Caring & Presence
My husband Doug and I began attending Christ Church in 2018, and one of the things we came to enjoy was the monthly Senior Ministry lunches. They always included good food, wonderful fellowship, some kind of meaningful teaching or edification, opportunities to share prayer requests—and, of course, Jerry's Jokes! Over the years, these lunches became an important part of our connection with the church and with one another.
In early 2025, our lives changed dramatically when Doug came down with influenza A. After a chest X-ray and further testing, he was diagnosed in February with pulmonary fibrosis, a progressive and degenerative lung disease. The scarring in his lungs continued to worsen, and by July he needed oxygen around the clock. He had a portable oxygen tank and a concentrator at home with 30 feet of tubing so he could move around the house. I needed to be with him much of the time, making sure his nasal cannula for his oxygen stayed in place—even getting up during the night to check on him. It was very easy for him to whip it off if he felt disoriented or for it to slide off.
As the months went on, there were many Sundays when we wanted to come to church but simply couldn't. Doug wasn't strong enough to attend, and because he was also experiencing some symptoms of dementia, he couldn't be left alone. We tried to listen to the services from home whenever we could.
In November, Jerry and Lee came to our home and offered to serve us Communion since Doug was unable to come to church. They stayed and visited with us for a while, prayed with us and for us, and shared in that special time together. We knew it would probably be Doug's last time receiving Communion, which made their visit especially meaningful.
After Doug passed away in December 2025, I was able to return to church for the first time in about ten weeks. I am so grateful for the way we were supported and lovingly cared for with kindness, prayers, and so many expressions of concern as we walked through that shadowed valley.
Since Doug went home to be with Jesus, the Gortmakers (Jerry and Nina) along with many others in the Senior Ministry, have continued to surround me with their loving presence and support. I am deeply grateful that they have continued to walk alongside me.
It is a blessing to share one another's burdens and encourage one another as we trust in God's faithfulness to His promises and rest in His care for us. I am so grateful for the Senior Ministry at Christ Church. It is truly a community that is knit together in the Spirit of Christ, caring for one another through both joyful and difficult seasons of life.
~ Linda Sneisak
This is one example of the care and encouragement that happens through our Senior Ministry. As visitation coordinators, along with many faithful volunteers, we have the privilege of coming alongside seniors and those who are homebound as they experience illness, recover from surgery, navigate the challenges of aging, or simply need someone to walk alongside them.
Each week, we visit many of our seniors and deliver worship guides, enjoying opportunities to share Scripture and pray together. Caring for our senior saints is a rewarding part of our ministry, and we would love to have more people join us. If you would like to get connected with seniors in our church and spend time with those who have years of wisdom and stories to share, please let us know.
Nina and I also host a monthly Senior Lunch, where we gather around the table to share a meal, our stories, and our prayer concerns, and to encourage one another. We enjoy a variety of speakers, including pastors and elders from Christ Church, as well as missionaries and guests from local ministries and organizations such as Faith Hospice. We've also enjoyed some wonderful music from the Calder City Band. The lunches are usually held on the third Tuesday of each month at noon in the Atrium, and we invite you to join us whenever you are able.