Stephen Ministry

Stephen Ministry is a one-to-one ministry by trained, caring lay ministers. Through one-to-one caring and confidential relationships, those who are hurting receive the love and care they need to support them through particularly challenging times.

A Stephen Minister serves those who are:

• Facing hospitalization, disability or the unknown
• Bereaved, lonely or depressed
• Experiencing a personal, family or job crisis
• Terminally ill
• In need of a listening friend

A Stephen Minister is not:

• A counselor or a therapist
• A problem-solver
• A casual visitor

People are Renewed Spiritually

The Stephen Ministry invites change in human hearts. This ministry is a demonstration of how God comes to us through other people, and how God comes to other people through us.

How do I request a Stephen Minister?

Please contact Pastor Jack Anderson or another Stephen Ministry leader through the church. You may discuss with them the need for a Stephen Minister for yourself or for someone you know. A Stephen Minister will only be assigned with the permission of the person in need, and under conditions of strictest confidence.  This ministry is available to members of our church as well as non-members in the community.

Health Ministry

Mission Statement:
"To promote Christ's healing love in all aspects of our lives"

Scriptural Support for Mission:
Healings were the centerpiece of Jesus' ministry on earth.  His healing stories provide a clear perspective for seeing the interconnection  between body, mind and spirit.

"He called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness" Matthew 10:1

Heath Ministry Components:

Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church has developed a Parish Ministry Team (PMT)which includes the Pastor, Stephen Ministers, Parish Nurse, and the Ministry Response Coordinator. The PMT meets weekly to ensure the needs of the congregation and others of concern are met.  All information is handled with confidentiality.  The PMT also administers the Agape' Fund which provides funds for members that may have temporary financial needs.  The funds are raised through a free-will offering by individuals and the church.  One of the most meaningful and powerful things that PMT does each week is to pray for everyone in the congregation by name and for anyone who wants and needs their prayers.

Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one caring relationship designed to meet a person's concerns through confidential listening. This program requires 50 hours of initial training and monthly follow-on training.

The Parish Nurse role is to:

• Minister to the personal health needs and promote whole person health to congregants, parish staff, and community members.

• Promotes understanding of the relationship between lifestyles, attitudes, faith and well-being through such activities as classes, seminars, health fairs and educational materials.

• Serves as a resource to congregational and community services and agencies to make referrals.

• Serves as liaison between parishioners and community agencies.

• Provides visitation to homes, hospitals and nursing homes.

• Identifies congregational health needs and wholeness of body, mind and spirit.

• Enables people to wellness and prevent illness.

• Provide regular health screenings and monitoring.

• A Parish Nurse is not a substitute for the parishioner's pastor or physician.  The Parish Nurse will work to form, strengthen and maintain relationships among parishioners, their pastoral team, and their physicians.

Faith Friends

Faith Friends is a non structured caring ministry that brings people together for Christian fun and fellowship.

Community Caring Ministry

Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church is one of five other churches that support the "Light Lunch" program.  The program provides a hot meal every Saturday for those in need plus a sack lunch to take with them.  The 'Light Lunch' program is held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Sequim.

Our church is the current location for a medical clinic that supports the needs of people without insurance in the Sequim and wider area.  The current staff includes 9 doctors, ARNPs, and physician assistants, 8 nurse managers, 9 nurses, and 11 receptionists who volunteer on Monday and Thursday nights.  Most of the patients are referred by family, friends, or an agency.  The medical clinic will be moving to larger quarters at the Sequim Medical Plaza in 2007.  The Olympic Medical Center has made this move possible by providing the space when their new building is complete.  Many of the members of DVLC have supported this clinic with their time and money to reach out to our neighbors in need.  It is envisioned that this support will continue when the medical clinic moves later in 2007.

Worship and Music

The mission statement of the Worship and Music Committee is "To share the Good News of God's love in worship in keeping with our Lutheran tradition to help make worship meaningful to a broad spectrum of God's people."  The committee meets monthly throughout the year. A primary focus is the unfolding of the Church Year through varied seasons.  During each of the seasons from Advent to Pentecost our liturgy and music is varied in order to facilitate and enhance the uniqueness of each season.

The worship and music program at Dungeness Valley Lutheran Church would not be possible without the outstanding work of all the people who make worship happen, including production of the bulletins, the choir, special music, Altar Guild, and other member's work on all the other things that need to be done to make worship a meaningful and spiritual time in our lives each week.