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!
And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach
the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15 KJV
In March of 2020, all of the nursing homes, not only in Florida, but around the nation, closed their doors to visitors. For the next fourteen months those doors remained closed. No one but staff were permitted entry. In order to keep alive some form of communication with residents whom I had ministered to I began a small weekly devotional that I emailed to the activity department of three facilities. By 2021, I found that Rob Keller who I had met at our men’s group, was a graphic artist and was willing to do the layout and artwork to create a more finished publication. Somehow, word of what we were doing spread to Pastor Janice Burnett, who serves the nursing home community in Western New York and so with the Lord’s help and direction, the Sunshine Newsletter was born. While hardly an international sensation, this little newsletter, without funding or advertising is now being shared weekly in 10-11 different facilities in New York, Ohio and Florida. I am also thankful for Barbara Hegreberg of My Life in Our Father’s World and Patty Moore who writes He Said What? for their contributions. All of us according to the verse in Romans now have beautiful feet (though I won’t be posting a photo of mine). As we are now about to enter our third year of publication, I invite you to have beautiful feet too! Our goal is to share the message of the hope and true love that we have found in Jesus Christ. He is brighter than the sunshine of our best days and still shines in our hearts even when it is midnight in our soul. So, if you or someone you know would like to volunteer with writing, distribution, or technical assistance, please let me know in the comments section of today’s post. I will be delighted to send you guidelines and contact information for you to get in touch with us. Have a blessed week everyone and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thursday Morning Sunshine is a revised version of The Sunshine Newsletter which three of us who are involved in Nursing Home outreach publish weekly. Our writers are Pastor Janice Burnett, who is a Nursing Home chaplain in Western New York as well as my friend Rob Keller who is both a graphic designer as well as the writer of some of the devotionals. Our free publication goes into about 9 different long term care facilities in Florida and New York. Each We purposely are not copyrighting the material so as to make it freely available to as many people as possible. If you know anyone in the long-term care community including, staff members, family, residents or volunteers, please feel free to either contact me for future issues or copy and share our weekly issues with people you know.
God Loves You! By Peter Caligiuri
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16 ESV
Marie* wants to see you in the cafeteria after the message” they told me. As I went in to sit with Marie, she began to cry and took hold of my hands saying, “God hates me!” Marie suffers from Parkinson’s and that afternoon she was so depressed that she hadn’t come in for our song and prayer time at her nursing home.
She felt isolated from the world outside because no old friends ever came to visit, no family came for her birthday or Christmas. But there was still good news to share with her that afternoon – “God loves you Marie! Because the Bible says, ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son…” I told her as I struggled to communicate the love of Jesus in a way that would touch her at that very moment.
As we head towards the holidays this year, remember that just as God has not forgotten Marie, He has also not forgotten you. He has not left you alone. You may not be the richest person in the world, but if you know Jesus as your Savior then you have the best hope in the universe because you have received God’s gift of love and His promise of heaven. Now we need to remember that there are people named Marie or Betty or Bob or Joe all around us. They need the hope that only God’s love can give and in the same way that He has helped you to hope, why not pass that hope of Jesus along to them?
The most thrilling thing about heaven is that Jesus Christ will be there. I will see Him face to face. Jesus Christ will meet us at the end of life’s journey – Billy Graham
Every Christian who keeps looking up, stretches their heart’s capacity for Heaven – Joni Eareckson Tada
Thanks-Living by Pastor Janice Burnett
Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 KJV
Many years ago a friend and I travelled to New York City for a wedding. One night on a whim we decided to treat ourselves to dessert in a restaurant in one of the World Trade Center buildings. The driving directions to get there were fabulous; we arrived with no problem. We enjoyed our dessert and cup of tea – that is all we could afford! Then it was time to drive back to our hotel. Little did we know that the way out was different from the way in. We didn’t have a map, and this was in the days before electronic GPS directions. Yes, you guessed it – we got very lost. Late on a Saturday night we ended up in parts of town that were – well, let’s just say we didn’t belong there.
This would be one of those circumstances where living and breathing with a thankful attitude doesn’t sound normal, does it? Can you think of other situations where you wouldn’t naturally feel very thankful? Go ahead and name them. God and our friends are not put off by our honesty. When the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, he told them, “In everything give thanks!” in other words – LIVE THANKFULLY!
Wow, notice the absolute words related to an action on our part – Evermore – Without ceasing – Everything. I guess that we cannot shy away from God being definite about this point! Not sometimes – when we feel like it or when things are going great. It is true that we need to remember to be thankful when good things happen and throughout our average daily life. I know I do, and this is a reminder not to take anything for granted.
Also, to be thankful in the sad, scary or painful times goes against what we feel like doing. Yet, not only is this God’s will, but it is healthier for us to live grateful lives. Remember our trip leaving NYC? Yes, we made it out safely, obviously. This was with help from a couple of helpful people and God’s provision of safety. Not to mention that or one-hour drive going in took three hours for us to get out! We may have forgotten in the thick of the moment to be outwardly thankful, but you can be sure we thanked God each time we met helpful people and especially when we had reached our hotel! Let us set a goal to think and live more gratefully in the midst of our circumstances! And, let us get practical and make a commitment to thank God OUT LOUD for three specific things every day!
Sunshine News – It may be hard to believe but we are only six weeks from Christmas! I am excited to say that this year our small prayer group has helped with the purchase of over 50 large-print Christmas Devotional books to give to residents at the three communities which I visit. I would love it if someone could come when we give these out and are also in need of people to help sing Christmas carols. If you can help let me know. We have song books and will sing easy traditional songs. I would also ask if you could to pray that God would provide one or two other volunteers to help throughout the year. If you are interested we need help with serving communion, singing, visiting, writing for the newsletter and filling in when I am away. Have a blessed week all!
For more ideas on Nursing Home Ministry, you might find this 2021 edition of New Frontiers in Nursing Home Ministry a helpful resource. This is available on Amazon in both a print and eBook format.
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