New Around the Mission
Celebration of Life Events Encourage Nursing Home Residents
June 29, 2011
Life is meant to be celebrated, no matter what your age. Twice a year, St. Timothy’s Anglican Church in Spring, Texas, invites residents from several area nursing homes to their church for a joyful Celebration of Life. At the most recent event in June, more than 80 seniors enjoyed a communion service, lunch, entertainment, and a much-needed break from their usual routine.
“It’s a very successful event, a wonderful day for all involved,” says Tracy Pegues, Evangelism Coordinator and Communications Director at St. Timothy’s.
Tracy assists two women from the church, June Powell and Jane Scholwinski, who head up each three-hour Celebration. June oversees the vision and planning and sends out formal invitations to five or six local nursing homes, following up with their directors to see if they can attend. Jane takes charge of decorating the parish hall “to the nines.” Sometimes the décor is seasonal; she also incorporates flowers from the altar arrangements and even peacock feathers in the centerpieces.
When the nursing homes bring the residents, a team of men from the church helps seniors out of their vehicles and into the church sanctuary for a short communion service. The majority gladly receives the elements.
“Going to a real church really means something,” Tracy explains. “The residents all have services at their nursing homes, but it’s not a real church.”
The guests then settle into the parish hall for a home-cooked lunch made by a team of St. Timothy volunteers. On their chairs, they find a little gift bag with personal toiletries; nursing home directors also receive a small gift thanking them for their hard work.
It’s not long before the real fun starts. One of St. Timothy’s parishioners sings in a barbershop chorus of men aged 70 to 80 dubbed The Gentlemen of Leisure.
“They sing all these old classic barbershop songs people know, and it’s a hoot,” Tracy says.
Afterward, both volunteers and guests have smiles on their faces. Tracy says that in the two years they’ve held the Celebrations, volunteers keep coming back for more, while nursing homes have been known to cancel other activities so their residents can attend. The church receives thank-you notes expressing gratitude for the events.
“The residents really seem to enjoy it,” Tracy reports. “They enjoy getting out—this is truly something different.”
Learn more at St. Timothy's Anglican Church.
Posted By: Cynthia P. Brust
Categories: Faith in Action
