CARING FOR THOSE WHO ARE UNABLE TO JOIN US IN WORSHIP–THE MTV (MEMBERS TO VISIT)
We all want/need to connect with others and with God. He made us with the desire to be in relationship with him and others. Unfortunately, as we get older, circumstances sometimes make it harder to stay connected with others and come to worship God. Aware of this information, we will again have an MTV luncheon; this is one way to bring homebound individuals together to build relationships and worship. The event will take place on Saturday, August 19th, at 11:30am. The event will be the third time we have held a luncheon for MTVs and the second time since the pandemic. This event will include all the MTVs pastor visits, a family member, and anyone who has visited them or delivered Portals of Prayer.
The MTVs, previously referred to as shut-ins, may be homebound, reside in assisted living residences, or memory all care; they may also be on the list temporarily while recovering from an illness or surgery. Pastor visits each person or couple once a month on Monday afternoon to chat, pray, give a devotion & offer communion to anyone present.
The luncheon will include music, food, worship, and conversation, offering an opportunity to reconnect and feel part of a larger community. For those who visit and deliver Portals of Prayer, the get-together gives an opportunity to get to know their MTV a little better.
The caring bags delivered quarterly are are designed by the Caring Ministry committee–Mary Ann Nielsen (chair). They are themed seasonally and coincide with the new Portals of Prayer. The caring bag items (cookies, candy, small gifts) are made by the Women of Faith – Jan Bersano (ministry chair) and packed at a ministry meeting.
To learn more about the MTV (Members to Visit) ministry, please get in touch with Maree Garchow at https://faithlakeforest.org/people/maree-garchow/.
Ministering to MTVs affords many opportunities to serve, and the current needs are:
- Extra hands to serve at the MTV luncheon
- Delivering Portals of Prayer & Christmas tree – each time there is a delivery, a list of MTVs is posted and there is an opportunity to sign up
- Making items to go into the Caring bags – this happens at the advertised Women of Faith Meetings, and sometimes there is an opportunity to do something at home
- Decorating small MTV Christmas trees in November
- Delivering & later picking up the small MTV Christmas trees
- Writing a birthday card for an MTV