It is that time of year when our youth will shop for Christmas presents for children of parents in the NH Prison system. Please donate checks or cash into the box in the back of the church. Last year NH congregations provided more than 700 Christmas gifts for children of parents incarcerated in the NH state prison system. This yearly program offers the parents a chance to give something to their children and strengthens family bonds until the time parents can return to their families. Holiday parties at the prisons are where each child receives a present and a book. For 37 years, the Diocese has sponsored this great program with our gifts and donations. Donations may be given through October 27th. Our gifts will be brought to the convention in November by our delegates.

My name is Danielle Pierpont and along with my husband, Robert, I am  a newcomer at All Saints' Episcopal Church. We both want to thank you  for having made us feel so welcome! Wanting to contribute and offer something which is dear to my heart, I sat down a while back with Reverend Ted. I discussed with him the fact that I had served as a Stephen Minister for many years in our former church in Alexandria, VA. Reverend Ted is very familiar with Stephen Ministry as he had worked closely with Kenneth Haugk, the founder and executive director of Stephen Ministries St Louis. The latter is a Pastoral Care ministry offered nationwide and overseas in many Christian churches of various denominations.

Reverend Ted acknowledged that there was no official Pastoral Care ministry at All Saints. He was certain, though, that some church members had touched base with some who cannot attend services for various reasons. The need for more focus and more emphasis on those who are shut ins, lonely and suffering for whatever reasons at All Saints and should strongly be considered.

So I am proposing that some of us get together to discuss this issue and share ideas of how we could spearhead an official Pastoral Care ministry at All Saints. 

I am willing to share with you my experience as a Stephen Minister. Although I highly recommend that you look up the website: www.stephenminister.org and you look for: WHAT IS A STEPHEN MINISTER?  We can adapt from this later and shape our own Pastoral Care Ministry without spending money.

I am aware that we all have very different spiritual gifts given to us by God. I am also aware that many of you are involved in many other aspects of God's work for His kingdom. Prayer being at the core of all ministries please pray about this ministry and contact me by phoneor e-mail if you wish to give me feedback.

                                                                                                                                            Blessings, 

Danielle Pierpont

569-4779

skincare.danielle@gmail.com