Pastoral care
St Stephen’s seeks to provide Christian love, affection and encouragement, which enables and nurtures growth in faith and relationship with God. We aim to provide this in a secure and welcoming environment. We also seek to support people, both spiritually and practically, as much as reasonably possible, as part of the local wider community.
PASTORAL CARE structure
We aim to care for each other at three different levels that offer the opportunity for everyone to receive the loving care, support and encouragement that they need.
Level One Care
This is accessed through Life Groups, various courses and our ministry to one another at Sunday services.
What kind of care can I expect?
Level One care covers the care and support that many of us need from time to time in our day to day lives – our Life Group and church friends coming alongside us to support, encourage, pray and chat as we deal with the normal things that life brings.
Level Two Care
This is accessed either through talking to your Life Group leaders or by contacting our Pastoral Care Coordinator, Victoria Byrne at victoria@st-stephens.org.uk.
What kind of care can I expect?
Level Two care is provided through a member of our Pastoral Care Core Team (including the clergy) who are available to come alongside those who need a little extra support or encouragement. We are also able to provide marriage support, bereavement listening, financial and debt support and a listening prayer ministry.
Level Three Care
This is accessed either through talking to your Life Group leaders, by contacting our Pastoral Care Coordinator, Victoria Byrne at victoria@st-stephens.org.uk, or by seeking your own care from our list of recommended counsellors, therapists and organisations below.
What kind of care can I expect?
Level Three Care is for those occasions when we need a more professional counselling or other talking therapy.
To view or download our three tiered pastoral care structure, click here >>
In addition to these three levels of care we can provide extra prayer support through our Prayer Shield prayer network – involving a chain of committed volunteer intercessors, should additional confidential prayer support be requested. Contact the Church Office on 020 8892 5258 with your prayer request if you have one.
You are also welcome to attend our midweek Service of Healing and Encouragement which takes place in the Centenary Room of the main Church building on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 10.30am. Holy Communion is served on the fourth Thursday. The service always includes worship and prayer ministry with people who believe in God's healing power, and provides space to reflect with hope on your situation. The service ends with coffee at 12 noon.
And finally, our prayer ministry to each other every Sunday plays a central role in how we love and support one another through the small and big challenges in life. Prayer ministry is available at all of our Sunday services.
RECOMMENDED COUNSELLORS, THERAPISTS & External ORGANISATIONS
If you prefer, for whatever reason, to seek care and support outside the church, we hope that the following lists of counsellors, therapists and external organisations will be of help to you.
The majority of the agencies and individuals listed work within a Christian framework. Please note that whilst every care is taken in checking the integrity of those listed, we recommend that you also assess them for yourself to ensure that you are happy with the care they offer. Some of the individuals listed do worship at St Stephen’s, but this is indicated where appropriate should you prefer to meet with someone from outside the church.
Click here to see our list of recommended Counsellors and Therapists>>
Click here to see our list of recommended External Organisations >>
We would welcome feedback on any of the resources listed and it would be helpful to receive any other personal recommendations you may have. For more information, please contact our Pastoral Care Coordinator, Victoria Byrne at victoria@st-stephens.org.uk.
