The Lead Minister and the Pastoral Care Team share responsibility for pastoral care at UU Asheville, with support from the Minister of Faith Formation.

Call on the PCT if you might benefit from a kind, listening presence when dealing with a life transition (a death, a divorce, a child leaving home, a difficult diagnosis, job loss, relationship tension…). We don’t know when you are hurting, so please reach out and let us know. The Pastoral Care Team is a trained group and an extension of the minister’s pastoral care. You are not alone.

When to call the Minister:

Ministers are called to serve. While we are not therapists, we are trained and caring listeners, prepared to help you explore the spiritual side of your concerns. At UU Asheville, Rev. Audette is the lead pastoral presence for our congregation.  

A minister cannot know when she is needed; you need to tell her. Don’t hesitate to be in touch, and don’t assume we know what’s going on with you without being told, even if— sometimes especially if!—other people know already. For example, hospitals won’t call us if you are admitted, nor can they verify that you’re there; federal patient privacy laws prevent them. So let us know. The quickest way to reach us is by email, or you can call the church at (828) 254-6001 and ask for a message to be passed on.   Email us at care@uuasheville.org. Only Rev. Audette and the chair of the Pastoral Care team will see this email.  

I’ve made a list of a few instances when you might call. This list isn’t exhaustive, but it is a beginning. For some of you, this may be new! For others, it may be a reminder.

• • When you have personal problems, such as job loss, family difficulties,or a new diagnosis
    
  • When you are at a transition or turning point
    
  • When your conscience is troubling you
    
  • When you want to talk about religion or you’re wrestling with a spiritual issue or your spiritual path
    
  • When you need encouragement, or perhaps prayer or a blessing
    
  • When you have children to be named, dedicated, or blessed
    
  • When you want to get married
    
  • When you have marriage or relationship problems
    
  • When you or a loved one is going into the hospital
    
  • When you can’t come to church for a prolonged time and you’d like a visit
    
  • When there is a death or pregnancy loss in the family
    
  • When you wish to discuss funeral or memorial arrangements ahead of time

Good Grief

A group of congregants who are grieving losses and wish to support each other. Some losses, like health declines and dementia are not necessarily recent, but continuing. New losses bring up old losses, and if the loss is too recent, most grievers are too raw to be in a group yet.

Meets:  Second Fridays, 9:30am
Contact:  Trevor Johnson and Iris Hardin

Resources

Emergency Contact Form: This form is for the confidential use of the ministers and others you select to receive copies. Having this information on file enables your congregation to better serve you and your family in the event of a death or other crisis.

Memorial Service/Funeral Arrangements Form: This form is for the confidential use of the ministers and others you select to receive copies. Having this information on file enables your ministers to serve you and your family in the event of your death.

Local Resources

2-1-1 – information and referral service provided by United Way of North Carolina | Dial 211 | https://nc211.org/

National Mental Health Hotline – 24/7 (local presence): Dial 988 | https://988lifeline.org/

All Souls Counseling Center – offers sliding scale counseling services by professionals who discount their fees: 828-259-3369 | https://allsoulscounseling.org/

Blue Ridge Health Services – walk in and telehealth services: 828-692-4289 | https://www.brchs.com/

RHA Mobile Crisis Management – 24/7, no fee: 888-573-1006 | https://rhahealthservices.org/services/crisis-services-nc/mobile-crisis-services/

C3356 Comprehensive Care Center – walk in, crisis and appointment, part of RHA: 828-254-2700 | https://rhahealthservices.org/services/behavioral-health-services/behavioral-health-north-carolina/comprehensive-care-centers-in-nc/

Vaya Health – health and mental health for Medicaid or uninsured, 24/7: 800-849-6127 | https://www.vayahealth.com/

October Road – addiction, partial hospitalization, accepts Medicaid: 888-632-9760

Sweeten Creek Mental Health – inpatient, outpatient, pediatric – geriatric hospital operated by Mission: 828-213-4696 | https://www.missionhealth.org/locations/sweeten-creek-mental-health-and-wellness-center

911 – In a crisis, ask for a Crisis Intervention Team trained officer. (In Buncombe County, 80% of the sheriff’s deputies are now CIT trained!)

NAMI WNC – local office, support groups, classes, resource library: 828-505-7373 | https://namiwnc.org/ | NAMI National HelpLine Resource Directory

Dementia Support – Memory Care, comprehensive assessment and treatment for
the person and the caregiver, support groups: 828-771-2219 | https://memorycare.org/caregiver-resources/support-group/

Dementia Partners Support Groups and Education – in several locations: 828-367-7388 | https://dementiapartnersavl.org/

UU Asheville Pastoral Care Team, Iris Hardin and Jill Preyer co-leaders.