Services
Counseling
Professional pastoral counseling is provided to members of the church and their families for almost every area of Christian concern. Some of these areas include pre-marital and post-marital, family, youth, substance abuse, spiritual, crisis and relational counseling.
Funerals
In the unfortunate event of the death of an immediate family member, the Pastor should be the first person contacted. Plans for funerals at which the Pastor is to serve in a principle role are not to be completed until he has been contacted and consulted with.The Administrative Assistant will assist the family with arrangements.
Sweet Home provides flowers in the event of death of an immediate family member (mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, children). The family is to advise the church of the name of the deceased loved one along with the name, address and telephone number of the funeral home.
It is the Pastor's wish that in the event the family wants to view the deceased loved one, that the viewing be done prior to the services beginning or as the family enters the place of the service. By doing so, this would relieve the family of additional griefand affords the Word of God to be ministered to the family.
Home Dedication
When the Lord blesses a family to obtain a new or different dwelling place, it is considered spiritually proper to have that place dedicated to the Lord. Such dedications are to be arranged through the church office.
Hospitalization
If a member is hospitalized (whether planned or admitted through emergency means), the church should be contacted. The appropriate Deacon will pray with and minister to the needs of that member until released from the hospital. The Pastor or members of the ministerial staff will in most cases be available to visit. Members of the church are also encouraged to visit (unless otherwise advised not to do so), pray for, send cards and tokens of love.
Infant Dedication
Dedications for infants are to be pre-arranged with the church office. Infants may be dedicated during the fourth Sunday's 11:00 a.m. worship, in the Pastor's office, or at the home. God-parents should be of the same faith and active spirit-filled adults.
Social Services
In some cases, members of the church may be encumbered with the details of utilizing public services (credit problems, justice issues, welfare problems, elderly services, etc.) Some may need assistance because of sickness, destitution or other unfortunate circumstances. In such cases, the church provides the services of a volunteer social worker. This service is available by contacting the church office during regular hours.
Weddings
Once a couple determines that marriage is a possibility, the Pastor should be contacted for counseling. This is to be done ideally before a wedding date is set. This affords the couple the opportunity to have spiritual direction from the time of the thought of marriage until the ceremony is consummated. Once a date has been set for a wedding, the church will assist with the arrangements based on:
- the availability of the Pastor or appropriate minister
- the availability of the sanctuary on the expected date.
