SPECIAL PASTORAL LITURGIES

Prayer and worship in a community faith is a powerful way to honor the many transitions in our lives and to seek comfort, support, and meaning. This includes the major life-change moments (birth, marriage, death) and also the many other struggles and challenges that can occur as we journey through out lives.

The clergy team at St. Stephen’s is available to provide special services for your pastoral needs. Some examples might include:

Private Communion for the Homebound
House Blessings
Celebration of a New Job
Honoring Retirement
Family Prayers for the Bereaved
Prayers following a Miscarriage
Discontinuation of Life Support

Hospitalization
If you are hospitalized for any reason, please call the church office.  If you cannot do so personally, ask a friend, neighbor, relative, or nurse to do it for you.  In this way, the clergy will be informed and will be able to properly minister to you.

Sacramental Ministries
The Church surrounds her members with prayer and the healing grace of the sacraments when they are ill.  The sacramental ministries that are available for those who are hospitalized include:

Emergency Baptism
Reconciliation (Confession and Absolution)
Anointing
Holy Communion
Ministration at the Time of Death (Last Rites)

Anointing of the Sick
The anointing of a sick person with oil (Holy Unction) is a sacramental action that imparts God’s grace for the healing of the whole person — body, mind, and spirit.

It is normally offered to any member of the church who is hospitalized or at home because of any significant sickness or accident, or for someone who is about to undergo surgery.  However, any member may request Anointing for any physical or spiritual sickness at any time.

So seriously do we take the sacrament of anointing that our Sunday 10:15 a.m. Eucharist includes laying on of hands, prayers for healing, and anointing as a regular part of that service.

Who to Contact
If you are interested in exploring a special pastoral liturgy, please contact one of the clergy:

The Rev. Kristi Philip, Rector, via the Church Office (448 2255) or by email to kristiip@spokanediocese.org