Nursing Home Ministry

A Celebration!

/ pastorpete51 / 3 Comments

The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it. Psalm 68:11 KJV

In March of 2020, the doors not only to a majority of businesses were closed, but the access we had to those in long term care was almost entirely cut off. For those of us involved in nursing home ministry this was a challenge such as we had never faced. I was not allowed to bring flowers for Mother’s Day and instead we paraded by with our cars while they sat on the porch and waved. I am not sure how long the rest of the nation went on with this, but here in Florida the complete lock down lasted 14-15 months, dependent on the facility. But as someone once said, when God’s closes a door, He opens a window, and the window for us was called, Sunshine Newsletter. With the help of Rob Keller, a graphic artist friend from the men’s group at our church and Pastor Janice Burnett, a nursing home chaplain from Western New York State, we began to publish a weekly devotional. Though we have gone through a few tweaks and improvements over the 3 1/2 years of publication, our newsletter remains a simple, two-sided single page handout. We do this to minimize our printing expenses as well as to leave with the residents something they will actually read and pass on to others. This week as I was getting the final draft ready to send on to Rob, for formatting and artwork, I stopped to think that with God’s help we are now sending out issue number 175! I am so grateful for those many people who have volunteered to write, suggested inspiring quotes. sent in photographs and done the setup and artwork. It is an amazing blessing each week as I hand out copies of Sunshine to see the smiles on the faces of our residents. If you would like to write for Sunshine or receive our free publication, let me know at Revpete51@gmail.com. It would be to send it to you, and we encourage you to share it with others. Have a blessed week everybody!

2023-10-06-sunshine-weekly-newsletter-1Download

The Solid Rock

/ pastorpete51 / 4 Comments 
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 ESV

Back in 1976, I worked for a company in charge of tree trimming for Connecticut Light and Power. Though by then I had a few years of experience clearing the right-of-way, nothing prepared me for the devastation of Hurricane Belle. Huge oaks, ancient maples and towering pine trees were snapped off or uprooted and on top of the power lines for our entire region. Over the following week we would often drive our trucks into neighborhoods that had been without power for days where the people would come out and cheer, as if we were conquering heroes. But if they could have read our minds, they would have heard thoughts like, “What in the world are we going to do?” or ” How are we going to get this done without getting hurt?” We were facing a huge challenge, but Joshua was coming up against the even more overwhelming task of leading the people of Israel, into a battle of conquest for the land that God had promised them. Unknown enemies lay ahead, and the tombs of those who had disobeyed God in the wilderness lay behind. Now that Moses was dead Joshua was in charge, and maybe like me, he wondered what to do. He recalled that Moses had met God at the burning bush and spent forty days in the cloud of glory receiving the ten commandments, but all Joshua had done was to watch from a distance. How would he be able to do what God was asking of Him?

Sometimes I try to encourage people facing major challenges by saying, “God knows what you are going through.”; but while that is true, it misses the most important point. The reality, for those of us who have chosen to follow Jesus, is that God not only knows, what we are going through, but that He has planned for every step of our journey. Our real hope: is not that we can handle what lies ahead, but that God has promised to be with us and on that solid rock of God’s promise, we can be courageous, no matter what comes our way!

My Father’s World

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments 
All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
 and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
 and among the inhabitants of the earth;
 and none can stay his hand
 or say to him, “What have you done?” Daniel 4:35 ESV

If we turn were to on television this morning, we might wonder if this really is God’s world. Daily we hear reports of terrible things being done in our own country, and wars and atrocities in abundance abroad. When Maltie Babcock wrote “This is My Father’s World”, in 1901, his own little part of the world really was at peace and his lyrics are simply a hymn of praise for the beauty he saw on his long walks in the countryside. But by the time music had been set to his words, in a Presbyterian Hymnal in 1915, Europe was at war. and then a German submarine sank the ocean liner, The Lusitania. Twelve hundred innocent passengers drowned, and America entered a war in which millions were killed, including more than 116,000 American soldiers. Where was God in the middle of all the mess? He was right where He had been all along, calling out to us from the cross of Jesus Christ, to come and yield our hearts to Him! He is not an elected official. His term never expires, He cannot be impeached or overthrown. And in the words of this precious hymn, “Though the wrong seems oft so strong; God is the ruler yet!” I hope you will find hope and comfort in the words of this hymn and that you will be encouraged to trust Him through whatever battle you are personally facing today.

This is My Father’s World


This is my Father’s world
and to my list’ning ears
All nature sings and round me rings
the music of the spheres
This is my Father’s world
I rest me in the thought
Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas
His hand these wonders wrought

This is my Father’s world
The birds their carols raise
The morning light, the lily white
declare their Maker’s praise
This is my Father’s world
He shines in all that’s fair
In the rustling grass I hear him pass
He speaks to me everywhere

This is my Father’s world
Oh, let me ne’er forget
That though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world
The battle is not done
Jesus who died shall be glorified
And earth and heav’n be one

Maltbie Babcock 1901