CELEBRATE RECOVERY at Bridgeport UMC offers a safe place for all. Celebrate Recovery is a place where folks can relax, and focus on solutions to all of life's challenges. Those solutions come through our faith in Christ. Celebrate Recovery provides us God-given tools and principles to live by.
CR Bridgeport is an engaging service opportunity. With exciting contemporary worship and weekly testimonies or lessons, many come to find Wednesday evenings as their reprieve from the daily pressures of our culture and lives.
Celebrate Recovery is not just for substance use issues. In fact, that is the minority. If you struggle with bad habits, worry, depression, anger, resentment, or any of life's issues that pull us from our God-given potential, then CR is right for you.
Come check out Celebrate Recovery - you'll be glad that you did.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY at Bridgeport UMC offers a safe place for all. Celebrate Recovery is a place where folks can relax, and focus on solutions to all of life's challenges. Those solutions come through our faith in Christ. Celebrate Recovery provides us God-given tools and principles to live by.
CR Bridgeport is an engaging service opportunity. With exciting contemporary worship and weekly testimonies or lessons, many come to find Wednesday evenings as their reprieve from the daily pressures of our culture and lives.
Celebrate Recovery is not just for substance use issues. In fact, that is the minority. If you struggle with bad habits, worry, depression, anger, resentment, or any of life's issues that pull us from our God-given potential, then CR is right for you.
Come check out Celebrate Recovery - you'll be glad that you did.
CELEBRATE RECOVERY at Bridgeport UMC offers a safe place for all. Celebrate Recovery is a place where folks can relax, and focus on solutions to all of life's challenges. Those solutions come through our faith in Christ. Celebrate Recovery provides us God-given tools and principles to live by.
CR Bridgeport is an engaging service opportunity. With exciting contemporary worship and weekly testimonies or lessons, many come to find Wednesday evenings as their reprieve from the daily pressures of our culture and lives.
Celebrate Recovery is not just for substance use issues. In fact, that is the minority. If you struggle with bad habits, worry, depression, anger, resentment, or any of life's issues that pull us from our God-given potential, then CR is right for you.
Come check out Celebrate Recovery - you'll be glad that you did.
CARE AND SUPPORT
Life brings seasons of joy and seasons of struggle—and sometimes both at the same time. At Bridgeport United Methodist Church, we believe no one should have to walk through those seasons alone.
Care and support are at the heart of our life together as a church. Whether someone is facing illness, grief, uncertainty, transition, or simply needs a listening ear, we seek to be a community that shows up with prayer, presence, and compassion. We believe caring for one another is not an extra part of the church’s work—it is central to who we are as the body of Christ.
Our care ministries are rooted in relationships. We listen before we speak. We walk alongside rather than rush ahead. And we trust that God is at work even in difficult and uncertain moments. Through pastoral care, lay visitation, prayer, and partnerships with trusted community ministries, we seek to offer support that is thoughtful, faithful, and grounded in love.
If you are carrying something heavy, or if you are looking for ways to care for others, you are not alone—and you are welcome here.
How We Care
Care at Bridgeport United Methodist Church is grounded in presence, prayer, and relationship. We believe care happens best when people are seen, heard, and accompanied with compassion and respect.
Lay Visitation and Congregational Care
Much of our care is shared by trained lay members who extend the ministry of presence through visits, phone calls, cards, and prayer. This team helps ensure that members who are homebound, recovering, or navigating difficult seasons remain connected to the life of the church and surrounded by care. Care is offered in ways that respect privacy, dignity, and individual needs.
Pastoral Care
Our pastors walk alongside individuals and families during times of illness, grief, transition, or spiritual discernment. Pastoral care may include prayer, conversation, hospital or home visits, and support during significant life moments. These conversations are offered with confidentiality, care, and trust, and complement the broader ministry of care shared throughout the congregation.
Prayer and Spiritual Support
Prayer is a vital part of our care ministry. We pray with and for one another in worship, in small groups, and through confidential prayer requests. In all circumstances, we seek to entrust our concerns to God, trusting in God’s grace, strength, and abiding presence.
Partnering for Care
When additional support is needed, we work alongside trusted community partners who provide assistance related to counseling, housing, utilities, and other essential needs. These partnerships allow us to care wisely and holistically, honoring the dignity and needs of each person.
Care in Times of Loss and Grief
Grief is a sacred and tender part of the human journey. At Bridgeport United Methodist Church, we believe that moments of loss call for compassion, presence, and hope grounded in God’s promises.
When a death occurs, the church is ready to walk alongside individuals and families with care and reverence. Our pastors work with families and funeral homes to plan and lead a Service of Death and Resurrection, offering worship that honors the life of the one who has died and proclaims the hope we have in Christ. These services are shaped by prayer, Scripture, and the assurance of God’s abiding love.
Care does not end with the service. In the days and months that follow, pastoral care, lay visitation, prayer, and ongoing support remain available. We recognize that grief does not follow a timetable, and we seek to accompany those who mourn with patience, gentleness, and respect.
Whether loss comes suddenly or after a long season of illness, and whether one is connected to the church or reaching out for the first time, we are committed to offering care that is faithful, compassionate, and grounded in the hope of resurrection.
Care in Times of Illness and Transition
Times of illness, change, and uncertainty can leave people feeling vulnerable or overwhelmed. At Bridgeport United Methodist Church, we believe these moments call for prayerful presence, compassionate listening, and ongoing support.
When individuals or families face illness, surgery, hospitalization, or recovery, care is offered through lay visitation, pastoral support, prayer, and connection to the life of the church. Visits may take place at home, in the hospital, or in other care settings, and are offered with sensitivity to each person’s needs and circumstances.
We also recognize that transition takes many forms. Changes such as moving, caregiving responsibilities, job transitions, family changes, or shifts in life stage can bring both challenge and opportunity. During these seasons, we seek to walk alongside one another with patience, encouragement, and faith, trusting that God remains present and at work.
Care is never rushed, and it is never one-size-fits-all. Whether someone desires conversation, prayer, practical support, or simply to be remembered and held in care, we seek to respond with grace and respect.
When You Need Support
Needing care is not a sign of weakness—it is part of being human. At Bridgeport United Methodist Church, we hope people feel free to reach out whenever they need prayer, support, or a listening presence.
If you or someone you love is facing illness, loss, transition, or a difficult season, you are encouraged to let the church know. Care may begin with a simple conversation, a prayer request, or a request for a visit. You do not need to have the right words, and you do not need to know exactly what kind of support you need.
All requests for care are received with respect and confidentiality. Our pastors and care teams work thoughtfully to respond in ways that honor each person’s needs, preferences, and circumstances.
If you are unsure whether your situation “counts,” we invite you to reach out anyway. Care is not reserved for emergencies alone—it is part of how we live as a community of faith, bearing one another’s burdens and trusting in God’s grace together.
Sharing in the Ministry of Care
Care at Bridgeport United Methodist Church is a shared calling. Many people discover that one of the most meaningful ways to live out their faith is through simple acts of presence, prayer, and compassion.
Members of the congregation are invited to share in the ministry of care in ways that fit their gifts, availability, and comfort level. This may include visiting those who are homebound, offering prayer, making phone calls or cards, or simply being attentive to the needs of others within the church and community.
Those who serve in care ministries receive guidance and support, and are encouraged to serve with humility, discretion, and respect for confidentiality. No one is expected to have all the answers—care begins with listening, showing up, and trusting God to work through ordinary acts of love.
If you feel drawn to serve in this way, we welcome a conversation about how your gifts might be shared in the ministry of care. To learn more about sharing in the ministry of care, please contact the church office or speak with a pastor.