Woodroffe's Community Outreach

Reaching out to the wider community has been an integral part of the program of Woodroffe United Church since its inception. The congregation's current activities include giving emergency assistance to families and individuals who need help with food, clothing and counselling. Help is given in consultation and cooperation with established social action groups such as the West End Interfaith Social Action Committee and the West End Food Distribution Centres. Support of outreach work has been consistently strong and relies solely on the generosity of contributors within the congregation. Woodroffe is a major contributor toward financing the Ottawa West End Community Chaplaincy. The Chaplaincy serves low-income communities such as Foster Farm and Morrison Gardens. Outreach is indeed a significant part of Woodroffe United Church's Christian mission of sharing God's love in the community at large.

Pastoral Care

Woodroffe's Pastoral Care Team is committed to providing love, concern and prayerful support to those in need. An emphasis is placed on confidentiality.

Each member of the team has received training in pastoral care and ongoing programs offer opportunities for further development in the ministry of care and love. The team also responds to the church's mission to minister in our local community and area hospitals.

The Pastoral Care Team members are caring friends in times of need, including bereavement, job stress or loss, illness, difficult family decisions or difficulties, substance abuse, emotional instability, abusive relationships, grief, distress, phobias, burnout, separation or divorce, peer pressures or simply a need for confidential conversation. Members with a pastoral care concern are encouraged to contact one of the ministers.

Mission & Service

The purpose of the Mission and Service Committee is to bring alive the work of the Church in the world and to encourage all members and adherents to participate actively in support of the Mission and Service (M&S) Fund. This purpose is accomplished by keeping the congregation informed of mission activities and areas of special concern and by coordinating the Church's response to requests for assistance from outside the local community.