communion

A Closer Look at Martha and the Old Rugged Cross

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments

 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. John 11:21

Most people have loved Mary because of her humility and worship, but the Bible tells us that Jesus also loved Martha. I think of Martha as the female version of Peter. She was always saying something! But aren’t you secretly glad that Martha said all those things and asked all the questions that the rest of us were too afraid to voice? Today’s video takes a deeper dive into Martha’s cry for help and how we need that in our lives. This also will give those who follow this blog a peek into our nursing home outreach. I am so thankful that other volunteers have come alongside to help so that we were able to serve communion this Friday. Also included is the classic hymn, “The Old Rugged Cross”. If you would like to know more about nursing home ministry, why not follow our YouTube channel? I hope that you have a blessed weekend!

Easter Cards at Nursing Home update

/ pastorpete51 / 5 Comments

Since posting on Thursday about the ladies making and giving out Easter cards at the Sunshine Memory Wing, three ladies came today to Life Care Center. I was so excited to have helpers that I put them right to work! So, this morning they not only helped to sing hymns and give out Easter cards they also to the time to serve communion. If you get communion every time you go to church like we do, you may think that is not a big deal. But at a nursing home with covid protocols in place as well as the special needs of residents it is a tremendous blessing! The cups are each individually sealed with a separate layer for the wafer and are difficult to open. (You might be nodding your head in agreement if you have used these!) To serve just the 15-20 residents who came today took the three ladies 10 minutes of our 30-minute meeting time. But no one cared that it took a while and as you can see the folks were all smiles! So just remember that you may not realize the value of small things you do for others on this side of heaven. But as Mother Teresa says, “Do them anyway!”

And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded. Matthew 10:42 NLT

The Table

/ pastorpete51 / 6 Comments

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Luke 22:19

When my mom passed away, she left a few odds and ends of furniture from my great-grandmother. Besides a small sideboard which sat in our office for years were a few worn out chairs and some curious table leaves with legs that took up permanent residence in our attic. One night as I was reorganizing things recently, I began to examine the spare table parts thinking maybe I could salvage them for shelves. They seemed strangely familiar and so I paused to look more closely. Then in a flash I realized that they fit into the sideboard and made up the table at which I had once sat down to breakfast with great grandmother over 60 years ago.

One thing I love about our church is that we have communion every week. Every week we sit down and remember that Jesus has left behind a table. While my table was a happy memory of my childhood; His is a remembrance of His amazing love on the cross. It gives joy to our day as we celebrate God’s gift of eternal life and remember the price that Jesus paid for all who love Him and come to sit down at His table!