There are six sides to the Pastoral Care that the Church provides:

1) The Pastoral Care Team

The Team officially consists of 15 members, who meet regularly on the 4th Monday of the month to review the list of church contacts requiring assistance of any sort. We are blessed in having many other people within our congregation, who give unstintingly of their time, to care for neighbours and friends. This helps to spread the load, and we are very appreciative of all that they do, for the church family, as well as the wider community.

We have an invaluable list of resources for Disabled Support in Cyprus, which is constantly being reviewed and up-dated. We also have a limited stock of disability aids stored in the church hall and three wheelchairs.

The Church publishes a Helpline, which has contact names and telephone numbers for the different areas of Paphos, and which is circulated to members of all three churches.

On average we have about forty people requiring pastoral care and we keep in touch with them regularly, either by telephoning or visiting. Their needs are varied and variable, but all are most appreciative of the attention that they receive. Occasionally our care extends to holidaymakers, if they are unfortunate enough to find themselves in difficulties, while staying in the Paphos area. The parable of the Good Samaritan provides us with an example which cannot be ignored.

2) The Hospital and Clinic Visiting Team

The Reverend Roy Kilford first began the Pastoral Group in 1996. It had three aims – one to look after the needy in our Parish, the second to have a telephone prayer chain and the third for Clinic visiting.

As our church and the community of Paphos grew, it became obvious to make three different teams under different co-ordinators.

The purpose of the Clinic and Hospital visitors is to visit, with Christian love, those who are ill, lending a sympathetic ear to their problems, fears and in some cases loneliness. The visitors take to distribute magazines and books which have been given by people from the Church and also Paphos residents.

Two years ago the Latin Community, who hold Services in Ayia Kyriaki, asked whether they could join our visiting teams to the six Hospitals and Clinics. We were delighted to have them with us.

There is also a hospital visiting team serving the Polis area. Their area stretches as far as Yiolou and Kathikas to the South of Polis and in the North as far as Kato Pyrgos. The team is based at St. Luke's Church, Prodromi and the volunteers are members of both the Anglican and Community Churches who worship there. The team are able to visit patients who are admitted to either the Polis General Hospital or the private Polis Medical Centre. The team also have a directory of contacts for useful resources and those offering services locally. This information can be made available to help both English speaking residents and visitors should they be admitted to hospital or become unwell at home.

3) The Prayer Chain

The Prayer Chain consists of a group of people who meet once a month to pray together for those who need healing, and whose names have been received through a variety of sources.

Names are received, by the Prayer Chain Coordinator, either by phone or via the Pastoral Care Team, who before and after each Sunday Service, are on duty waiting to receive any person’s name who is sick, and/or feel the need for some extra prayers; it must be stressed that the sick person’s permission is always sought before their name is placed on the Prayer Chain list. Names are also received through personal contact.

The Prayer Chain is not simply about Church members, but anyone who feels that they are in need of prayer. Also, they do not necessarily have to be living in Cyprus.

There are around 50 names on the list at present, and as well as the monthly Prayer Chain Meeting they are remembered by the Prayer Chain members in their private daily devotions.

To contact anyone regarding any of the above please see the Contact Page.

4) Anglican Church of Paphos Welfare Committee

The Anglican Church Welfare Committee has been set up to give temporary financial assistance to those in need in the Church and in the wider community. The Latin Community, the New Testament Church and the Paphos Christian Fellowship are represented on this committee.

This year we have spent more than €3000 helping people with differing problems. While our finances mainly come from the Anglican Church Council, we have also received donations from the New Testament Church and from individuals.

WELFARE information for ex-members of the Armed Forces:

Experience is showing that people on U.K. pensions are suffering as a result of rising prices and the poor exchange rate. The indications are that the economic climate will not show any improvement for at least two years.

SSAFA Forces Help may be able to assist financially in cases of need. The only qualification is that the applicant or close family member must have been in receipt of a minimum of one day's pay from H.M. Armed Forces.

All cases are dealt with in the strictest confidence and if you would like to discuss the matter have a word with Peter Farmer on 26 910376 or Ian Perkins on 26 622868.

5) Anglican Church of Paphos Funeral Ministry

INITIAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF DEATH

1. Contact your doctor. If the deceased has been having treatment and had been seen by a doctor within the previous 72 hours, then the doctor will issue a Cause of Death Certificate.
In the case of a sudden, violent or accidental death, the C.I.D. Department of the local police station must be informed. This is a legal requirement. The police will require the passport of the deceased.

2. Contact a member of the Funeral Ministry team of the Anglican Church

* Keith Shonfeld on 25 934602 or 99 921290
* Tim Sabben-Clare on 26 653088

3. Should death occur at home or in a clinic, ensure that arrangements are made to remove the deceased to the Mortuary at Paphos General Hospital by contacting

Galini Funeral Services Agency on 26 950530 or 99 463918 (24 hours)
Paradise Social Service Co. on 26 950887 or 99 632481 (24 hours)

4. The following documents are required to register the death and complete all formalities

* Passport
* Alien Registration Booklet
* ID Card (if applicable)
* Either Temporary Residence Permit (pink/yellow slip) or Permanent Residence Permit
* Cause of Death Certificate (original)
* Death Certificate.

If the C.I.D. are involved then a Permit to Bury Certificate is required from the police and a Coroner's Report if an autopsy is required.

5. Death Certificates are issued by the Registrar and a sufficient number should be requested at the time of registering the death. Certificates will be required for the following purposes: bank accounts, pensions, insurance policies etc. One additional certificate is required by the Immigration Department.

6. The Funeral Ministry of the Anglican Church of Paphos can assist in the complete arrangements of a local funeral in Paphos and can also arrange repatriation of the deceased to an overseas country.

7. Please remember that our prime concern is to carry out the wishes of the bereaved wherever possible.

6) Bereavement Support

Bereavement Support came into being earlier this year. We are a small team of volunteers who are happy to meet with people who have lost a family member or friend. Our contacts come mainly from the Funeral Ministry. We contact the family a few weeks after the funeral to see how they are getting on and to see if they would like to talk to someone. However, we are more than happy to talk with anyone who has suffered a bereavement. You do not have to be a church member to contact us. If you, or anyone you know, would like to talk to a member of our team, please contact Jacky on 99 838245
.