As a community, we seek to offer care and support to one another. We offer a team approach to pastoral care at Centennial, with different teams available to serve you. We’re always looking for more people to help on these teams, please contact Pastor Melanie if you are interested in volunteering, or if you would like to utilize these services.
Pastoral Care Team
The Pastors provide care first of all by providing worship that is meaningful and relevant. They are also available to pray, counsel, and help people discover God’s presence in times of growth and challenge.
A note about hospital visits: Due to hospital confidentiality, we will not know you are in the hospital unless you contact the church office (651.633.7644) or have someone contact the church office on your behalf. Please do so if you would like a visit from the Pastoral Care Team while you are hospitalized.
Parish Nurse
Julia Nordling offers health education, blood pressure clinics, diabetes support group, and promotes wellness of mind, body and spirit; blending nursing and ministry.
Assistance with issues such as housing, driver safety, homecare, healthcare, and end of life concerns are provided by the parish nurse through referrals to the appropriate community agencies.
Members of the Pastoral Care / Parish Nurse Team:
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Brian Hacklander
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Donna Draeger
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Julia Nordling
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Several retired clergy
Morning Worship on DVD
Unable to attend Sunday worship? Sign up to receive a DVD recording of the Sunday morning worship service by mail! If you or someone you know are interested in this service, please contact Julia Nordling at 651-633-7644 or parishnurse@centennialumc.org. Audio recordings of each Sundays morning’s sermon and music are also available for download on our website.
Care Team Ministry
Care Team Ministry responds free of charge to the non-medical “quality of life” needs of individuals and families of all ages. This program offers supportive services to those in need within and around a faith community and provides an opportunity for people to live their faith by serving others. Care Team Ministry volunteers can assist in a variety of ways-friendly visiting, respite care, transportation, light housework, and meal support.
Care Team Ministry: “Doing for a friend what a friend would do.”
Care Team Volunteers offer respite to family caregivers, transportation, food, light housekeeping, friendly visiting, and yard work – meeting the basic needs of an individual or family.
For more information on Care Team Ministry (larger organization)
Leaders of the Care Team Ministry:
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Carole White, Chair of Care Team
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Julia Nordling, Parish Nurse
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Dorthea Doty, Lyngblomsten facilitator
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Care Partners (Lay persons)
Please contact Carole White or Julia Nordling to volunteer or request assistance.
BeFrienders Ministry
Befrienders offer spiritual and emotional support to people through visits and phone calls in homes and nursing care facilities. These lay ministers also provide communion to homebound persons. This is a ministry of listening, caregiving, and support. These lay ministers make it possible for more people to receive care in the name of the church more often. Lay ministers receive extensive training in offering care and support to our homebound persons.
A training class for persons interested in becoming a BeFriender will begin on Saturday September 22, 2012.
For more information on BeFrienders Ministry (larger organization).
Leaders of the BeFrienders Ministry:
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Marilyn Roberts, Administrator
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Jo Slifer, Trainer
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Julia Nordling, Facilitator
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BeFrienders (Lay persons)
Contact any of the leaders of the BeFrienders Ministry if you would like to volunteer or utilize the team’s services.
The Gathering
The Gathering provides a safe and enjoyable environment for those who are experiencing early- or mid-stage stage memory loss and giving respite to caregivers who desire a break.
For more information on The Gathering.
Prayer Shawl Ministry
“Shawls have been made for centuries. They are universal and embracing the symbol of an inclusive, loving God. They wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter, and beautify. We live up and affirm those who receive these shawls…”
The prayer shawl ministry team meets on Wednesday evenings, twice a month, to knit and crochet shawls. Individuals are also welcome to create shawls on their own. These shawls are given to persons who, because of some need or circumstance, could benefit from the warmth of a shawl and the knowledge that they have been prayed for by the person making the shawl. The team also creates shawls/baby blankets for each person baptized at Centennial.
If you would like to be part of this ministry, or know of someone who would benefit from receiving a shawl, please contact Leader Peggy Rhodes.
Psalm 139:13-14 “You created every part of me, knitting me in my mother’s womb. For such handiwork, I praise you. Awesome, this great wonder.”
Prayer Chain
Centennial’s United Methodist Women coordinate the church’s prayer chain. You can receive requests to pray over in your daily prayers by phone or email.
Please contact Joyce Markham if you would like to pray for others as part of the prayer chain team.
Leader of the Prayer Chain
Weddings at Centennial
Please download our wedding policies for full information about having your wedding at Centennial.
Wedding coordinators:
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Tracie Ball
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Deanna Kieffer
Visit www.mnmarriagepreparation.com for more information. Check the website for upcoming class schedules.
Funerals and Memorial Services at Centennial
Please download our funeral handbook for information on pre-planning your funeral service. You will also find information on filling out advanced directives, and a helpful guide on information that is important to have prepared for your family and loved ones.
Funerals and memorial services are one of the many ministries of Centennial.
If there has been a death in your family, please contact the Church Office to begin planning a service. You will meet with one of the pastors, who will guide you through the planning process. You will also be in touch with our funeral coordinator, who cares for many of the details that need to be attended to for a service. We do all that we can to offer you care and support during this difficult time. We seek to celebrate the life of your loved one, grounded in resurrection hope.