So churches are still shut dow. this has been going on way too long, in my opinion, but I would rather have people alive than giving germs to each other Sunday mornings. I have found an online Sunday AM worship, which I enjoy. (I do not attend regular Sunday services anyway.)
I spoke with an elderly lady a few weeks ago. She could be described as a "shut in" She has difficulty getting around. She is widowed. She does not use a computer, and does not know how to. She lives alone. She has no relatives in the area.
Prior to the church she attends shutting down in the spring, she drove to church every Sunday. Now here health does not permit her to drive safely.
Far worse, Tuesday mornings was the "senior luncheon" at the church. The retirees would meet, eat, talk and fellowship. She, like may others, looked forward to that because it was a chance to see friends, share news, relax and have a good time.
But in April, the church she attends had to stop that event. It was too risky to allow a large group of people to eat together. A case of Covid-19 could race through a vulnerable , elderly population.
With that, more things stopped as well. Local restaurants closed. The church went online, for those who could access it. The pastors and visitation team stopped their rounds, even to the hospitals. No one called. no one came to visit or check on her. There was no place to go, no one to go with and nothing to do.
She sits home bored, depressed, isolated. Something that could be changed with just a few interventions.
First, churches need to go back to the old fashioned Phone ministry. A phone call a week to check on the shut ins, the elderly, needs to part of the outreach agenda. Even as churches are reopening, it is not safe for the elderly or the infirmed to attend. People must not fall through the cracks.
We must ask, are we reaching everyone we can reach? Are we taking time for those who need us the most, and cannot get to us?
Covis19 has changed the landscape and the lifestyle of many of us. We need to not fear it, but to find new ways to work around it, to take the challenges head on, to overcome.
Hope this message inspires. Amen
I spoke with an elderly lady a few weeks ago. She could be described as a "shut in" She has difficulty getting around. She is widowed. She does not use a computer, and does not know how to. She lives alone. She has no relatives in the area.
Prior to the church she attends shutting down in the spring, she drove to church every Sunday. Now here health does not permit her to drive safely.
Far worse, Tuesday mornings was the "senior luncheon" at the church. The retirees would meet, eat, talk and fellowship. She, like may others, looked forward to that because it was a chance to see friends, share news, relax and have a good time.
But in April, the church she attends had to stop that event. It was too risky to allow a large group of people to eat together. A case of Covid-19 could race through a vulnerable , elderly population.
With that, more things stopped as well. Local restaurants closed. The church went online, for those who could access it. The pastors and visitation team stopped their rounds, even to the hospitals. No one called. no one came to visit or check on her. There was no place to go, no one to go with and nothing to do.
She sits home bored, depressed, isolated. Something that could be changed with just a few interventions.
First, churches need to go back to the old fashioned Phone ministry. A phone call a week to check on the shut ins, the elderly, needs to part of the outreach agenda. Even as churches are reopening, it is not safe for the elderly or the infirmed to attend. People must not fall through the cracks.
We must ask, are we reaching everyone we can reach? Are we taking time for those who need us the most, and cannot get to us?
Covis19 has changed the landscape and the lifestyle of many of us. We need to not fear it, but to find new ways to work around it, to take the challenges head on, to overcome.
Hope this message inspires. Amen
