Showing up for people in their time of need is a vital ministry of every congregation; especially, because we live in a society that valorizes self-reliance at the expense of community support. Despite being more “connected”, we are increasingly disconnected from one another. One of the few places where there remain strong community bonds is at church. Pastoral care is the mark of a true community; it’s easy to show up when everything is going well, but showing up for people in their time of need is when it counts.

In my ministry, it has been a blessing to be with people for births, weddings, hospital care, or in the face of death. While I had to lead far too many memorial services for members of my congregation, I also cherish leading those services and honoring the lives of those who knew me as Reverend Matthew. I approach planning the memorial with family and close friends as an important step in the grieving process—sometimes equally important as the memorial.

Pastoral care work is one that cannot be held by the minister alone, I work with the pastoral care team to cultivate a community of care to provide that pastoral support, whether it’s hot meals, a compassionate ear, a car ride to church or an appointment, help with moving, or a warm hug.

I believe it’s important to look at how we show up (or don’t) for people who are experiencing personal hardships that can have a stigma attached to them or which are kept private: a family member in prison, a miscarried pregnancy, addiction, divorce, an abortion, mental illness, homelessness, etc. And though it may be more challenging, I believe it’s even more important to show up for people in such circumstances because the feeling of being alone only compounds the hardship.

Pastoral Care happens in other settings too, like Adult RE classes I’ve offered: Date with Death Club, the Trusting Changing study group, and even a sermon writing class. And the Elder’s Circle I started was both a time for building connections and an opportunity to explore pratical and emotional issues around aging.

The pastoral aspect of ministry also includes working on justice issues that affect a community as a whole. There are so many people today who are feeling overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems we face, and who are responding with denial, minimization, numbness, resignation, and paralyzing despair. I know activists who burned out because they raged against the destruction without a vision for the future they hope to create. My ministry strives to create a shared vision of a better future for our world, and cultivates the hope and possibility that we can make it manifest.

The pandemic showed us how much we need community for support. And in the midst of increased political instability, attacks on marginalized communities, and a deepening climate crisis, there will be ever more need for communities that can work to support people in crisis. Candidly stated, the typical ecclesiological approach of UU congregational life of the late 20th century is not sufficient for a world filled with as much suffering, loss and uncertainty as the world that is rapidly coming into being.

Our congregations are good at providing pastoral care for the individual crises, but these times call for us to grow our resiliency beyond our walls. I am called to the work of supporting our congregations engage in the work of resilience: mutual aid, sharing resources, planting seeds and growing food together, and joining our voices and our hands together as we work for a better world. There are beautiful examples of congregations becoming community resilience hubs, and I am excited to partner with my next congregation to explore how these sorts of projects can serve our communities.