Elaine Turner is organized and thorough and she knows her way around a spread sheet and a word processing document.

And while those skills will come in pretty handy in her new volunteer position as Pastoral Care Coordinator at Church of the Holy Communion, they're not why she agreed to take the post.

"I felt that (pastoral care) is the whole meaning and purpose of the church," said Elaine, who has been a pastoral care team member for about three years. "So it's something I felt I could do and would like to do."

Elaine adds her name to the list of dedicated parishioners who have stepped up to the formidable task of overseeing the parish's thriving pastoral care team ministry. The list includes Janie Morris - who had a sizable role in creating the program and served as volunteer coordinator for three years - and Harriette Beeson who, with help from her husband Fred, has coordinated the program since Janie stepped down about six months ago.

Elaine is working with Harriette and Fred to learn the ropes, but since she knows a thing or two (or three) about compiling reports and since she's filled in as coordinator in the past, she's a quick study.

"I really thought a lot about it before I said I would do it," she said. "But that gave me the confidence that I could do that part of the job."

Of course the other part of the job - the act of caring for someone in some small way - is what keeps Elaine and other pastoral care team members involved.

"I've done a little of everything - delivering meals, phone calls and flowers," Elaine said. "It's nice to see friends that you haven't seen or that you've never met and be able to visit with them.


Phone: 901-754-4491
Email Elaine by clicking here.