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Welcome to the Massachusetts Conference United Church News SPOTLIGHT, a biweekly e-newsletter dedicated to sharing stories of how God is Still Speaking through the efforts of local churches.
Here's the next SPOTLIGHT on a local church. To read the previous SPOTLIGHTs, go to www.macucc.org/spotlight.
Shut-Ins Don’t Have to Be Shut Out;
Residents of Area Nursing Homes Are Transported To Christ Congregational Church in Brockton For Communion Services
 Submitted by the Rev. Ms. Patricia Hayes, Senior Minister
If it is May or October, Karin Davis and Marjorie Hall are busy at Christ Congregational Church, UCC in Brockton, setting up the semi-annual Communion and Worship Service for area nursing homes. A tradition that predates Christ Church, which was formed in 1980 with the consolidation of four UCC churches in Brockton, the whole congregation gets involved.
The church has a strong year-round community ministry, with two monthly communion services at nursing homes, one monthly theological discussion group at an assisted living center, and a monthly prayer service at a homeless shelter.
But twice a year, the residents come to the church. Twelve nursing homes or assisted living centers are invited to attend on a Monday afternoon, and the church pays for the local handicap bus service to transport approximately 100 elders, most in wheel chairs, to the church. The timing of the service is controlled by the availability of the special buses, as well as the staffing availability of the various nursing homes. There is a cadre of church men who greet the buses and wheel the residents into the church. The fellowship hall is set up for their arrival, with specially decorated tables reserved for each nursing home, and they are greeted by the Morning Ringers, a hand bell choir.
The worship service and communion, with plenty of old favorite hymns, and more special music is enjoyed by the residents, the church members, and the worship leaders alike. It is a chance to visit with old friends and to extend the body of Christ to a population that can rarely attend church anymore. Special home baked goodies, cheese and crackers, and punch are served, and plates of homemade cookies are sent back with the residents at the end of the afternoon. These special field trips are known as the best trips of the year for many from the nursing homes.
"When I arrived at the church last winter, I asked people what moment in the church life made them feel proud to be part of the church," said the new senior minister, Rev. Patricia Hayes. "Over and over again I heard 'the shut-in communion services.' I didn't understand why until I saw it for myself. It was every aspect of the project -- the dozens of bakers, the bell choir so well-rehearsed and in their uniform blouses, the men who wheel the residents in -- really the church at work, being the body of Christ and sharing the body of Christ."
For more information about the upcoming October 23rd service, contact Christ Congregational Church at (508) 586-3022.
Share Your Still Speaking Story
 Tell us how God is speaking in and through your church. Have you reached out to the community in unique ways? Initiated a new mission project? Found a new way to minister to those within the congregation? Share your story and help us to spread the good news! Contact Marlene Gasdia-Cochrane, Editor, at cochranem@macucc.org.
You may reprint this story by including the following line in your article:
"Source: Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, www.macucc.org/spotlight"
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