Congregations in the Spotlight

Pioneer United Methodist Church,
Walla Walla, WA
On Palm Sunday, Pioneer United Methodist Church held a special worship service at 2:30 p.m. for older adults who do not normally attend the Sunday morning worship services. Special invitations were mailed to older adults. The invitations contained information about the worship service, including worship service time, transportation assistance, and length of service. Special bulletins were printed in large type, and the worship service liturgy and songs reflected the needs of the service. Eighty-two people, including twenty-five choir members, participated in this special service. The sacrament of Holy Communion was served in the pews, using the intinction method. Every other pew row was left empty so the Communion servers could serve each row by walking in the row ahead. The service lasted about forty minutes. Afterward, a fellowship time was shared for about another forty minutes. Expressions of gratitude were shared by many of the participants.

For more information, contact the Rev. James A. Graham, Pioneer United Methodist Church, Director of Care Ministries, 209 E Birch St., Walla Walla, WA 99362; 509-525-1870; skypilot@bmi.net.

Brentwood United Methodist Church,
Brentwood, TN
Realizing that caring for an aging parent can be a lonely business, Brentwood United Methodist Church is reaching out to offer support. The church is providing a new ministry to the community called COAP or Children of Aging Parents. COAP meets at the church on the first Tuesday of each month. The ministry is a support group for about forty people, and a five-member team helps plan each meeting. Meetings last about two hours. During the first hour at each meeting, a speaker addresses a particular topic. Depression in the elderly, dementia and Alzheimer's disease, nutrition, and caregiving are just some of the many topics addressed at the meetings. The second hour is reserved for small-group discussion. Participants break into small groups of eight to ten, led by a facilitator. Small-group discussion enables each participant to share the joys, concerns, and frustrations experienced as a caregiver.

For more information about COAP, contact Sue Downing, 615-370-8380, or the Rev. Carol Cavin-Dillon, Brentwood United Methodist Church, 309 Franklin Road, Brentwood, TN 37027, 615-373-3663.

Wesley United Methodist Church,
Parsons, KS
Wesley UMC started a "Sandwich Generation Support Group for Caregivers" that meets monthly. Local professionals are invited to share their expertise on legal issues, respite care, social and rehabilitation services, nursing home care, hospice care, and end-of-life issues. The group has even toured a local funeral home. Videos are another means of sharing information with one another. Each meeting, time is allowed for sharing personal experiences and services caregivers have found helpful. Not all the meetings have speakers; sometimes more opportunity is given solely for sharing and support of one another through small-group fellowship.

For more information, contact Lucille A. Janssen, Administrative Assistant, Wesley United Methodist Church, 500 Leawood Dr., Parsons, KS 67357-3433; phone: 620-421-6130; fax: 620-421-4821.

We are grateful to these churches for sharing their ministry with our readers.If you have a unique or exciting older-adult ministry program and would like to share information about it with others, please submit a 400-word article highlighting your ministry to:
Center on Aging & Older Adult Ministries
PO Box 340003
Nashville, TN 37203-0003
Fax: 615-340-7071
E-mail: tkline@gbod.org