Pastoral Care

The Pastoral Care Commission is a Christian service ministry which provides physical, spiritual, and emotional support to the Saint Matthew’s community. Our mission is to discern and respond actively to a wide variety of parishioner needs in a respectful and compassionate way. We strive to instill Christ’s spirit of unconditional caring throughout the Parish of Saint Matthew. —Mission Statement

The ministry of Pastoral Care at Saint Matthew’s is a key expression of our identity as a Christian community. Its primary task is the fostering of a healing relationship with Christ, both as individuals and as a community. The Pastoral Ministry is primarily concerned with the healing of souls and broken spirits—not by “fixing” the problem, as one might expect from going to an expert—but by allowing God’s unconditional love to flow through each one of us, and to flow from one to another. Through its programs, the Pastoral Ministry seeks to harness the boundless healing power of Christ’s love for the strengthening of all of our community’s members, whether long-time parishioners or new to Saint Matthew’s. We pray that all can call upon our community of faith in time of need.

The late Henry Nouwen, a Dutch Roman Catholic Priest, observed the following:

Although it is usually very meaningful to call on outside help (specialists), sometimes our referral to others is more a sign of fear to face the pain than a sign of care, and in that case we keep our greatest gift to heal hidden from each other. Every human being has a great, yet often unknown, gift to care, to be compassionate, to become present to the other, to listen, to hear, and to receive. If that gift would be set free and made available, miracles could take place. Those who really can receive bread from a stranger and smile in gratitude can feed many without even realizing it. Those who can sit in silence with their fellows not knowing what to say, but knowing that they should be there, can bring new life to a dying heart. Those who are not afraid to hold a hand in gratitude, to shed tears in grief, and to let a sign of distress arise straight from the heart, can break through paralyzing boundaries and witness the birth of a new fellowship, the fellowship of the broken. (From Out of Solitude—Three Meditations on the Christian Life)

The Pastoral Ministry at Saint Matthew’s is coordinated by the Pastoral Care Commission, chaired by Guilford Robinson, and consists of the lay leaders of all of the pastoral ministries listed below. The Rev. Betsy Anderson is the Associate for Pastoral Ministries. The ministries include Alcoholism Support Network, Birthday Callers, Helping Hands, Home Eucharist Ministry, Intercessory Prayer Group, Lay Pastoral Visitors, Pastoral Care Small Groups, Saints Alive, and Sunday Flower Delivery. The clergy of Saint Matthew’s are available for pastoral counseling by appointment.

In an emergency situation after parish business hours, a priest may be contacted immediately by calling the parish office (310/454-1358) and dialing the extension for pastoral emergencies (ext. 199).

The Office for Pastoral Ministries
The Rev. Betsy Anderson, Associate for Pastoral Ministries
310/573-7787, ext. 122.
Fax: 310/573-7421

Alcoholism Support Network

The Alcoholism Support Network is a group of parishioners who have been successfully healed of alcoholism, and who have offered their support to those struggling with addiction. They are compassionate and successful men and women who offer confidential personal support. Contact The Rev. Betsy Anderson at or 310/573-7787, ext. 122.

Birthday Callers

All active pledging members of Saint Matthew’s receive a congratulatory call on their birthday from these ministers. There is much joy in this ministry, both for caller and recipient alike. Birthday callers make calls one day a week and sign up for one year of service. Linda Hong, Coordinator. Contact The Rev. Betsy Anderson at or 310/573-7787, ext. 122.

Helping Hands

This ministry provides help for parishioners in need of occasional meals, errands, grocery shopping, rides to a doctor’s appointment, or other kinds of basic services. Whether a new baby arrives, or a debilitating disease or accident occurs, Helping Hands ministers are coordinated to serve throughout the parish. Jessica Bowlin and Lori Selna, Coordinators. Contact The Rev. Betsy Anderson at or 310/573-7787, ext. 122.

Home Eucharist Ministry

We are happy to provide Holy Communion to parishioners who are not able to attend services at church. Pastoral Lay Eucharistic Ministers bring Holy Communion from services to shut-ins each Sunday, and the clergy are available to visit weekdays or Sundays. Andrea Wagner-Barton, Coordinator. Contact The Rev. Betsy Anderson at or 310/573-7787, ext. 122.

Intercessory Prayer Group

The Pastoral Ministry Office maintains a parish prayer list that is prayed during the Sunday services as well as regularly throughout the week by the Intercessory Prayer Group, a group of 20 parishioners whose ministry is to offer daily prayer for those on the list. Parishioners may call at any time to add someone to the list. The Intercessory Prayer Group also meets bi-monthly for study of and reflection on Christian prayer practices. This is a wonderful ministry for those who desire to deepen their prayer lives. Kathleen Heuser, Pastoral Care Commission representative. Contact the Rev. Betsy Anderson at or 310/573-7787, ext. 122.

Lay Pastoral Visitors

These ministers are trained for ongoing one-on-one visits with parishioners at home. Lay visitors make a commitment to become “spiritual friends” with the people they visit twice a month. The Visitors bring joy and the very real incarnation of Christ’s unconditional love to their brothers and sisters in Christ in a very special way. Maida Hastings, coordinator. Contact the Rev. Betsy Anderson at or 310/573-7787, ext. 122.

Pastoral Care Small Groups

From time to time we offer small groups which address major life challenges, such as bereavement, care giving, divorce, or parenting children with learning challenges. These groups meet for a covenanted period (they are not ongoing), and provide spiritual healing and strength, as well as information for group members with particular challenges. Contact The Rev. Betsy Anderson at or 310/573-7787, ext. 122.

Pastoral Counseling

The clergy of Saint Matthew’s are always available to offer individual pastoral care and counseling to all parishioners, not limited to but always including the sick and homebound.
Please contact the clergy individually for an appointment, or contact the church office at any time for more information.

Saints Alive (Ministry for Older Adults)

Saints Alive hosts a monthly luncheon with speaker. Its mission is to provide for Christian formation around the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual needs of parishioners over the age of 60. Saints Alive also provides occasional special opportunities for seniors, such as autobiography writing classes, or a poetry reading group. Betsey Beamish, Coordinator. Contact the Rev. Betsy Anderson at or 310/573-7787, ext. 122.

Sunday Flower Delivery (Altar flower delivery)

Sunday flower delivery ministers package and deliver the Sunday altar flowers to parishioners not able to attend church. Whether to those who have had recent crises, or to those who might have had something wonderful happen, like a new baby, the Sunday flower delivery ministers always bring comfort and a sense of connectedness to those who are homebound. Joan Sather, Coordinator. Contact The Rev. Betsy Anderson at or 310/573-7787, ext. 122.

These ministries are available both to those in need and those who wish to serve. We welcome your participation!

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