Jennifer Gates, Youth and Family Ministry Director
“You are the Light of the world.” – Matthew 5:14
Our Youth Ministry department is both excited and humbled to be partnering with Harbour Hospice again this year to provide ornaments for their hospice patients. Living the Truth that we know (Unity Principle 5) is an important part of our study in youth ministry classes, so we are pleased to create these gifts of love for the holiday season.
What is Hospice?
Hospice care is end-of-life care provided by a team of health care professionals and volunteers who give medical, psychological, and spiritual support. The goal of the care is to help people who are dying have peace, comfort, and dignity
Concept: Originally the term hospice meant a place of safety and refuge where a weary or beleaguered traveler could find respite. At Harbour Hospice that concept is still true. Patients and family weary from disease and frightened by the prognosis can find loving human touch and compassion practiced by the caring staff of Harbour Hospice.
People: Hospice is staffed by a team of people working together to provide the best possible compassionate care. They are chosen for their love, their compassion, and their willingness to listen and journey with the patient and the family through this difficult time.
Place: The place for hospice is wherever the patient calls home. And that home can be in the patient’s home, the home of a friend or relative, a nursing home, or a hospital. Harbour Hospice goes wherever the person in need is living.
How is Youth Ministry Helping?
Our YM children, teens, and adult volunteers are crafting snowmen!
Our snowman ornaments are being created to bring a smile to faces of the hospice patients. Each snowman will have its own personality and may remind the hospice patient of happy moments from the past. Each ornament is made with a healthy dose of love, laughter, and enthusiasm.
“Love gifts” are gifts made as a result of our own efforts and thoughtfulness – they become symbols of the love we have for each other. Such gifts do not have to be expensive or even “material” to be treasured. We can make a gift of our own artistic work; of music, or poetry, stories and dramatic performances. We can even make gifts of our time. As we make our snowman ornaments, we hold in our minds and hearts that we are sending our love to someone who will appreciate that gift!
Important Dates:
Sunday, December 23: Christmas Celebration Service
Sunday, January 13: YM Classes for nursery through elementary; teens go to White Stone Ceremony
