Nurturing Ministries 

Stephen Ministry offers care, support and encouragement to people whose lives have been disrupted by loss. This ministry trains and supervises lay caregivers to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to people in and around our church. Men meet with men and women meet with women.

Stephen Ministers support people who for the most part have their basic coping skills intact, their thinking in order and their emotions under control. These care receivers need someone to walk beside them, to encourage them, to pray with them and for them, and to bear their burdens with them. The Stephen Minister offers their support through attentive, active listening and a caring presence.

Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one ministry by trained, caring lay ministers. Through one-to-one caring and confidential relationships, those who are hurting receive the love and care they need to support them through particularly challenging times.

For more information about Stephen Ministry, including training to become a Stephen Minister, contact the church office.

The purpose of the Nurture Team is to ensure that every member of Orange UMC is loved and cared for, and to grow the congregation’s love for one another. Team members oversee and provide administrative support for the Nurturing Ministries, as well as coordinate and track visitation with those who are home bound or hospitalized. To learn more about the responsibilities of the Nurture Team, contact the church office.

The Bereavement Team is a nurturing group of people who are available to care for those in the midst of dealing with the death of a loved one by organizing food for the family and refreshments for the reception following the funeral service. Contact Amy Pomeroy to become involved in this vital ministry.