Wednesday, December 30, 2009
JANUARY 2010 NEWSLETTER AND CALENDAR
Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it unto me.
Matt: 25:40
Rosewood Care Center Sunny Hill Nursing Home
Heritage Woods,
Wow!! ! What a month we have had. Just when you think it can’t get any better, God opens the windows of Heaven and just pours out His Blessings upon us. It was a great month, a busy one, hauling all the boxes of gifts and sound equipment into each home was a challenge, but it was so rewarding. As I have said so many times before, we do all this trying to be a Blessing to others but we come away feeling like we are the ones on the mountain top with all the Blessings. It’s really neat how God showers His Blessings on both the giver and the receiver. Isn’t that just like our God? He is an awesome God.
We had 92 residents and volunteers at the Lakewood Nursing Home in December. The room was packed and residents were sitting in the doorway. We gave out sweaters to all the residents and that went over very well. We brought several boxes of sweaters with us but when we saw the crowd, we started praying that God would multiply the sweaters like He did with the loaves and the fishes so we would have enough and we praise the Lord that it all went well and everyone got a sweater. The
We gave out skid-free socks and anklets with a bottle of lotion to all the residents there and they loved them. We have given them blankets and sweaters the past two years and decided to do something different this year for them.
We receive lots of verbal thank yous, and many notes of thanks that people mail to me when they mail their contributions and we appreciate each and every one of them so very much. We have lots of people that tell us they are praying for us and that means so very much. We need your prayers. That is why the ministry continues to grow because of the prayers of God’s people. It’s not about us, its all about what God can do in and through lives that are willing and committed to let go of ourselves and let God work in and through each one of us. The ministry continues to grow beyond all our expectations and it’s exciting to be His servant. I’m humbled that God would choose me, as unworthy as I am, to serve Him in this Ministry. I am so very Blessed.
Angie and Karen Hanson did a beautiful job with monogramming the sweaters and we thank you so very much for all the work and the love you put into it. We appreciate your sweet sweet spirit and your willingness to serve.
After all the services in December were done, we had handed out almost 300 gifts this year. It was a great month. We have a great team of people who all work together so beautifully. It is so apparent that each one of them loves the Lord and has such a heart for the Ministry. God has truly brought together a wonderful group of people with a love for each other, as well as, for others. Ron and Barb Durham have also joined our team and we love it. We welcome you with open arms and we need you and thank you for joining us.
We look forward to even greater things in the New Year. It is so exciting to just wait on the Lord and see what He is going to do next. We will be completing our 5th year the end of March and starting into our 6th year in April. Please pray with me that we may lead more people to a saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. During these past five years, 13 people have been saved but there are many more that need Jesus Christ in their life. So many empty lives, they have no peace and joy. Many times people tell me, “you all look so happy” and it’s a great way to start the conversation and tell them why we are happy and that we all know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and He gives us peace, joy and contentment.
Max Lucado wrote the following message in his book “On the Anvil”. “Thousands of years before Jesus was called the Lamb of God, God promised forgiveness. Someday, he promised Hosea, someday I will remember their sins no more. Someday, God confided to Jeremiah, these people will be my people and I will be their God. And someday, wrote David, the mistakes of men will be tossed, not under a rug or behind the sofa, but far, far away. As far as the east is from the west. And then that someday came, on a garbage heap outside of
May we ever be found faithful pointing others to the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
PLEASE NOTE: All contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”. You can mail your gift to SonShine Outreach Ministries, c/o Joyce Mancke,
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield –Jan. 3rd @ 2:30 p.m.
Senior Star @ Weber Rd (Saturday) Jan. 9th @ 10:00 a.m,.
Salem Village, Joliet – Jan. 10th @ 2:30 p.m.
Rosewood Rehab Center, Joliet – Jan.17th @ 2:30 p.m.,
Heritage Woods,
Sunny Hill, Joliet –Jan. 24th @ 2:30 p.m.
Paradise Park, New Lenox –Jan. 24th @ 2:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke jmancke@sbcglobal.net.
Phone: 815-351-7659
Monday, December 21, 2009
TRIBUTE TO THE US MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES BY VICKI LUTCHMAN - "Home for Christmas"
SONSHINE OUTREACH MINISTRIES IS BLESSED AND PLEASED TO PRESENT JOYCE MANCKE'S DAUGHTER - VICKI LUTCHMAN SINGING HER ORIGINAL SONG AND TRIBUTE TO THOSE FIGHTING IN THE WARS SINCE SEPTEMBER 11, 2001. VIDEO PRESENTATION BY BERNIE LUTCHMAN (www.bernielutchman.blogspot.com)
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
DECEMBER 2009 NEWSLETTER & CALENDAR
Rosewood Care Center Sunny Hill Nursing Home
The story was told of a woman who was tired of struggling with life and all its problems. As soon as one problem was solved, another one would come, life was hard and she didn’t know where to turn and how she was going to make it and she wanted to give up. She was tired of all the fighting and struggling. Not knowing where to turn, she went to her mom and shared all her burdens with mom.
After her mother listened to her problems, she took her to the kitchen and filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil and in the first pot of water, she placed a bunch of carrots, in the second she placed eggs and in the last pot she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word.
After twenty minutes, she turned off the burners and placed the carrots and the eggs in a bowl, and ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. She then turned to her daughter and asked, “Tell me what you see”. “Carrots, eggs and coffee” was her reply. Her mother brought her closer and asks her to feel the carrots, when she did; she noted that they were very soft. After pulling the shell off the egg, she observed that it was hard. Finally, the mom asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma and asked “What does all this mean, mom”?
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity; boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting, however after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile, its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique; however, after they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water and released fragrance and flavor. Which one do you relate to when problems arise, the carrot that becomes weak, the egg that hardens or the coffee bean that get better and change the situation around you? May we all be like the Coffee bean.
The Nursing Home services went well this month, although you can always tell when the football season has started as many of the residents will choose football over a church service, especially the men. One of our regular attendees at Lakewood was watching the game when I went to his room to let him know we were there and he told me he was not coming today, that he wanted to watch football, however, he really does enjoy the praise and worship service and during the service, he would come down to see what we were doing and then go back and watch football. It was pretty comical, he wanted so badly to see the game and attend the service. He finally chose to attend the last 10 minutes of the service.
Betty and I visited the Nursing home during the week and to our amazement, we saw John Larson, the 96 year old who just lost his wife after 75 years of marriage, walking around and around the outside of the Nursing home and no
one was with him and he wasn’t even using a cane. He said it was a nice day to do some exercise and walking just made him feel better. He is amazing.
We had a great crowd at Rosewood this month. Lots of good music. Karl sang a solo, Sandy sang a beautiful song, Sam played the violin and Vicki and Bernie sang Amazing Grace. It was a great service.
Senior Star went well and the attendance is increasing there. The memory care home has about 15 residents now and the assisted Living will be opening in January. We are looking forward to starting services there.
The activity director was confused this month at Sunny Hill and apologized over and over for making a mistake. I couldn’t figure out why the crowd was smaller than usual until one of the residents told us we were on the calendar for the following week. We always go on the 4th Sunday and that is normally the last Sunday of the month, however, November had five Sunday’s this month and he had put us on the resident calendars that we were coming on the fifth Sunday as that was the last Sunday of the month. We still had around 25 or 30 residents attend and it was a good service. Even if we only have 2 or 3, and Jesus is there with us, it is worth it all.
It was nice to have a Sunday off this month. We love the ministry and we work hard at it and that 5th Sunday always gives us a much needed break, however, after being off for a week, I am always anxious to get back. It is a wonderful ministry and it reminds me of the scripture verse in Matthew 10:39 that says, “He that loseth his life for my sake shall find it”. When I completely lose my life in this ministry, helping and serving others, it is then that I truly find all the Blessings that God has in store for us. He wants to bless us, but we have to completely lose our self, and serve Him in order to enjoy all the Blessings He wants to give us.
We did not have a service at Heritage Woods this month due to a scheduling problem at the home. Another church was scheduled on the date that we were to come and we agreed to wait until December until they resolved the scheduling problem. I understand the residents were not happy as they were really looking forward to our coming. All plans right now are to have services in December.
We will be giving out gifts during each service at each home in December. The sweaters are ready, “THANKS” to all the ladies who did the sewing, you did a beautiful job. A special “THANKS” to Angie and Karen Hanson who so graciously monogrammed our name “SonShine Ministries” on all the sweaters. I know it took a lot of time and energy and it is so very much appreciated. They look great. It is so neat to see how God provides our every need and sends people our way with a servant’s heart to do these kinds of things. I have never had to beg or plead for workers; everyone just volunteers and does a great job. Last year Margie Valade monogrammed all the sweaters and gave all her time and energy. We have never had to ask for money, God just continues to provide over and above our needs and He continues to multiply our talents with good music and it is a Blessing.
We also have blankets and non-skid socks as gifts. We will be giving “bibs” along with a bottle of lotion at Senior Star to the memory care residents. The activity director said they were in desperate need of bibs so we ordered 30 bibs and they can also be given to residents at other homes who are completely down and helpless. We do have some of them that come to the services. The family members bring them and that would be a great gift for them.
December will be a fun month, as well as a busy one so come and join us. We can use your help singing Christmas carols, distributing gifts or assisting with the residents...
PLEASE NOTE: All contributions to our ministry should be made payable to “Sonshine Outreach Ministries”. You can mail your gift to SonShine Outreach Ministries, c/o Joyce Mancke, 509 Rhonda Dr., Lockport, IL. 6044l. Your gifts are tax deductible and you will receive an end of the year statement.
Our schedule for December is as follows:
Lakewood Nursing Home, Plainfield –Dec. 6th @ 2:30 p.m.
Everyone is welcome. Come join us, we need your talents. You will make a difference and God will bless you for it.
Respectfully submitted by Joyce Mancke
