Stephen Ministry

The holiday season is a stressful time for many of us. Despite the many pleasures available to most of us, there are many pressures placed on us as we prepare for added events and try to find appropriate gifts and stretch our budgets in order to make charitable donations. Also, there may be feelings of grief and loss due to deaths of loved ones and memories of past relationships which are dear to our hearts. Meanwhile we are surrounded with advertisements of things to buy to increase our families’ delights.

At our last peer supervision meeting, the group of Stephen Ministers discussed ways to minimize the holiday stresses in order to make time to be thankful and to dwell on the meaning of the birth of Jesus for our lives. The most often repeated theme expressed by our Stephen Ministers was to stop and plan our time. Prioritizing was the most frequently expressed way of coping. It was also suggested that we cull at least one activity from the “to do” list. It should, if at all possible, be one of our least enjoyed activities that should be omitted. We also need to make space to honor our losses in memory and perhaps by action, such as including something made or beloved by a departed family member in our décor or our music.

Stephen Ministry also provides and maintains the Care Notes tract racks in the Parish Hall for adults and teenagers. Feel free to take them for your own use or to give to someone else who might need them.

To discuss possibilities talk with any of our Stephen Ministers and Stephen Leaders. Betsy Fox Fisher is our referrals coordinator. She can be reached at (650) 233-9611.

Or call another Stephen leader: Diane Snow, Susan Stanley or Jerry Witherspoon. Stephen Leaders are: Betsy Fox Fisher, Diane Snow, Susan Stanley & Jerry Witherspoon.

Our current Stephen Ministers are: Joy Hayter, Noriko Kunimi, Karen Lamar, Susan Lanser, Bet Messmer, Bert McMahon, Peggy McNutt, Gordon Mullin, Barbara Simmons, and Joellen Stolarik.