Pastoral Care Ministry at All Souls
What is Pastoral Care?
Life brings us moments we weren't prepared for -- illness, loss, transition, questions that don't have easy answers. Sometimes what we need most is simply to be heard. Pastoral Care at All Souls provides a caring, confidential presence to congregants navigating stressful life challenges or times of spiritual discernment. The minister is the point of contact for pastoral care, and our Lay Pastoral Care and Soul Support Team are an extension of the minister’s pastoral care presence.
Pastoral care is compassionate, respectful, and centered on your dignity, beliefs, choices, and needs. Pastoral care is not professional therapy, medical care, or emergency response. When helpful, we can connect you with additional community or professional resources.
You are not alone. We are here for you.
Lay Pastoral Care Team
All Souls has a team of Lay Pastoral Caregivers whose talents, experience, and special training enable them to meaningfully respond to fellow members in times of need. Our purpose is not to fix one another, but to listen deeply, offer spiritual companionship, and help each person remain connected to community and resources. Working alongside the Minister, the team meets people in times of joy, sorrow, and transition — listening without judgment, visiting in homes, hospitals, hospice facilities, or over coffee at a neighborhood café. Their commitment is simple: to make sure no one at All Souls walks through a difficult season alone. A Lay pastoral caregiver is available to lend a kind ear at the conclusion of each worship service.
When to Reach Out for Pastoral Care?
- Grief because of the death of a loved one.
- A loss (of a job, relationship, health).
- A difficult life transition (congregational transition).
- An unexpected medical diagnosis.
- Difficulty making a decision.
- Need for some spiritual direction
- Or just the need for a listening ear.
Soul Support Team
These volunteers may be called upon to provide care to All Souls members in times of need through the ministry of action. Soul Support volunteers provide a range of practical supports to our fellow congregants: meals, transportation, task assistance & check-ins.
Meals
Caring for one another, body and soul, is a priority at All Souls. When a member or friend is in need of meal support, we have volunteers who can cook meals during illness, after procedures, welcoming newborns, after a recent loss, etc.
Transportation
Volunteers offer rides to congregants to worship or to local appointments
Task Assistance
Volunteers provide assistance to congregants in need of small indoor and outdoor tasks.
Check-ins
A team of volunteers are on hand to check-in with congregants offering support in the following ways:
- Social visits at home, or during a hospitalization or convalescent stay
- Writing “thinking of” cards to congregants
- Making a friendly phone call
How to Request Care:
For Pastoral Care, contact the minister, Rev. Verdis LeVar Robinson:
Call (860) 443-0316 (office) or
Call or text (860) 339-6955 (mobile) or
Email: minister@allsouls.net
For Soul Support, contact the office and your request will be directed to the appropriate volunteer:
Call (860) 443-0316 (office) or
Email: office@allsouls.net
If you would appreciate one of these supports, or if you know of a congregant who
would benefit, please be in touch with us.
