JanuaryJanuary——March 2009March 2009
Volume 2, Issue 1Volume 2, Issue 1
SILVER CORD SILVER CORD MINISTRIESMINISTRIES
Inside this issue:
TESTIMONIALS
2
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
3
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TRIP
3
Contact
Information and Mission Statement
TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS
4
URGENT NEEDS!
4
SILVER CORD SILVER CORD CONNECTIONCONNECTION
HAPPY NEW YEAR! T'was the day before New Years with only minutes to go. Everyone was waiting for the New Year to show. There were party hats, noise makers, and lots of champagne. Good food and good music no one could complain. When suddenly the ball began to drop. Everyone in the room came to a stop. When the ball reached the bottom the crowd began to roar. And confetti dropped from ceiling to floor. Happy New Year! Happy New Year! Was all you could hear. 2009 was finally here. Here's hoping your New Year will be festive and fun. And may it continue until 2010.
Anonymous
To some, ringing in the New
Year is only a time to “eat, drink, and be
merry.” To others, it is important to
make selfish “New Year’s Resolutions.”
How will you greet the New Year?
In the Fall of our Gregorian
Calendar Year, our Jewish friends
celebrate “Rosh Hashanah.” This is the
Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah
begins ten days of introspection and
repentance, leading up to Yom Kippur.
Among these customs, it is common to
seek reconciliation with people one may
have wronged during the course of the
year. The Talmud maintains that Yom
Kippur atones only for sins between man
and God. To atone for sins against
another person, one must first seek
reconciliation with that person, righting
the wrongs committed against them, if
possible.
We could all take a lesson
from our Jewish friends. Instead of
making a resolution to lose weight
with Valerie Bertinelli, exercise so
many times a week, read so many
books, etc., God wants us to make
decisions that will positively affect
someone’s eternity.
While those other kinds of
resolutions are all well and good, in and
of themselves, God cares about
relationships – between people and
between Himself and His creation. Do
you need to “bury the hatchet” with a
friend or family member? Maybe you
need to repent of your sin against God
and commit to getting to know and love
Him better? Maybe you need to
establish a relationship with a lonely
Senior, so they can experience the love
of Christ?
Leviticus 23:24 says: “Say to
the Children of Israel: The seventh
month, on the first day of the month,
you shall keep a Sabbath, a
memorial, with the sound of
trumpets (shofar), and it shall be
called holy.” The Children of Israel
marked their New Year with the
blowing of the shofar, the making of a
memorial, and treating it as a holy day.
As we enter our New Year, as we
watch the Ball drop in Times Square,
let us equate this time with the blowing
of the shofar and make resolutions
that will last for eternity! What will
YOUR resolutions be?
Page Page 22 SILVER CORD CONNECTIONSILVER CORD CONNECTION
Following are some testimonials from some Seniors, showing how God is working:
• We have visited with Audrey for several years, helping her grow in her faith. She says that our visits have given her more confidence to share her faith. While in the Care Center for Rehabilitation after a hospital visit, she shared how much the Lord means to her with the Aids, the Nurses, and the Social Workers. Since moving into her new Assisted Living location, she still receives visits and calls from one of the Social Workers. This woman has told Audrey how she has renewed her own relationship with the Lord as a result of Audrey’s testimony! How we praise the Lord for what He is doing through Audrey! (She
continues shares her faith with those at her new home, too!)
• Jean has memory issues, mainly, along with some other physical difficulties. However, she is very in love with her Savior. Her daughter does not share her faith so, Jean has no one to discuss spiritual issues with her — until she started attending our Worship Services. Jean says, “I am SO glad you are here! I love to worship Jesus and learn more about the Bible from you!” We have been having detailed discussions about the sermons, after “church.” It’s thrilling to see her eagerness to learn more from God’s Word — even if she asks some
of the same questions over and over again. The desire to learn is still there!
• After we visit, Don always says, “I’m glad you come to see me. I appreciate that very much!” Both of his daughter’s live out-of-state so, he rarely gets visits from anyone else. He has memory loss, also,. However, like Jean, he knows he is saved and loves the Lord very much. He has trouble reading and remembering what he reads. So, in our visits, I read his Bible to him. Then, we talk about what we just read. This way, he is able to interact with what Scripture says and it helps him remember the application — at
least, for a little while.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES:
• A small group of Bell Ringers from Grace Church ministered in a small residential facility
over Christmastime.
• Christmas Day, a family brought Christmas presents for some Homebound Seniors and visited with those who didn’t get to go with family for the holiday. It was exciting to hear
how they were able to put smiles on the faces of those who don’t smile often!
• We have made contact with a facility on the north end of town, to pave the way for a volunteer to begin visiting with the residents and sharing God’s love and salvation with
them. PRAY THAT MINISTRY WILL BEGIN SOON THERE!
• DO YOU HAVE A LISTENING EAR? CAN YOU PLAY GAMES? CAN YOU SHARE THE
GOSPEL? HOMEBOUND SENIORS NEED YOU!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
UPCOMING SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TRIP
1) First, and fore-
most, PRAY! JOIN
OUR E-MAIL
PRAYER TEAM!
This Newsletter will
now be sent out once a
quarter. Our E-MAIL
PRAYER TEAM
letter will be sent out
once a month. (There
might be times that a
time-sensitive E-Mail
might be sent, also.) If
you would like to join
our E-MAIL PRAYER
TEAM, please send us
an E-Mail to let us
know.
2) Please pass this newsletter on to any-one you think might be interested in hearing
about this ministry.
3) Some with knowledge of
computers.
4) Some with Bible Study and Discipleship
knowledge.
5) Some with expertise in ministering to Seniors and able to
train others.
6) Some creative people for our Senior
Days.
7) ALL WITH THE DESIRE TO SHARE THE GOSPEL AND CHRST’S LOVE WITH THOSE WHO ARE LONELY AND IN NEED OF THE
SAVIOR!
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES IS SPONSORING A SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TRIP
TO KENYA! Have you ever had a desire to take God’s Word to the lost and forgotten in another country? Here is your
chance!
August, 2009 we are taking a group to Webuye, Kenya to visit and partner in ministry with Pastor Samuel Wafula. (Dates subject to change for
flight availabilities.)
We are planning a 10-14 day trip. This will involve ministering to Elderly in a couple of group settings, for a couple of All-Day Gatherings; going to individual homes where the Elderly are living, to minister to and encourage them; Training, Teaching, and Fellowship times with Pastor Samuel and his
fellow-workers.
The exact dates are
yet to be determined.
NEEDED:
1) A personal relation-
ship with Jesus Christ.
2) A willing heart.
Page Page 33
INTERESTED? PLEASE
CONTACT US ASAP!
or call 612-532-0308
Volume 2, Issue 1Volume 2, Issue 1
3) DONATE:
A) Purchase sermon tapes or CDs for Seniors. You can either drop them off in a Bag, labeled SCM, at 15363 Trillium Circle; Eden Prairie, MN, or call to
arrange a pick-up time.
B) Tax-deductible Financial Gifts
can be given. See back page.
4) Consider Volunteering! Call or E-Mail
for specifics. (612-532-0308)
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES exists to care for the spiritual needs of Homebound Seniors, to train others in the ministry to Homebound Seniors, and to create and send teams to aid ministries in other countries to care for the spiritual needs of their own Homebound
Seniors.
SERVICES AVAILABLE: Visiting with Homebound Seniors; Visiting Hospitalized Seniors; Anoint the Sick with Oil; Offer Holy Commun-ion; Offer Senior-Specific Spiritual Resources; Offer End-of-Life Deci-sion Counseling; Counsel/Encourage Families and Caregivers; Con-duct Bible Studies; Officiate Worship Services in Senior Facilities; Offi-
ciate Funerals; Train Volunteers
SILVER CORD SILVER CORD SILVER CORD SILVER CORD SILVER CORD SILVER CORD SILVER CORD SILVER CORD
MINISTRIESMINISTRIESMINISTRIESMINISTRIESMINISTRIESMINISTRIESMINISTRIESMINISTRIES
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES 15363 Trillium Circle
Eden Prairie, MN 55344-1884
Phone: 612-532-0308 Fax: 800-417-0934
E-mail: [email protected]
Serving the Spiritual Needs of the
Senior Adult Community
We’re on the web!
silvercordministries.com
SILVER CORD MINISTRIESSILVER CORD MINISTRIES
TO GIVE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION
Name_____________________________________________
Address___________________________________________
E-Mail____________________________________________
Make Checks Payable to: Silver Cord Ministries, 15363 Trillium
Circle, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
You may, also, donate SECURELY on our website:
www.silvercordministries.com.
URGENT NEEDS: 2 New or Used (in good working order) PC Laptops
Do you have the resources to donate one or two? This will be a tax-deductible donation! Please contact Silver
Cord Ministries for more information.