At Trinity, we intentionally provide three specific kinds of care: common, crisis, and chronic.
Common Care
Common care is the day-in and day-out maintenance of gospel “life together.” Common care happens at both the congregational and parish/small group levels.
• Marriage and parenting seminars, conferences, mentors, and adult education/Bible studies
• Discipleship and mentoring of children—from birth to college
• Discipleship and mentoring of local college students by Reformed University Fellowship and other college ministries supported by Trinity
• Pastoral counseling and “on call” pastor available for care emergencies
Chronic Care
Chronic care encompasses all situations that require ongoing, long-term care. These include issues of marital infidelity, long-term joblessness, and long-term health/medical/mental health issues. At Trinity, chronic care happens in the following ways:
• Community Groups—In all circumstances, chronic or otherwise, being part of a community group is key.
• Elders/Deacons—Through regular contact with community group leaders, the elders and deacons are aware of and intervene in situations of chronic care.
• Supplemental Care ministry teams—Ministry teams in various areas (divorce, financial, addiction, etc.) supplement the care provided by community groups, providing specific expertise and experience, as well as resources and materials.
To let us know about a chronic care need, contact the church office: 434-977-3700.
Crisis Care
For crisis care, call the church office at 434-977-3700 between 10am and 4pm, Monday–Thursday. After these hours, and on weekends and holidays, call our emergency number, 434-328-7429, to reach a pastor. Please use the emergency number only for situations that require immediate attention, such as a hospitalization or death.
Crisis care takes place in crucial moments as people experience pain surrounding loss and/or tragedy. This could include a death in the family, the loss of a job, and other trauma-inducing situations. Crisis care happens at Trinity in the following ways:
• Community Group—Times of crisis are one of the exact moments when we need a community of people who know us well and with whom we feel comfortable asking for help. A person’s community group spearheads efforts to care for a person or family during crisis.
• Elders/Deacons/Pastor on Call—When a crisis need comes to the attention of a community group leader, the church receptionist, or the Interim Director for Mercy and Care, the elders, and the pastor on call are contacted and work together to help in the situation.
• Care Teams—In some circumstances a specific Care Team made up of community group leaders, elders, deacons, staff, and pastors may be put together.
• Hospital Visitation Team—Along with community group leaders and members visiting congregants who are in the hospital, a Trinity pastor or elder makes an initial hospital contact and, if possible and necessary, takes a member of the hospital visitation team with him.
• Funeral Service Team—This team helps coordinate efforts surrounding funeral services. They engage the church family in helping with funeral arrangements, namely those items surrounding the service and reception itself.