Pastoral
Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care
Prayer, Support and Encouragement
Praying and caring for one another and for strangers is at the heart of our community’s spiritual life. At Saint Mark's, the ministry of pastoral care belongs of all of us as a healthy and mutually pastoring congregation, and built into our culture of care. We provide spiritual support and encouragement. We prayerfully assist each other as we make meaning of life crises, transitions, and losses. And together we lift up life’s delights and celebrations.
Pastoral Care Ministries
Encouragement for Caregivers
The Saint Mark's Encouragement for Caregivers group provides the opportunity for those who are caring for a loved one to connect with others who are on a similar journey. It is a chance to share your story with others who understand and to learn of resources that may be helpful to you as a caregiver. We also share the spiritual resources that are part of our Christian faith: prayer, the Scriptures, community. We learn to see the caregiving role as a vital part of our call to follow Jesus.
The group meets virtually two Mondays a month from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Contact John Satterberg with any questions.
Calling Ministry
Pastoral Care Ministers call and listen with the “ears of the of the heart”. A dedicated team makes calls to members of our community who may not routinely connect with the Cathedral through email and/or the web site. Callers reach out to offer pastoral support.
If you would like a call or know someone who would like a call, please email helenh@ourcathedral.org or call 612-400-1200 ext. 101 and leave a message.
Card Ministry
When someone is sick, celebrates a birthday or anniversary, or just needs someone to reach out to them, members of the Card Ministry write them an individually, hand-written card that will be mailed to them to remind them of the community at Saint Mark's praying for them.
Knitting Group
Saint Mark’s has had a group of dedicated knitters for many years. We have provided over 500 prayer shawls for parishioners and continue to gather twice a month for fellowship, prayer and, of course, knitting. We welcome new knitters, no matter what your skill level is.
We meet on the first and third Tuesday of the month from 10:30 to 12:00 in the library. Please join us!
Eucharistic Visitors
A Eucharistic Visitor is a lay person authorized to take the consecrated elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration of the Eucharist.
If you need the Eucharist brought to you, please contact Terry Erickson or Helen Hanson.
Prayer Station/Intercession
The Pastoral Care Team offers healing prayers, laying on of hands and anointing with oil by which God’s grace is shard for the healing of spirit, mind and body at the Enmegahbowh Healing and Reconciliation Station. This sacred space was named after Enmegahbowh, the first Native American Episcopal priest, who was a powerful voice for reconciliation between Native Americans and white people from the 1860s until his death in 1902.
This ritual occurs during and after Sunday Eucharist and on other special days.
Grief Support
Members of the clergy and the Pastoral Care Team recognize that times of grief and loss are difficult in so many ways. We offer prayers, listening, and support.
If you wish to speak with a pastoral minister about grief and loss, please email Helen Hansen or leave a message at 612-400-1200 ext. 101.
Join our Pastoral Care team
Interested in joining our Pastoral Care team in any of the above ministries? We ask that you go through Community of Hope.
Community of Hope is a 10–14-week curriculum of spiritual formation that prepares individuals and teams (“Circles”) to discern their gifts and respond to their unique vocations. It utilizes Benedictine spirituality to teach us how to live more authentically both in our personal lives and within our faith communities.
The training assists in discerning how God is calling us to serve each other and the world.
In Fall 2024, this training begins on September 21st. Please see below for more information and how to sign up.
For questions about pastoral care at Saint Mark's, contact Dr. Helen Hansen or The Rev. Terry Erickson.
