Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care for Parishioners

Pastoral Care happens in many forms at COS: hospital visits, visits to homebound parishioners, care through family crises and grief, and office appointments for pastoral care and counseling. The clergy are available to meet with you for these situations. If you would like to make an appointment with one of the clergy, please call the church office at (301) 439-5900 during office hours to schedule a time to meet.

For pastoral emergencies (someone has gone into the hospital or has died) after office hours, please call the Church Office at (301) 439-5900. Your call or email will be returned as quickly as possible. Please understand that hospitals in the United States are legally bound to keep patient privacy and will not provide patient information to non-family members. Hospitals will not inform clergy that a church member has been admitted. It is therefore extremely important that the following information be included in your call to the clergy if you wish a pastoral visit:

1. The name of the person contacting the clergy and a phone number where you can be reached for additional information;
2. The name of the person who is in the hospital or has died and their relation to the person calling. Make sure to provide the legal name under which they have been admitted to the hospital — rather than common or nickname — so that the clergy can locate them.
3. For hospitalization, the name of the hospital the person has been admitted to and, if known, when they were admitted.

Communication to the church office and clergy is vital. Thank you for your help and cooperation in caring for the parishioners of our church. Please understand the clergy respect your individual privacy and need for confidentiality. We will not share your name or situation with other parishioners without your consent.

Special Services

(Baptisms, Weddings, Reaffirmation of Marriage Vows, Funerals)
Special services for individual members of COS can be arranged in consultation with the clergy. If you desire to plan such a service at COS, please contact the Church Office at churchoffice@episcopalcos.org the customary (guidelines) for the particular service. Be aware that such services are not offered for non-members. Also be aware that the date and time of such services should be arranged with the clergy before confirming with reception halls or area funeral homes.

Homebound, Long-Term Care & Hospice Facilities

All members of COS are part of our community, even when they are no longer able to join us for worship. We make an effort to keep in touch with our parishioners who are home bound and in long-term care, not only through our printed communication but also through visits from clergy and laity. The clergy bring communion as requested.