physical care within the church, the Church Board plans to rely on the work of the small groups and the Congregational Care leaders for much of the caring that occurs. Small groups are a place where people do life together. Congregational Care leaders have been identified because they have specific gifts to provide care on a timely basis. However, in times of immediate physical or spiritual need, the pastor, elders and deacons are willing and available to assist.

Connections maintains a benevolence fund to assist church members and others in the community with immediate financial needs. If you have an immediate financial need, please contact one of the Congregational Care leaders for assistance. As with all requests for care, these requests will be kept confidential unless you ask that your needs be made more broadly known.

Connections partners with two organizations that can help with more chronic or complex needs. First, Connections is a host site for Pastoral Counseling of Denver (PCD Counseling). PCD offers counseling to individuals, couples and families that is both spiritually sensitive and clinically informed. Connections has financial arrangements for initial consultations with PCD and PCD works with a variety of financial situations, including working with your insurance company if coverage exists.

Second, Connections works with Volunteers in Action (VIA), a cooperative ministry of area churches, whose goal is to enhance the lives of people who are elderly, disabled, or low income. VIA also helps people by walking alongside them in specific and caring ways.

Often these needs will be met by those in your small group. However, if your need is more extensive or you do not belong to a small group, please reach out to Kim Crane in the office and she will assist in coordinating meals with the congregation. You can contact her during office hours (Tuesday through Thursday) at (303) 791-2143.

We encourage that you pray with those in your small group. Additionally, if you have a prayer request and would like the prayer team to specifically lift up your needs, contact them at prayer@myconnections.church. Prayers submitted to the prayer team will be kept confidential unless you tell them that they may make your request known more broadly.