Congregational Care at Church of the Atonement
Mercy Ministry
Atonement’s Mercy Ministry is a substantial part of the Deacon’s work at Atonement. Hands-on care and financial help are harnessed together to support church members facing emergencies.
The Mercy Committee is in partnership with community organizations whose missions include housing, food, alternatives to abortion, and other needed service. Finally, the Mercy Committee oversees the church’s ministry of responding to guests who come with requests for assistance.
The Mercy Committee is in partnership with community organizations whose missions include housing, food, alternatives to abortion, and other needed service. Finally, the Mercy Committee oversees the church’s ministry of responding to guests who come with requests for assistance.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is a priority at Church of the Atonement. Our pastors are committed to knowing every person who regularly attends the church in order to help them grow from unbelief to mature, joyful faith in Christ. This commitment plays out wonderfully in another way also: when personal ministry is needed, a bridge of mutual respect and trust is already in place.
Weddings: If you are planning a wedding, one of our pastors will happily assist you, provide counsel, and officiate at the wedding if asked. In doing so, we work with our Church’s Marriage Mentoring Ministry.
Hospitalizations: If you are going to the hospital for surgery, one of our pastors will be with you when you enter and follow up with you afterward.
Grief and Loss: If you suffer the death of a loved one, our pastors are ready to offer the comforts of Christ, help plan for a funeral, and then conduct it.
Unable to Leave Your House: If you are home-bound, our pastors will bring the Lord’s Supper to you and visit you there.
Counseling: If you or your family are in crisis, our pastors will provide pastoral counseling and make referrals as needed for additional care. There is virtually no difficulty, suffering, addiction, or conflict that our pastors have not helped members with.
Baptisms: Our pastors disciple new believers and prepare them for baptism. They also prepare believing parents for the baptism of their infants.
Weddings: If you are planning a wedding, one of our pastors will happily assist you, provide counsel, and officiate at the wedding if asked. In doing so, we work with our Church’s Marriage Mentoring Ministry.
Hospitalizations: If you are going to the hospital for surgery, one of our pastors will be with you when you enter and follow up with you afterward.
Grief and Loss: If you suffer the death of a loved one, our pastors are ready to offer the comforts of Christ, help plan for a funeral, and then conduct it.
Unable to Leave Your House: If you are home-bound, our pastors will bring the Lord’s Supper to you and visit you there.
Counseling: If you or your family are in crisis, our pastors will provide pastoral counseling and make referrals as needed for additional care. There is virtually no difficulty, suffering, addiction, or conflict that our pastors have not helped members with.
Baptisms: Our pastors disciple new believers and prepare them for baptism. They also prepare believing parents for the baptism of their infants.
Prayer
We seek to make prayer integral to every ministry at Atonement. Weekly prayer requests are circulated to the entire church via email. Our schedule regularly includes times for focused prayer as well. Each Sunday morning, our Vigilant Prayer meeting is held at 8:30 am prior to our worship service. “Services of Comfort” are scheduled throughout the year to anoint the sick with oil and to pray. Close to All Saints Day (November 1) each year, we hold our “Service of Remembrance” to recall loved ones who have died, thank the Lord for their lives, and to pray for each other in our grief. Periodically, we hold 24-hour Prayer Vigils. In times of dire crisis for our missionaries, our nation, and the world, the church observes days of prayer and fasting with special services.
Vigilant Prayer Ministry
Each week, individuals join in prayer to ask the Lord’s blessings on the church, the community, and the world, Sunday mornings, 8:30 am.
Prayer Requests and Announcement Emails
If you have a need for prayer, please send an email to [email protected]
Vigilant Prayer Ministry
Each week, individuals join in prayer to ask the Lord’s blessings on the church, the community, and the world, Sunday mornings, 8:30 am.
Prayer Requests and Announcement Emails
If you have a need for prayer, please send an email to [email protected]
Service Teams
We believe that service to one another is to be a normal part of our Christian life. Atonement’s congregation is divided into six “service teams.” Each team is headed by at least one elder and one deacon and is on call two months each year. This means that, say, in January and September, members of a service team are asked to serve as greeters or to sit at the welcome table on Sunday mornings. When we have fellowship activities such as a bistro lunch after church, the service team helps with set up and clean up. We worship alongside each other, we work alongside each other, and we grow together.