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Love Th y Neighbor Ministries
The Good Neighbor
October/November/December 2015
Volume XI, Issue IV
Introducing a New Ministry Outreach:
The Good Neighbor Get Together ProgramTM
Caring for a spouse or other In their book The Church of Irresistible Influence Robert Lewis and Rob Wilkins write: loved one suffering from dementia is a daunting task. “With compelling metaphors, Jesus described the Some reports suggest that church and its impact on the world. And indeed filled over 70% of the persons with the Holy Spirit, the early church demonstrated a suffering from dementia are spiritual energy and depth that transformed the cared for at home solely by a surrounding culture. family member. The local branch of the Alzheimer’s “Yet today, instead of turning the world upside‐down, Association reports that there we’ve largely turned it off. When are between 18,000 and 22,000 people think of church at all, a persons with dementia being cared The Good Neighbor Get Together
sobering majority view it as big on for at home here in Pima County. ProgramTM is a ministry program ideals but short on reality. We have a Today 1 in 5 families are dealing designed to renew a weary
choice… Can you imagine the with a family member who has dementia. In just 11 years, it will be caregiver by providing an element community in which you live being 1 in 2. of respite while blessing the care
genuinely thankful for your church? Can you imagine city leaders valuing receiver
with
a
meaningful
and
This noble undertaking can stretch your church’s friendship and enjoyable experience.
the caregiver’s limits and takes a participation in the community – even significant toll both physically and asking for it? Can you imagine many in your county, emotionally. It’s perfectly normal for the caregiver to formerly cynical and hostile toward Christianity, feel frustrated, depressed and worn out. Caregivers actually praising God for your church and the positive commonly suffer stress, depression, health problems contributions your members have made in Jesus’ and financial difficulties, and their risk of developing name? Can you imagine the spiritual harvest that dementia is significantly increased. would naturally follow if all this were true?” Imagine, for example, not being able without As a community of followers of Jesus Christ we have an difficulty to run errands, grocery shop, visit your doctor obligation to look after not only the spiritual needs of the or dentist, go to the bank, attend worship services, community but also the social needs. “Bear one prayer meetings or Bible studies, have coffee or a meal with friends or generally socialize with others. ...continued on page 3 Love Thy Neighbor Ministries gratefully acknowledges the Memorial Gifts we have received:
In Honor of Sandy & Pete Schwartz from Dave & Rita Geoffrey In Memory of Donna Burgess from Bob Burgess In Memory of James Haack from Maggie Haack In Memory of Lawrence Reynolds & Richard Nickels from Patsy Reynolds “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:13 VOLU ME XI, IS SUE IV
PAGE 2
The Good Neighbor—October/November/December 2015
Tree Locations are: Would you like to be a blessing to a stranger this Christmas season? If you would, here is a special and meaningful way to do just that. Many elderly nursing home, assisted and independent living residents in our community do not receive even one gift at Christmas. In many ways, the elderly are our 21st century orphans. You can help change that! Again this year, as we have for the past ten, Love Thy Neighbor Ministries is partnering with Home Instead Senior Care in their Be A Santa To A Senior program. This wonderful program encourages and provides the opportunity for the community to purchase Christmas gifts for the elderly in Pima County. This is a worthwhile program that at times provides the necessities of living to the elder. Home Instead Senior Care 3208 N. Tucson Blvd Tucson, AZ 85716 Phone: 770‐9943
K‐Mart Super Center 7055 E. Broadway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85710 Phone: 546‐6565 Golder Ranch Fire District 3885 E. Golder Ranch Dr. Catalina, AZ 85739 Phone: (520) 825‐9001 Deco ‐ Art for Living 2612 East Broadway Tucson, AZ 85716 Phone: (520) 319‐0888 Rocco's Little Chicago Pizzeria 2707 E. Broadway Tucson, AZ 85716 Phone: (520) 321‐1860 To participate and bless someone in need, here is all you do: 1. Visit one of the following Be A Santa To A Senior tree locations. 2. Remove an ornament from the tree. Gift ideas are printed on each ornament. 3. Purchase the gift(s) listed. 4. Bring the ornament and gift back to the location, unwrapped, and place it in the collection box. Calvary Christian Fellowship 3850 N. Commerce Dr. Tucson, AZ 85705 Phone: (520) 292‐9661 Pantano Christian Church 1755 S. Houghton Rd. Tucson, AZ 85748 Phone: (520) 298‐5395 This year the trees will go up November 16th and be taken down on December 14th at which time the gifts must be returned. After that gifts are taken to our wrapping locations, wrapped and delivered to the residents in time for Christmas. Merry Christmas!
Love Thy Neighbor Ministries, Inc., is a non‐profit 501(c)(3) tax‐exempt corporation registered in the state of Arizona. It is overseen by an independent Board of Directors which has full and final authority over all corporate assets, personnel and affairs. Contact us at P.O. Box 68830, Tucson, AZ 85737 or call (520) 742‐5548. PAGE 3
The Good Neighbor—October/November/December 2015
continued from page 1... At The Good Neighbor Get Together
another’s burdens and so fulfill Program™ we endeavor to create a loving,
the law of Christ.” (Galatians comfortable and safe environment for care
6:2) A congregation grounded receivers. We want their caregivers to know
in Christ and being they are leaving their loved ones in capable
transformed through faith and hands so they can seek a few hours of respite
discipleship is defined as a without concern. We also endeavor to
community in which, among provide a stimulating and interactive
other things, its members care program of activities so the care receivers will
for one another. Jesus said, go home feeling affirmed, validated, and
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have with smiles on their faces.
loved you.” (John 15:12) The Old and New Testaments tell us, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Leviticus 19:18 and Romans 13:9) In this program respite means the “temporary relief for family caregivers from the ongoing responsibility of caring for an individual of any age with Alzheimer’s disease.” Respite allows family caregivers to take a short pause from their continuous tasks as caregivers while their loved ones continue to be cared for in a safe, joyful and meaningful setting. The Good Neighbor Get Together Program is an expansion of care being provided by a church through its Good Neighbor Get Together volunteer care team. “May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow…” (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NLT) The Get Together Program provides respite care for family caregivers through an activity program prepared for their loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease. It is held on your church’s campus, for four hours usually once a month. The activity program will consist of games, singing, physical movement, socialization, VOLU ME XI, ISSUE IV
crafts, entertainment, prayer and devotionals. Not every activity is included each time. The monthly Get Together will usually be centered on a theme, and a snack and lunch will be served. It gives caregivers a safe, welcoming place to bring their loved ones while they take a break, if they desire, from the overwhelming responsibility of caring for someone with Alzheimer’s. The program is to be provided free of charge. Love Thy Neighbor Ministries is looking for churches that will partner with us in this important outreach by hosting a Good Neighbor Get Together monthly event. If your church is interested in learning more about the program please call us at 520‐742‐5548. Ministry Update By Steve Kacprzak, Executive Director The four‐week, four‐part DVD program The Journey of Dementia hosted by Vistoso Community Church was well attended and the information well received. The next video to be shown in our “Viewing Dementia Through the Eyes of Love” series is called It’s All In The Approach. In this program, you will learn how a person with dementia perceives his or her world and how to properly adapt your own behavior to increase communication and the patient's quality of life. It's based on managing your (not the person with dementia’s) behavior, actions, words and reactions so you can change the outcome of your experience to a positive interaction for both of you. The viewing will be Saturday December 5 from 9:00 am to noon at Vistoso Community Church located at 1200 E. Rancho Vistoso Blvd. in Oro Valley. Admission is free, but we ask that you call 742‐7748 or email [email protected] to let us know if you are going to attend so that we know how many learning booklets to prepare. Please remember Love Thy Neighbor Ministries in your year‐end giving. We are able to continue our service because of your generosity. Love Thy Neighbor Ministries will give to the 5th, 8th and 11th activity directors who call us at 742‐5548, by December 14th, a hand crafted activity apron for your residents. Love Thy Neighbor Ministries
P.O. Box 68830
Tucson, AZ 85737
Phone: 520-742-5548
Web Address www.LTNM.org
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Showing God's Love
Through Caring Visits
In This Issue The Good Neighbor Get Together Memorial Gifts Be A Santa To A Senior Ministry Update Come Ye Thankful People Come Amazon.com donates to LTNM Come Ye Thankful People Come Amazon.com donates to Love Thy Neighbor Ministries Come, ye thankful people, come, raise the song of harvest home; All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin. God our Maker doth provide for our wants to be supplied; Come to God’s own temple, come, raise the song of harvest home. All the world is God’s own field, fruit unto His praise to yield; Wheat and tares together sown unto joy or sorrow grown. First the blade and then the ear, then the full corn shall appear; Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be. For the Lord our God shall come, and shall take His harvest home; From His field shall in that day all offenses purge away, Giving angels charge at last in the fire the tares to cast; But the fruitful ears to store in His garner evermore. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father Even so, Lord, quickly come, bring Thy final harvest home; is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, to Gather Thou Thy people in, free from sorrow, free from sin, keep oneself unspotted from the world. James 1:27 There, forever purified, in Thy garner to abide; Come, with all Thine angels come, raise the glorious harvest home. Henry Alford 1844
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