By Renee Schuller
Care Ministry Specialist
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV
The passage in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 is a cornerstone of Worship Anew's Care Ministry. Care is always connected to worship.
Having been comforted by God’s grace and mercy in Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit fills us with God’s love, which overflows to our neighbor. The mission of the Care Ministry is to help aging adults and their caregivers live a full and abundant life in Jesus Christ by connecting them with individuals, congregations, and ministry groups who care about and desire to share the love of God with them.
Sometimes, we want to care for someone, but we do not know how to show it. Maybe ability, distance, or other factors make it difficult or impossible to actively care for them. The care package is a simple way for you to love them, not just in word, but in deed. It provides an opportunity to do something tangible that reminds them they are loved and not alone.
Since the Care Ministry began in the summer of 2023, we have sent more than 500 care packages that deliver both the sender’s care and God’s love through comforting gifts and the assurance of God’s Word.
We are only able to do this because of the kindness of our donors and volunteers. Thanks to generous support of this ministry, anyone can send a care package.
We are also blessed by our partnership with those individuals and groups who share the gifts God has given them in donating homemade items for us to include in the care packages.
Last, but not least, we are thankful for the volunteers who come in on Wednesday mornings and pack the boxes. They thoughtfully take the circumstance of each recipient into consideration and pick the appropriate comfort items, spiritual care, and topical materials to add to the box. Each week, the staff and volunteers then gather to pray for the care package recipients and all those who have asked for our prayers.
It is a great blessing and encouragement to hear back from someone who has received a care package, expressing how much it meant to them. I am especially blessed to hear that the gifts continue to bring them both physical comfort and the hope of God’s Word long after opening the box. It has made me see how sending a care package is not simply a one-time act of care; it is a gift that keeps on giving.
Many recipients have written about how they have been blessed to comfort others by sharing the gifts and resources through the care package program.
Through the Care Ministry, God’s love and comfort continues to spread. Praise be to God!