The senior members of our congregation are a vital part of our ministry at First Lutheran Church.  They are the ones who passed the faith down to us, and they remain active in many areas of ministry.  These members continue to serve at funerals, usher, quilt, attend prayer groups, participate in Bible study, serve on the Altar Guild, visit other members as part of the Ministry Visitation Team, and share their faith in other ways too numerous to mention.

 

For those who have difficulty getting out, our Ministry Visitation Team members work with the Visitation Pastor to insure that these members receive Holy Communion on a regular basis.  For others, we have a monthly “Senior Communion” service in the FLC chapel on the last Wednesday of each month at 2:00 pm, led by the Visitation Pastor.

 

Once a month the Senior Pastor at FLC leads a service of Holy Communion for the residents at the Lutheran Retirement Home, so that these “seniors”, members and non-members alike, also have the opportunity to receive Holy Communion on a regular basis.

 

Because many of the senior adults in our congregation are not “into” computers, we have recently begun a computer ministry.  Information, forms, e-mail and other resources are sometimes unavailable to those who do not have computer access.  This ministry connects those who do not have computer access to people who have computer knowledge, offering an opportunity to obtain the information and resources they need.  A call to the church office is all that’s needed to make a “computer appointment.”

 

 

Helpful Numbers and Web Sites

The Association of Lutheran Older Adults:  www.ALOAserves.org

Northeastern Iowa Synod’s Ministry on Aging Work Group:

           www.wartburg.edu/socwork/aging.html

Caregiver information:  www.iowafamilycaregiver.org

Iowa Dental Elderly Access (Elderbridge) - 1-800-243-0678

AARP—1-800-424-3410

AARP/Sr. Community Service Employment Program—641-423-0415

Alzheimer’s Disease Hotline—1-800-272-3900

Alzheimer’s Association, Greater Iowa Chapter—1-800-272-3900

           Or on-line:  www.alz.org/greateriowa

Hearing Aid Help Line—1-800-521-5247

Homemaker/Home Health Aide Service—641-324-1165

National Arthritis Foundation—1-800-283-7800

Prevent Blindness Iowa—1-800-329-8782

Senior Health Clinics—641-324-1741

Veterans Affairs & Benefits—1-800-827-1000

TELEPHONE REASSURANCE

This is a program designed for senior citizens to remain independent longer.

 

Telephone Reassurance is a FREE 7 days a week service based out of the Good Shepherd, Inc. of Mason City.

 

For more information you may contact Carol Hughes at 1-800-392-6638.

See the flyer in this month’s FOCUS. 

SENIOR COMMUNION

Senior Communion is an informal Communion service held on the last Wednesday at 3:00 pm for those who have trouble with crowds.  Beginning in October, it will be held at Maple Court Commons Area.  Please enter through the east door.