April 10, 2020 in Faith in action, Public Health
St. Paul’s Gets Creative in Olney
St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in collaboration with the health ministry staff of St. Helena Catholic Church, regularly hosts Senior Wednesdays each week for the older adults of their community. Providing opportunities to benefit their spiritual, physical, and mental wellbeing, this program brings seniors together and provides ministry, meals, activities, exercise and more.
But with the coronavirus restrictions, they are developing new ways to stay in touch with their elderly and at-risk neighbors, including live streaming worship. Says Ann Farley, member of the congregation for 18 years and manager of St. Paul’s Senior Wednesday program:
“Connectedness is so critical right now. It’s so important to keep in touch with our seniors. One woman is 89 and we’re teaching her how to use the computer to access our ministry online, and she’s been very open to it. That’s what we’re doing to keep these folks connected. We have a real sense of community here,” says Ann.
Volunteers of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church continue to make phone calls to each of their Senior Wednesday group members and communicate with them virtually online. They are dedicated to supporting these older adults in any way they can. “What I’m finding is that many of our seniors are not already on the internet. Whoever needs any kind of help to get online, we’ve been helping them. We are really mobilizing everyone, and in that way, it’s very exciting.”
