Friday, March 19, 2010  | 
 

Caring Ministries

Caring Ministries

Sandia Counseling Center

The Sandia Counseling Center offers professional therapy for concerns that strike many persons, such as marriage and family matters, depression, life transitions, and grief resolution. All therapists with Sandia Counseling are professionally prepared and licensed by the State of New Mexico.

In addition, the combination of the Counseling Center and the church allows access to extended care for needy situations. The church often is in a better position to respond to needs beyond the scope of professional therapy.

Health Ministry Unit

The Health Ministry Unit's mission is to assist those in our midst with questions of health, help with referrals for care, offer blood pressure checks and short consults on the last Sunday of each month, contribute periodic health advisory bulletins to the newsletter, and provide other services. Please see "More Information" below for health bulletins.

If you are a doctor, nurse, physical or occupational therapist, pharmacist, or other health care professional and are interested in working with this ministry, please phone the church office or Betsy Everett (828-0674).

Pastoral Visitation

Sandia has a special visitation pastor, Pastor Susan Meredith, who assists the pastoral care staff and volunteers with visitation of the sick and hospitalized. Please call the church office with visitation requests (856-5040).

Prayer Shawls

SPC has people who knit and crochet prayer shawls for those needing God’s comfort and support during difficult times. Please contact Karen McCullough, 821-8511, for information on how to become involved, or if you know someone who could benefit from a shawl.

Rides to Church

If you need a ride to church for our Sunday worship, or are able to provide rides for any of our Sunday services, please contact William Jirón at wmvkjiron@mac.com or 269-6867 (e-mail is preferred to provide written record). He has volunteered to coordinate drivers and riders for these three services.

If you need a ride to church for our Sunday worship, or are able to provide rides for any of our Sunday services, please contact William Jirón at wmvkjiron@mac.com or 269-6867 (e-mail is preferred to provide written record). He has volunteered to coordinate drivers and riders for these three services.

Outside Resources

Gluten-Free Baking. With increasing numbers of people being gluten-intolerant, here is a timely resource: Gluten-Free Baking with The Culinary Institute of America, by Richard J. Coppedge, Jr., CMB, Adams Press, 2008. Can be purchased from Amazon.com or other bookstores.

Free Website for Severe Medical Situations. If you or someone you know is involved in a severe medical situation, check out www.caringbridge.org. This user-friendly site allows anyone to create a web page to connect family and friends during a critical illness, treatment, or recovery. No special software tools or training are needed. Pages are provided for My Story, Journal, Photos, and Guestboook, where people may leave messages of support. Donations are also welcomed to help support this free service.

 
Loving Relationships

The four-week Loving Relationships marriage and relationship enrichment course is for long-term, newlywed, or about-to-be married couples. Topics include: 1) balancing your relationship with other life demands; 2) creating and maintaining intimacy; 3) loving unconditionally; and 4) restoring vitality to your relationship. Dr. Jim Logan teaches this course twice a year.

The next course will be offered March 31-April 21, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Please click here to sign up, and see "More Information" on this page.

The four-week Loving Relationships marriage and relationship enrichment course is for long-term, newlywed, or about-to-be married couples. Topics include: 1) balancing your relationship with other life demands; 2) creating and maintaining intimacy; 3) loving unconditionally; and 4) restoring vitality to your relationship. Dr. Jim Logan teaches this course twice a year.

The next course will be offered March 31-April 21, 6:30-8:00 p.m. Please click here to sign up, and see "More Information" on this page.

Divorce Recovery

Sandia offers a six-week Divorce Recovery Workshop, taught by Dr. Jim Logan. This workshop provides a non-threatening, non-denominational setting that provides support for emotions and in making important decisions. No matter how recent the divorce experience, there is something to touch the life of every participant. It has been said, “You can go through a divorce or you can grow through a divorce." There is a $30 fee for this course. Childcare is available.The current course is underway on Wednesday evenings, February 10-March 17, 6:30-8:30 p.m.

Stephen Ministry

The Stephen Ministry program is an important part of our pastoral care function. Care is provided by persons from our congregation trained in a classroom setting to attend minor needs such as loneliness, hospital visitation, illness, and response to families suffering losses. Stephen Ministers care for hurting people both in the congregation and in the community at large.

For more information on becoming a Stephen minister or obtaining assistance from one, please contact the Sandia Counseling Center, 822-8223.

Support Groups

Dance It Up! isn't precisely a support group, but it fills a similar need, offering monthly dances and socializing for Albuquerque's autistic and developmentally delayed community (18+) and fun-loving friends.The next dance will be the Spring Ball on Friday, April 23, at 7:00 p.m. $4. Please click here to sign up to help out. 

Compassionate Friends, a support group for those who have lost children, meets the first and third Thursdays of each month at 7:00 p.m.

The 20/20 Club, a low-vision support group, meets the second Wednesday of most months, usually at 2:00 p.m. The group will meet next on Wednesday, April 14, at 2:00 p.m., when Alex Kiska of Special Care will discuss guidelines for seeking outside help for self or family members: what to look for, how to choose a caregiver or service, and the various options. For more information, or for help with transportation, call Larry Thompson, 294-1850, or Barbara Free, 275-9952.

A chapter of Alcoholics Anonymous meets every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

Depression

Depression is a treatable problem, and Sandia offers eight-week groups to deal with depression and anxiety, on an enrollment basis. These support groups are hosted by Amy O'Brien, mental health therapist from the Sandia Counseling Center. For more information please call Amy O’Brien at 822-8223 opt. 1.

More Information
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