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We Care for Each Other
As a church community, we offer several ways to take care of the emotional and physical well-being of each other.
Health Ministry
Parish Nurse Diana Tiller-Dichtel leads our Health Ministry at St. Stephen, which advocates for the physical, emotional and spiritual healing of the congregation. Among other services, Diana offers blood pressure screenings every third Sunday of the month between the services, in the Health Ministry office. One of the basic premises of our Health Ministry is “that it must grow in the knowledge and practice that everyone in the church is a healer and in some way may be part of our church’s healing ministry” (as expressed by Rosemarie Matheus in her article, “Ensuring a Successful Parish Nurse Ministry”) so all who are called to participate in the Health Ministry are welcome to do so.
Diana’s email is parishnurse@saintstephenlutheran.net.
Stephen Ministry
St. Stephen is one of more than 13,000 Stephen Ministry congregations world-wide. Stephen Ministers are the After People, who are there:
- after the phone call you hoped you’d never get.
- after the divorce papers are served and the bottom falls out of your life.
- after the funeral, when everyone has left and the emotions you’ve held at bay come crashing in on you.
- after the doctor says, “I’m sorry but there is nothing more we can do.”
- after the nursing home director shakes your hand and says, “Welcome to your new home.”
- after the last child honks the horn, waves and drives away—and the house suddenly seems empty.
- after the gavel goes down, the handcuffs go on, and your loved one is led away.
- after the baby arrives, demanding more of you than you ever dreamed possible.
- after you find a pink slip with your final paycheck.
- after your family and friends have heard your story one too many times, but you still need to talk it out.
Stephen Ministers are members of the congregation who have received 50 hours of training to be a companion to another person in need of emotional care.
If you are in need of a Stephen Minister, or would like to learn about becoming a Stephen Minister, contact Pastor Griffin: pastorcg@saintstephenlutheran.net.
Hospital Ministry
When members are in the hospital, we send cards or call. It can make a big difference!
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center
100 Sentara Circle
Williamsburg, VA 23188
(757) 984-6000
Riverside Doctors Hospital
1500 Commonwealth Avenue
Williamsburg, VA 23185
(757)585-2200
Bon Secours Mary Immaculate Hospital
2 Bernardine Drive
Newport News, VA 23602
(757) 886-6000
Riverside Hospital
500 J. Clyde Morris Blvd.
Newport News, VA 23601
(757) 594-2000
Care Groups
Our congregation is divided into 12 Care Groups—everyone is included. When someone in a group is sick, homebound or grieving, others in the care group reach out with cards, food and visits as needed.