Pastoral Care

Our Rector is always available to visit with those in need. Whether you are simply going through a rough patch, or are gravely ill, the dorsey [dot] mcconnell [at] redeemerchestnuthill [dot] org (Rev. Dorsey McConnell)  can provide a sympathetic ear and Christian advice. He can also offer appropriate referrals for other specialists. Counseling with a priest is a good first stop on any difficult journey.

People meet with clergy one-on-one for a variety of reasons:

  • Abuse
  • Advice on raising Christian children
  • Big questions
  • Confession
  • Discernment (particularly in discerning calls of ordination to the priesthood/diaconate, but also vocational calls or any major life decisions)
  • Doubt
  • Education in the Christian faith
  • End-of-life preparation (the sacrament of the Unction of the Sick, advance funeral plans, etc.)
  • Family troubles
  • Help, financial or otherwise
  • Grief and sorrow
  • Guilt
  • Illness
  • Infertility
  • Marital troubles
  • Prayer
  • Pre-marital counseling
  • Problem-solving

If you or a loved one are in need of prayer for any reason, we would like you to consider a prayer list request. Please click here to make a prayer list request, which means the person requested will be prayed for during the Prayers of the People in our weekly worship. If requested, we can list only first names, and we usually list our relationship to the person in parentheses. Ex. Lois Harder (Laine Walters Young’s grandmother)

Questions about the prayer list can be directed to Parish Administrator, Laine Walters Young at office [at] redeemerchestnuthill [dot] org.

Places for Spiritual Direction, Discernment and Retreat

There are many local Episcopal options for spiritual discernment and formation outside of the Church of the Redeemer. These include:

  •  The Society of Saint John the Evangelist (Cambridge and Newbury) SSJE is an Episcopal monastery which provides retreat space, educational programming called Monastic Wisdom, worship services following the monastic hours, and spiritual direction.
  • Adelynrood (Byfield) A retreat center owned and operated by the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross, an Episcopal order of women, it is located 40 miles north of Boston and provides private rooms for self-directed retreat, as well as lodging for facilitated conferences and workshops.
  • Sisters of St. Margaret (Duxbury) The Sisters of St. Margaret, an Episcopal convent, is in the process of permanently moving to its Duxbury residence and will resume offering conference center space there upon completion of their move in 2012.
  • Bethany House/Sisters of St. Anne (Arlington) Bethany House, a ministry of hospitality and prayer with the Sisters of the Order of St. Anne-Bethany, is a place for individuals and groups to explore and deepen their relationship with God through offerings such as Spiritual direction, Quiet Days, Refreshment Days and workshops, Retreats for groups and congregations, Facilitation for parish forums, colleague and leadership groups, sabbatical consultations, Meeting space and hospitality, Daily worship with the sisters and Bethany House of Prayer evening Eucharist, Groups on prayer, poetry, the environment
  • The Spiritual Life Center at Trinity (Wrentham) A Spiritual Direction center much like Bethany House, the Center at Trinity was formed to meet a geographical need for a locus of Spiritual Directors in the southern part of the Diocese.