Lord of Life Lutheran Church
13724 W Meeker Blvd.
Sun City West, AZ 85375-3730
623-584-2000
info@lordoflife-scw.org
A member congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA)
A Stephen Ministry Congregation
Congregational Care Ministries
"Love your neighbor as yourself." Matt. 22:39
Congregational Care Ministries
So often our inclination is not to "get involved". Getting involved means that we may have to do something that will take our time away from golf or bridge and we really don't WANT to do that. You would be surprised at the numbers of people who are already involved here at Lord of Life Lutheran Church. Becoming involved with others is one of the most "rewarding experiences I've ever had," said one of our parishioners recently. He was referring to the day that he took a person to a doctor's appointment, a person he had never met before but with whom he soon became fast friends.
Becoming involved with someone else who may just need a visit from another Christian or who may need a meal brought to them since they came home for the hospital, may be the most rewarding experience you can have, too.
Call the church office if you have a need, or if you wish to become involved. You will be put in contact with someone from the Congregational Care Ministries or Email Pastor Bengtson.
THE MISSON OF THE CONGREGATIONAL CARE MINISTRIES
The mission of the Congregational Care Ministries is to recognize and affirm the need for care of the whole person as it relates to the overall ministry and mission of the congregation.
The objective of this group is to assess ongoing care needs of our congregation and to establish ministries or programs appropriate to those needs.
We thank all of you who have already volunteered to provide transportation, meals or friendly visits. We will continue to call upon you as needs arise. If you are interested in providing any of these services, contact the church office. Also, if you or someone you know could use some help in any of these areas, please call the church office and your call will be directed to the appropriate person .
We are dedicated to service of many kinds to our faith community. We pray that we will be able to find and meet all concerns as they arise. If you know of a person:
- who could be helped by our transportation volunteers
- someone who may need a meal brought to the home
- someone who may just wish to visit with another Christian brother
or sister
Please call the church office and those needs will be gratefully met. You will be rewarded! Return to top
An Opportunity to Bring Cheer
A number of our Lord of Life members are residents of care centers, assisted living residences, and group homes . How wonderful it would be for them to receive cards, notes, even visits from other Lord of Life members! Their names and places of residence are listed below. Please let them know that you care! As of November 2007
Grandview Care
Center
14505 W. Granite Valley Dr.
Sun City West, AZ 85375
Dorothy Dettmer
Eleanor Nelson
Gladys Wigstrom
The Court at Sun City West
21739 N. 151st Ave
Sun City West, AZ AZ 85375-6150
Daniel Johnson
Heritage Legacy
13813 W. Woodside Dr.
Sun City West AZ 85375
Janet Randahl
Betty Neuwirth
Sun West Nursing Center
14002 W. Meeker
Sun City West AZ 85375-5201
Ken Wadleigh
Freedom Inn
13810 W. Sandridge Dr.
Sun City West 85375
Jack & Gerry Dow
LaLoma Health Care Center
14260 Denny Blvd.
Litchfield Park, AZ 85340
Alice Ebling
Alterra/Claire Bridge
14001 W. Meeker Blvd.
Sun City West 85375
Virginia Fensterer
Paradise Assisted Living
16520 N 170th Lane
Surprise, AZ 85388
Norm Horstmann
Paradise for Parents
14549 W. St. Mooritz
Surprise 85370
Rev. Russ
Swanson
Royal Paradise
15257 N 135th Dr.
Surprise, AZ 85374
Bernice Collmeyer
Golden Creek Group
Home
5006 E. Justica Street
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
Phyllis
Senechal
C.C.’s Adult Care Home
13425 W. Rimrock Rd.
Surprise 85374
Bob
Snyder
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Grief Support Group
Grief support groups for those who have experienced losses are held
periodically at Lord of Life, usually on Sundays from 4:00-5:00 pm for
a six-week period of time. A grief support group is a safe and
caring place to to express your emotions, do your grief work among people
who understand better than most what you are experiencing, and begin
the journey of healing.
Lord of Life members, neighbors, and friends in the community are invited to
participate. Please watch for information on the website and in the Lifelines
for the dates of the next session. Contact Pastor Bengtson if you have
any questions or would like to receive notification regarding the upcoming
group. Email Pastor
Bengtson
Information Needed
JUST A REMINDER:
If you know of someone from our church family who is in the hospital, lost a loved one, who is ill, or just plain in need of prayer, please notify the church office.
This would include regular visitors to Lord of Life. We would rather be notified several times, than no times.
Prayer Service for Healing and Remembrance
April 8, 5 p.m.
Lord of Life Chapel
We welcome back and invite those who have been away for awhile to join us for this time of prayer, scripture and song during which we call upon the healing power of Jesus’ love. This worship includes a ritual of blessing with the ancient practice of laying on of hands and anointing with oil for all who wish to receive it. This is an opportunity to turn your burdens over to our gracious God and be renewed in spirit and hope. Invite your friends and neighbors. All are welcome!
Prayer Shawl Knitting Ministry
We began our Prayer Shawl Ministry in 2004 as part of
our Congregational Care Ministries. Our first shawl was given in January
of 2005. As of September 2007 we have presented prayer shawls to 82
people. Twenty-six Lord of Life members have participated by knitting
anywhere from one shawl to 15. In addition, one member has crocheted
a shawl. So far all the participants have been women; however, we would
love to have some males who knit or crochet join in!
These shawls are given to men and women as reminders of how much God loves them and how special they are to our Lord of Life faith community. The knitting or crocheting is a sacred task; those who do this work weave prayers for healing into the shawls as they do so. The recipients are wrapped in the love and prayers of our congregation as they use them; the prayer shawl becomes a mantle of love. Many have been deeply moved by this gesture of kindness and care. We give thanks for those who give their time and expertise to this ministry.
If you are interested in taking part in this ministry of healing and love by knitting or crocheting prayer shawls, contact Pastor Bengtson for the instructions. If you do not knit or crochet but want to contribute to this ministry by donating money for yarn, also contact Pastor Bengtson.
A Reminder from Your Congregational Care Ministries
The following services are available to Lord of Life members, visitors, and friends:
- Transportation to local doctors appointments when usual means are not available.
- Meals in the first days after hospitalization.
- Friendly Visitors who will come by for conversation.
- Delivery of audiotapes of worship services for those unable to attend worship.
- Holy Communion in the home on a regular or as-needed basis for those unable to attend worship.
If you find any of these services helpful, please contact Pastor Bengtson in the church office. We want to meet your needs in the best way possible.
If you would be willing to provide transportation or a meal on an occasional
basis or do some friendly visiting once in a while, also contact Pastor
Bengtson. We welcome your involvement in our care ministries.
Email Pastor Bengtson Return
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AN INVITATION TO FIVE WISHES
Call the church office to register
The Five Wishes program, advance directives written in layperson’s terms, was created to give people a chance to express their wishes about end-of-life care in straightforward, understandable language. This living will/health care power of attorney, is very easy to use: you cross out anything you don’t agree with, check a box or write a sentence to guide your medical power of attorney in speaking for you when you can’t speak for yourself. Five Wishes has been called revolutionary because it is a living will and health care power of attorney document that includes not only medical wishes, but also personal and spiritual wishes. Five Wishes includes:
- My wish for the person I want to make care decisions for me when I can’t.
- The kind of medical treatment I want or don’t want.
- How comfortable I want to be.
- How I want people to treat me.
- What I want my loved ones to know.
Many people who already have a living will are changing to Five Wishes because they want a legal document that will allow them to record exact choices that their loved ones will have no trouble understanding. Each person will be given a copy of the Five Wishes document. During the first half of the class, we will view the Five Wishes Video and discuss wishes 1-4. The second half of the class, led by Pastors Kautz and Bengtson, is devoted to Wish number 5, “What I Want My Loved Ones to Know.” You will receive handouts/ worksheets for Memorial or Funeral Service planning.
Watch for information about the next scheduled Five Wishes presentation . If you need transportation to church for this class, please indicate that when you call to register.