Pastoral Care

Prayer List »

Pastoral care emergency line: 404-365-1003

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“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:34-35

In this Cathedral parish, the love of God is not just proclaimed in our preaching; it’s practiced, person to person, through the work of pastoral care. Pastoral ministry encompasses all the many ways we care for, pray with, and share Christ’s love with one another. One distilled definition of pastoral care is “paying attention to the needs of others with the love of Christ.” Here at the Cathedral, we pay attention. We engage in one another’s lives with compassion, listening deeply and remembering faithfully. The most important and most effective pastoral caregivers here are you — the members of this Cathedral parish!

We are all pastoral caregivers. Every time you reach out to a friend, welcome a newcomer or stranger, invite someone to participate in one of your small groups, listen, or simply pay attention to whoever is around you, you are offering important pastoral care. Small groups — guilds, ministry groups, and Bible studies, for example — are great sources of pastoral care. Thank you for being signs of God’s love to one another! Below you’ll find program offerings rooted in pastoral care. For questions about any of these programs please contact the Rev. Canon David Boyd or Hillary Jones. Outside of business hours, there is always a clergyperson on call who can be reached at 404-365-1003.

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Congregational Care

Considering our call to care for one another, the Cathedral maintains an active prayer list, so that we can pray together for those in need among us. Many groups in our church, including our Sunday congregations, pray over these prayer lists. To add a name to the prayer list, contact Hillary Jones.

In addition to the important pastoral care that happens within the community, we have dedicated clergy and pastoral care staff, who really do care about you and want to hear from you!

The pastoral care ministry does not have the experience, personnel, or resources to provide long-term care, case management, or financial assistance. However, we do have the ability to connect you with agencies whose mission is to provide such care. You can support our ministry by letting us know if you or someone you know would benefit from pastoral care.

Extending the reach of our pastoral care, the Cathedral community holds services at area facilities: Holy Eucharist at Corso, Holy Eucharist at Lenbrook (First Wednesdays, 10:45 a.m.), Vespers with Holy Communion at Peachtree Hills Place (First Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m.), and Bible Study at Parish Grove (Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.). In addition, Canterbury Court invites Cathedral clergy to lead a Vespers service occasionally throughout the year.

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Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training 

Whether at work, at home, with friends or teammates, or in more formal helping roles, many of us have been, or will be, called upon to respond to someone who is experiencing a mental-health crisis or considering suicide. The Cathedral hosts a two-day workshop in one of the world’s leading suicide-intervention models, Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). ASIST teaches individuals to provide a skilled intervention to a person who may be having thoughts of suicide and develop a collaborative safety plan to keep them safe and alive.

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Community of Hope

Community of Hope is a program in lay pastoral care, which supports lay leaders and caregivers through intentional community, education and reflection, and spiritual formation. For information on how to join Community of Hope, please contact the Rev. Canon David Boyd.

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Eucharistic Visitors

Lay Eucharistic Visitors participate in the Sunday Eucharist as they are sent out to take the sacraments to those who are sick or unable to attend church. We equip members of this ministry with pastoral skills through regular training. In addition to volunteers, we are looking for names of parishioners to visit. If you or someone you know would be interested in a Eucharistic visit, please contact Hillary Jones to arrange a visit.

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Funeral and Wedding Guilds

These guilds provide important assistance, hospitality, and worship support for pastoral liturgies. The Funeral Guild also sponsors “Changed, Not Ended,” a workshop equipping parishioners with resources both theological and practical to plan and prepare for their own funeral. Click here for more information about funerals. 

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Grief Support Group

In partnership with Hospice Atlanta, the Cathedral hosts a grief-support group, open to anyone grieving the death of a loved one.

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Parish Grove Chaplains

Cathedral parishioners serve as volunteer chaplains at Parish Grove (formerly Cathedral Towers), offering pastoral support to residents of this affordable senior housing community. Candidates must go through a screening and training process with National Church Residences before being licensed. For more information, please contact the Rev. Canon Julia Mitchener.

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Prayer List

The Cathedral has an active prayer list that is prayed by many different groups. We also include the list in our Sunday services. We encourage parishioners to add their names or the name of someone else (with their permission) to the prayer list. 

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12-Step Groups

All 12-Step Groups are free and open to the public. For questions, please contact Dorsey DeLong.

Open AA Meeting: Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Lanier House Porch

Alcoholics Anonymous: Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Lanier House Library

New Beginnings: Family Al-Anon: Wednesdays, 7 p.m., Room 120

Our group is open to anyone 18 years or older.

Peachtree Al-Anon Family Group: Thursdays, 7 p.m., Lanier House

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Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot and join it.” So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” He replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him. —Acts 8:29-31

The Cathedral offers the values of Philip the Deacon—grace, excellence, and hospitality—in the midst of difficulty and transition. Philip had the grace to baptize the eunuch. He had the excellence to explain the gospel. Philip had the hospitality to join the Ethiopian eunuch; he got up into the chariot with him (Acts 8:26–40).

After Philip baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch, scripture says he is “snatched up” and disappears. This serves as a reminder that our mission is to offer care during transitions. The pastoral care department does not have the experience, personnel, or resources to provide long-term care, case management, or financial assistance. However, we do have the ability to connect you with agencies whose mission is to provide such care.

Grace

We believe that pastoral care is rooted in the grace of Christ, so we draw upon the sacraments and sacramental rites in the Book of Common Prayer.

Excellence

We will offer excellent care and guidance through counseling sessions, classes, programs, pastoral visits, workshops, and worship. 

Hospitality

Clergy, counselors, staff, and volunteers will be present with you during life’s difficulties and transitions.

We hope that you will participate our pastoral offerings and experience the grace, excellence, and hospitality of the Cathedral.

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