FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Doesn’t hospice care fill these needs? Not necessarily. These hospice care workers tend to be Catholic and do not actually provide church or worship services. Plus not all of the facilities in our community cater to only end of life. Some of these group homes house people with disabilities or are rehabilitation facilities.
Do services have to be on Sundays? Absolutely not. Many of the facilities we met with do not need services because they have been able to meet this need and are conducting services on a weekday evening. Most of the facilities in our community have no activities on the evening or on the weekends. Their Activity Director/Life Enrichment Coordinators we have met will welcome having services on the schedule filling one of the time slots for their residents. We will assist in negotiating with the Director of these facilities to coordinate the best day and time for all parties involved. Make sure you stick with the schedule.
How long are the services? Services are 45 minutes to an hour. Anything longer could become overwhelming. Read your audience. Plan on taking time to visit with the staff and residents.
What if I am not able to make it on my scheduled time? We understand that life happens. We just ask that you try to reach out to others involved in the ministry to fill in. Then reach out to Diana or Heather. If all else fails, let the facility know that you have to cancel.
How often should services be performed? Once a week. Services should be consistent, developing relationships with the residents requires time and commitment. Church is not about religion, but instead it is about relationship with one another and with God.
Am I required to give a Sermon? No. We are leading a worship service. This audience neither has the attention span nor their anxieties do not allow them to sit for long periods of time. We are providing them worship music, a devotional, prayer, and communion.
Do I need to be ordained in order to perform communion? No. Any Bible believing Christian can offer communion because it is a symbolism for what Christ did for us on the cross.
WAYS TO BE ABLE TO WITNESS TO RESIDENTS WHEN I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO START OR KNOW MY GIFTS TO SHARE: There are many ways to bless residents in these facilities. You can find out time frames when there are no activities going on in these facilities and lead a game such as Bingo, read a book to an individual or a group, or even bring in a pet which you know would be good with the residents for pet visits. All of these things bless them and enrich there lives and open opportunities to share the love of God in actions as well as the relationships you build with them bringing conversations.