What is Befriending?
Friends are those who are with us through good times and difficult times; they listen, support, encourage and accept us. We all need supportive friends, especially when going through major transitions that often occur during our life journey.
Prince of Peace is a caring congregation. The Befriender Ministry includes lay Christians in the service of caring for others. This ministry extends the pastoral care of our faith community. A Befriender is a confidential listening friend at a time when extra support from the church community is needed.
Some examples of Befriending:
• Visiting with someone grieving the death of a loved one,
• Supporting a person with a chronic illness,
• Helping a young family,
• Showing hospitality to a person new to the community,
• Contacting a church member who is lonely,
• Supporting someone experiencing stress in a marriage or loss of job,
• Keeping homebound members connected to Prince of Peace,
• Remembering homebound members at Christmas and other holiday times,
• Encourage participation in “Growing Through Loss” seminars in our North Suburbs.
Projects of our Befriender Ministry:
• Befrienders are linked to a person in need and try to have a weekly contact.
• Prayer shawls are knit and delivered to persons experiencing a difficult time.
• Birthday greetings are sent to members over 85 years; also sympathy and get well cards; remembrance cards are sent to families on the first anniversary of a loved one’s death.
• Make Christmas and Valentine greetings for Homebound members.
• Provide information about community resources.
• Provide transportation; meals when needed.
• Keep a directory of hospitals and care centers.
• Have in-service Befriender meetings to enhance care-giving skills and knowledge.
Our Visitation/Congregational Care Pastor Ruth Sorenson-Prokosch advises the Befriender Ministry and can be reached by calling church at 651-484-4144 or reaching her by email at Ruth@poproseville.org
If you wish a Befriender or want to be a Prince of Peace Befriender, contact the Co-coordinators Marie Larson at 651-633-9108 or Anne Haugan, 651-484-3856.