Nebraska Synod ELCA

THIS WORKSHOP IS NOW FULL AND NOT ACCEPTING NEW REGISTRATIONS. 

Embodying Thoughts & Prayers: Providing Spiritual Care and Comfort is a six-week online course for lay leaders and PMAs who feel called to walk alongside others in seasons of loss, illness, transition, and uncertainty.

Picture yourself sitting at a bedside offering calm, steady presence; making a phone call to someone who just lost their job; or visiting a neighbor in the hospital with words that truly comfort rather than “just checking the box.” In today’s ever‑changing world, these moments of spiritual care are needed more than ever—and they are no longer the work of pastors alone.

Congregations are facing longer care-visit lists, fewer available clergy, and increasingly complex situations. Faith communities need competent, confident lay teams who can share the ministry of visitation and peer-to-peer spiritual care. Yet many leaders quietly wonder:

“How can I provide effective care in such new, diverse, and complex situations?”

This course is designed to answer that question. Over six sessions, you’ll gain practical skills, theological grounding, and usable tools for:

• Offering presence and comfort in times of grief, illness, and crisis
• Listening deeply and responding with care rather than quick fixes
• Navigating diverse and complex life situations with humility and confidence
• Strengthening relationships and resilience within your congregation

Together, we will explore how to move beyond simply saying “thoughts and prayers” to truly embodying them—so that your care visits become life-giving encounters that build stronger, more resilient faith communities.

Facilitator

Pastor Kathy Montira

Pastor Kathy has over 15 years of ordained ministry experience, having served congregations in the Central/Southern Illinois Synod as well as several settings in the Nebraska Synod. She officially retired at the end of 2021—only to be called back into ministry as an interim pastor for two congregations and as a part-time member of synod staff.

In 2024, she returned to full-time parish ministry and now serves at Calvary Lutheran Church in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. Kathy is also a certified Spiritual Director, bringing rich experience in listening deeply, discerning God’s presence, and walking alongside people in times of spiritual need.

Outside of ministry, Kathy loves to crochet blankets and travel. She is the proud mother of three grown sons and five Nebraska grandchildren. Through her late husband, she was also gifted a beloved “Hawaii family” that now includes five children, twelve grandchildren, and more than twenty-one great-grandchildren. She shares everyday life with her two pugs, Lili and Sam.

Kathy brings a warm, practical, and deeply compassionate approach to equipping lay leaders and PMAs for visitation and spiritual care.

Location, Dates, Times, Schedule & Cost

Format / Location

• Live online course (details and access link provided upon registration)

Dates & Schedule

• 6-week course beginning Thursday, April 16
• Weekly sessions on Thursdays, 6:30–8:00 p.m. Central Time
• Total contact hours: 9 hours

Who Should Attend

• Lay leaders in congregations who provide or want to provide spiritual care and visitation
• Parish Ministry Associates (PMAs) seeking additional training and continuing education

Cost

• PMA Student: $55
• Non-PMA Student: $25

Continuing Education

• 9 continuing education hours available

This course is an opportunity to deepen your calling, grow your skills, and help your congregation embody spiritual care and comfort in real, tangible ways.