Alzheimer Caregiver’s Support Group at Mayflower
First Thursday of each month at Mayflower, 7 pm
This group welcomes anyone involved with a person with dementia – spouse, adult child, family members, friends and neighbors. The support group is free and open to all and is facilitated by Dale Stuepfert and Brian Buxton.

Dementia Caregivers Happy Hour
Third Monday of the month, 6 pm, via Zoom
Many members are helping a neighbor or family member with dementia, daily or on occasion, near or far. Unwind and find confidential support with others in similar situations. Most attendees order dinner. Contact Dawn Baker for the Zoom link.

Listen to a recent Readers Theatre on dementia here.

Lay members of the congregation trained as Befrienders also are available to the congregation during periods of crisis or transition. The Befriender ministry at Mayflower reflects a concept of Christian caring modeled by Jesus. Befrienders offer loving hospitality in a quiet, confidential manner. As a ministry of caring, listening, and compassion, it offers presence and support when life is a struggle and experiences are painful.

Befrienders are men and women who commit time to initial and on-going training, peer support, and supervision. A Befriender offers confidential support through face-to-face conversations, phone visits, and written or electronic correspondence in a way that best meets the needs of the particular relationship.

For more information, call the pastoral care line at (612) 824-0762.

Mayflower’s parish health program supports wellness and strives to manage illness through holistic care, including spiritual, emotional and physical health. The parish nurse and volunteers provide one-on-one visitations to individuals in difficult life circumstances. The program does not involve administering medication, changing dressings or other invasive medical care. Volunteers with medical background who want to connect expertise with faith are needed. Contact: Susan Lampe or 612-201-1527

On hold during the Covid-19 pandemic. Volunteers deliver hot dish meals to Mayflower members experiencing significant challenges or life crisis. If you like to cook (or even if you don’t!), this is a fun and easy way to interact with other Mayflower members at a time when they need additional comfort and support. To volunteer, contact Chris Gough, Chrisgough919@hotmail.com.

Meets the second Monday of the month, 7:00 pm via Zoom. All are welcome. Contact Lisa DeWaay at 612-804-4497 for the Zoom link and meeting info.

Mayflower Addiction Recovery Support ministry (MARS) works to provide a safe, supportive, nonjudgmental resource for those seeking help in understanding and preventing alcoholism, substance misuse and other forms of addiction. We meet monthly (via Zoom) to plan and to provide a time and place for members who have been affected by addiction to meet in mutual support.

We recognize that recovery is a life-long journey and not a quick fix, requiring — with God’s help — a strong personal commitment and daily effort. We understand addiction is family disease, borne by more than just the person misusing substances. And we understand that addiction is a disease of isolation. In community with others, we receive support and a space to heal. We are all powerless, but together we are strong.

MARS coordinates annual Recovery Sunday services dedicated to the disease of addiction and the role of faith in recovery. More information is also available in the literature rack outside the church office. Contact: Lisa Dewaay 612-804-4497

Resources
Addiction Recovery Support Resources

Many members of Mayflower knit prayer shawls. During the year, the ministers take these shawls to people in the congregation who are ill or struggling with life challenges. In addition, each high school senior is given a prayer shawl on Youth Sunday in June to take on the next step of the life journey.

On the first Sunday of the month, September–May, the knitters meet together at 9:45 am, after which the congregation blesses the newly made shawls with a special prayer. Contact: Barbara Behnke, (651) 454-2314

A group of faithful people at Mayflower regularly set aside time to pray for the needs of our faith community. These “Mayflower Monastics” surround Mayflower, our members, visitors and friends in a continual spiritual embrace of prayer. This is done in private, as they take time from their busy lives to hold before the Divine the concerns of our people, our church, and our world. It is a highly confidential practice. Our pastors learn of the needs of our people and, with permission, pass those concerns along to the Prayerways group. The members of the group never speak to anyone of the needs that they are holding in prayer, not even to the individuals for whom they are weaving an invisible tapestry of support and love. But they do speak to God about the concerns.

Prayer requests may be left by voice mail, request cards, and in person. All requests for prayers are handled with confidentiality. To request a prayer, call (612) 824-0762.

To become a “Mayflower Monastic,” contact the church office or Diane Titusdahl. One of the most amazing results of praying for others is that you yourself will be uplifted, renewed, and strengthened.

Spiritual direction is a ministry of deep listening. Any life circumstance can be brought to a spiritual direction session; a trained director will act as a companion to listen for where God might be active in a person’s life.

There are several spiritual directors active at Mayflower. They charge a fee, with a sliding fee scale, which can be negotiated with them. Contacting a director is done on one’s own, not through the church.

Diane Gardner (dianegardner@comcast.net): I have been companioning seekers for over 20 years and have been a member at Mayflower for over 30 years! I was trained both at St. Catherine University (MA in theology/spirituality) and Sacred Ground Center for Spirituality in St. Paul. I welcome people who come with doubts and questions and those who feel settled in their spiritual lives. I feel it is important, in an unsettled world, to have a spiritual companion to share joys, concerns and questions with. I am the mother of a gay child and have special experience and empathy for those connected to the GLBTQ community. I am commissioned as a Commissioned Minister for Spiritual Direction in the United Church of Christ. I see people at Mayflower, Carondelet Center in St. Paul or on Zoom.

Margot Rideaux-Crenshaw (m.rideaux@gmail.com): Mine has been a winding road. Change in religious belief and affiliation, death, trauma and healing, children, joy, and love have all swept me along. Longing and a deep grounding has seen me through. In quiet, in time, I have realized that God’s love has never left me. The Spirit of God enfolds me even when I have resisted. I have faith this may be true for you in your own way. Sacred Ground Spirituality Center certified me as a Spiritual Director in 2009. This is a ministry to companion you on your faith journey, at your pace, in your own language. It is an honor to hear your story, to companion you on your path. To share wonder of where God is in your life, or why God seems absent; to ask for Presence and blessing and prayer on your journey. My phone is 952-649-1520. All voice mail is answered by me and is confidential. I will meet online or at Mayflower if we are both vaccinated and free of symptoms.

Peggy Thompson (thompsonmargaret413@gmail.com): Rev. Peggy Thompson (known as Margaret Carroll in the art world) is a retired chaplain, spiritual director and artist who enjoys combining creativity and spirituality in her own work and with her clients. Peggy received her B.A. and M.A. degrees from The School of The Art Institute of Chicago, an M.Div. from United Theological Seminary, and certification in spiritual direction from The Cenacle Retreat Center. She is ordained in the United Church of Christ and is board certified in The Association of Professional Chaplains. Peggy has been an Oblate of St. Paul’s Monastery since 1993 and has been trained to teach Centering Prayer. She maintains a studio in the Northrup King Building in Northeast Minneapolis where she paints, as well as a family cabin in the North Woods where she finds rest and renewal. Learn more.

The Threshold Ministry is a group of Mayflower folk who are spiritual friends for our congregation in the time leading up to the anticipated death, at the time of death, and during the grieving time following the farewell. Read more here.

If you are interested in having the Threshold Ministry offer you support, contact the pastors or Maggie O’Connor.