PastoralCare devotional app

The one tool a pastor always has with him as he makes visits is a Bible. These days, you might even consider leaving the Good Book at home and simply using one of the many Bible apps that are available for your smart phone or tablet. Now another very useful resource has been prepared for use on your iPhone or iPad: The Lutheran Service Book: Pastoral Care Companion.

The app is iPhone-only for now, but of course it also works on an iPod Touch, and the publishers say that the app will soon be upgraded to work natively on the iPad as well.

The PastoralCare app includes resources to use in many different ministerial tasks. Bible readings, hymn verses and prayers are given for the many different situations a pastor might normally find himself in: ministering to prisoners, the sick, the elderly, the lonely, and the dying; but also rejoicing with those who are celebrating a new birth, an anniversary, or other blessed events.  There are rites for conducting weddings, funerals, and more. You’ll also find prayers for your devotional time, and even a dynamic calendar of propers (designated readings for each Sunday in the liturgical church year).

This is an excellent resource that I’m glad to have with me no matter where I go (well, as long as I have my iPhone or iPad, which means everywhere but at the gym). You can purchase the book ($32.40 at cph.org), or the Kindle version ($28.80 at amazon.com), but this iOS app is a real bargain ($19.99 in iTunes).

The publishers of PastoralCare are the same that brought us the excellent PrayNow app. Both of them serve well as devotional apps for pastors and laity alike.