Thankful for Volunteers

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. Philippians 1:3-4 NIV

As Christmas creeps closer and the end of this year is in sight, I wanted to take time to be thankful for all the people who have volunteered their time and talents to our nursing home outreach. Locally, we have had, several couples consistently helping so that communion can be served at the three different senior communities every month. During this Christmas season, many others have come on board singing Christmas carols, writing out more than a hundred cards, and giving gifts to many of the residents. God sees, and what you have done for the least of these folks, Jesus tells us that we have done it for Him.

On the newsletter end of the ministry, I am thankful for Pastor Janice Burnett, Rob Keller, Barb Hegreberg and Patty Moore for their help in writing, formatting and helping with the artwork and distribution of our free publication. The Christmas editions are especially beautiful, and they are the result of teamwork and God’s blessing. These newsletters are now being read in 6 facilities in Florida and 3-4 in New York and Ohio. If you know of anyone who would like to receive them, please feel free to contact me here.

2022-12_15_sunshine-weekly-newsletterDownload

A Nursing Home Christmas in Photos

But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 
Luke 2:19

I am kind of a photo junkie. I both take way too many (Thank God for the digital age!) and I enjoy going through old family photos. I know that in Heaven everything will be made new, but here on earth I treasure these special memories. I especially love Christmas times past, and photos help me remember the sights, sounds, and smells of moments that have slipped by over the years. Christmas time at nursing home is a lot different from ones we have had at home. Being in the midst of a Christmas program or caroling can be so overwhelmingly bust that it is easy to forget the faces and the individual people we came for. In fact, I get very few of my own because usually both hands are occupied with my guitar, so I am so glad my friends sent me some of theirs. Here is a brief journey through several of the homes we had the privilege to visit this year.

Joy to the World!

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. Luke 2:20 ESV

The possibilities of nursing home ministry begin to be realized as more people get involved in helping. Just as the shepherds were invited to join in on spreading the good news, so today there is no better time to get have them come than the holidays. What a blessing it was this past Sunday to have Three families join our Christmas program. We not only sang carols, but we were also able to serve communion and give out gifts and cards (and all in 35-40 minutes!). I am grateful for the turnout of both residents and volunteers. Please pray for us today as we head to a facility where we have been, except to visit a friend. Joy to the world is a message for everyone. This Christmas gives us the opportunity to expand that field of everyone, to one more senior community! Have a blessed week all!

Christmas Caroling at Nursing Home

This was the warmup for the real Christmas caroling with some of my friends that starts on Sunday. Of course, you can’t see our little group, but we had a nice mix of memory care, long term care and assisted living together for our music. It is nice at Life Care Center that the wards are separate, but the activities are mixed. I hope you enjoy our medley of Away in a Manger next to Jesus Loves Me.