Serving the Least of These, part 2
You might remember about two months ago when I visited a nursing home with my parents' church plant (Our Savior Missionary Church) to lead the residents singing Christmas carols. I was floored by the experience, and really wanted to make it a regular thing.
Well, after talking to Mike (Redeemer's lay pastor) and the activities director at Heritage, it looks like I'm going to. It turns out they do have a church come by to do services on Sundays, but they've been wanting something on Saturday mornings, so me and Mike are set to do Morning Prayer for them on February 26 at 9AM. Coffee Hour is at 10:30, so it's a perfect time. If it goes well, my hope is to be doing this at least every other week in March, and then every week by April. Hopefully by then, someone in Redeemer- or, even better, a worker or resident from the home!- will step up to take over for a few months while I'm in Bolivia.
Although in a way this is Redeemer Anglican's "nursing home ministry," I'm envisioning it as a church plant in its own right. They're senior citizens, but not second-class citizens. They need Jesus and God's Word as much as anyone, and they don't need their own special "ministry" to get Him. They need the Church. By God's grace, I plan on bringing her to them.
Pray for this new work. I'm as excited as anything for it, but I have no idea what to expect. Nothing is going to happen worth anything if God doesn't go before me. Here are some specific requests:
-Pray that people at the home will be receptive, even though it's Saturday morning.
-Pray that I'm sensitive to and perceptive of their needs, and shape the service in a way that will bless them.
-Pray for Coffee Hour afterwards. I think it's going to be a great chance to form relationships with the people at the home.
-Pray that our ministry will reach the workers at the home as well!
-Pray that people at Redeemer will be, not just willing, but excited to help out, even though it's Saturday morning.
-Pray for discernment for me and Mike as we figure out what responsibilities I will take on in this work.
-Pray that I will know when I'm taking too much on myself, and have the integrity to say no to people.
-Pray for someone to take over the work while I'm in Bolivia.
-Pray that people, especially people on the brink of death, will give their lives to Jesus!!
Well, after talking to Mike (Redeemer's lay pastor) and the activities director at Heritage, it looks like I'm going to. It turns out they do have a church come by to do services on Sundays, but they've been wanting something on Saturday mornings, so me and Mike are set to do Morning Prayer for them on February 26 at 9AM. Coffee Hour is at 10:30, so it's a perfect time. If it goes well, my hope is to be doing this at least every other week in March, and then every week by April. Hopefully by then, someone in Redeemer- or, even better, a worker or resident from the home!- will step up to take over for a few months while I'm in Bolivia.
Although in a way this is Redeemer Anglican's "nursing home ministry," I'm envisioning it as a church plant in its own right. They're senior citizens, but not second-class citizens. They need Jesus and God's Word as much as anyone, and they don't need their own special "ministry" to get Him. They need the Church. By God's grace, I plan on bringing her to them.
Pray for this new work. I'm as excited as anything for it, but I have no idea what to expect. Nothing is going to happen worth anything if God doesn't go before me. Here are some specific requests:
-Pray that people at the home will be receptive, even though it's Saturday morning.
-Pray that I'm sensitive to and perceptive of their needs, and shape the service in a way that will bless them.
-Pray for Coffee Hour afterwards. I think it's going to be a great chance to form relationships with the people at the home.
-Pray that our ministry will reach the workers at the home as well!
-Pray that people at Redeemer will be, not just willing, but excited to help out, even though it's Saturday morning.
-Pray for discernment for me and Mike as we figure out what responsibilities I will take on in this work.
-Pray that I will know when I'm taking too much on myself, and have the integrity to say no to people.
-Pray for someone to take over the work while I'm in Bolivia.
-Pray that people, especially people on the brink of death, will give their lives to Jesus!!