Countryside Presbyterian Church began providing regular worship services at TimberRidge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in July, 2004. This began in response to a call from TimberRidge inviting CPC’s participation in a program for area churches to rotate in sending volunteer teams to provide worship opportunities regularly for the guests and residents at their facility.
Pastor Gary approached Bob Jefferies and explored the opportunity for Countryside’s prayer groups to launch the effort to respond to this unique call to God’s service. CPC’s Worship Committee brought the idea of participating to Session for consideration, Session approved it, and thereby a new outreach was begun. Initially six churches were involved, with Countryside holding services one week per quarter. Since then, Countryside has come to follow a bimonthly schedule, leading worship typically during the months of January, March, May, July, September and November on the 4th Saturday of the month at 10:15 am in the facility’s cafeteria. This lay ministry has enjoyed a healthy attendance even with modest seasonal variation. Worship partipants include both short and medium-term patients admitted from nearby hospitals, and longer term residents receiving nursing assistance at TimberRidge. Between 20-30 patients attended beginning with our first services, and attendance of 40 or more is not unusual. Some guests may attend only for the short duration of their recuperation at TimberRidge. Others attend regularly for years. Bob J. responded enthusiastically and energetically and took on the responsibility of organizing and coordinating this special ministry for many years. More recently, Bea Newhart and Art Burditt III have served successively as coordinators, keeping the ministry and volunteer ranks robust. Among those active in leading worship and sharing the Word have been Bob J., Keith Nadel, Bill Bender, Woody Hippler, Harold Mitchell, Herb McGrath, Orville and Jackie Hicks, Harry Kornprobst, Joan Wells and Ed Tenhor. Many Countryside members have lent support to the ministry by their commitment to regular attendance and availability for help with the liturgy or with special music. Ed Tenhor and others have led those in attendance in hymn singing, and recently the team has led our hymn singing as an ensemble. Ruth Ann Blake has served in providing special music with bells, Marcia Miller with violin, Dean Millward on bass, and JoAnne Shaw on piano. Joy Harter, Lee Voss, Dottie Valentine, Kathie Paules, and Lois Gaugler among others have served as singers for our services. Active members of our team as of CY 2015 have included Joyce Snyder, John and Dympna Bain, and Peggy Adams – helping with liturgical readings, hymn page turning, and any unattended needs that may arise. Our teams works together to invite the Holy Spirit into all we do in carrying out this ministry. Countryside family members strengthening the ministry with their attendance and moral support also have included Polly Bailey, Dawn Bender, Paul and Sally Cato, Larry and Carolyn Collins, Diana Deal, Martha Evans, Diane Gansz, Verl Gruver, Shirley Hippler, John and Pat Hutchinson, John and Virginia Keuvelaar, Gail and Warren Lott, John McFarland, Dorothy Misleh, Connie Mitchell, Fenton Overly, Norma Phin, Marcus Schild, Sally Voss, Fenton Overly, Norma Phin, Charlotte Weber, Micky Weller, Ray Wells, Hayward and Erma Williams, Calvin and Joyce Wonders, Mary Nadel, and Sharon Kornprobst, and Pastor Gary and Cindy Marshall. New additions to our team of volunteers are always welcome. Further information is available from any of our team members before or after Sunday worship at Countryside. |
Robert Jefferies, Initial Coordinator
Art BurdittDympna BainDottie Valentine, Kathie Paules, and Art Burditt |
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