Nursing Home Ministry

Christmas Communion Service

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 1 Corinthians 11:23 ESV

Since our meetings at Watermark are only on the 1st and 3rd weeks each month, this past Sunday was our last service of 2023. What a beautiful time we shared together. If you watch the video, you may notice one of our ladies passing by the camera as she serves communion. Maybe it feels so right to be singing Silent NIght, as we take the bread and the cup, because, in the words we are remembering the birth of Jesus and in the elements, we remember His death. I pray that you also find the peace of our Lord, through the shed blood of Jesus, not only at Christmas time, but even on those moments when you feel betrayed by life. Jesus gave us His example, washed our feet and then laid down His life. At birth, He was laid in the manger, and in death He was laid on the cross. At birth He was wrapped in swaddling clothes and nursed by Mary. In death He was stripped, and while soldiers gambling for His clothing, they gave Him vinegar to drink. These are two silent nights that bring us hope and salvation. The first in Bethlehem, the second at the garden tomb. At Christmas we should remember both of them, as the precious gifts of God’s love that they are, and then fully surrender our hearts and lives to Him.

Joy to the World!

/ pastorpete51 / 1 Comment

And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. Luke 2:20 KJV

After passing through the halls singing carols one-night last week, it seemed clear that there were many places far more joyful than a nursing home. And yet…the tears that flow, the peace that is evidenced on their faces and by their attitudes, tells me that there is a joy which God once sent to earth, in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. I am so glad that He came as a real baby, to a real stable in Bethlehem, and willing lived among us to show us the way to Heaven. He humbled Himself even further and allowed Himself to be nailed to a cross, and the book of Hebrews tell us that it was all for the joy set before Him. From the cross, Jesus could look out over thousands of years and see the faces of every one of us who have come to Him for forgiveness and Salvation. What could be more joyful message than this? I do hope you enjoy our rendition of Joy to the World – Isaac Watts 1719. As a side note, the lady singing with me is not my dearest, but one of our several volunteers who come to help at the nursing homes where we serve.

Jesus Loves to Hear us Sing!

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments 
I will be your God throughout your lifetime— until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. Isaiah 46:4 NLT

A few Christmases ago, as we were singing “Silent Night!” at a nursing home; a soft unfamiliar voice began to join us. When I turned to see who it was, I was shocked to see it was a 103-year-old lady, who had never even spoken a single word over the entire year during which she had been wheeled into our services. Then, it occurred to me that some of my other friends there could no longer remember where they were or how they had come to live there. A few had forgotten their children’s names and one or two, could not even remember their own. Yet, the miracle was that as we sang Silent Night; most had no trouble remembering the words as we lifted our voices together in worship.

As those last notes faded away, that experience made me remember that what mattered was not about how smart any of us were, how much money we had in the bank or where we lived. All that really counted in the end, was that we mattered to God. God has promised to carry us, not only during our years of beauty and youth, but even through white hair and failing memory. His love is an eternal and unchanging commitment, and even when everyone else forgets us, Jesus will carry us for a lifetime: and no matter when we were born or where we are living, He still loves to hear us sing to Him today!