The Feast of the Visitation

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately making visits to our congregation’s Members to Remember. That’s what we call our shut-ins, because not all of them are actually “shut in,” and it’s also not a label by which people want to be defined. Every year around Christmas and Easter, we pastors at Chippewa UMC make every effort to share the sacrament of Holy Communion with all of our Members to Remember.

In this busy season of Advent, these visits have not been easy to fit into my schedule. However, instead of being a nuisance, they have actually become something I anticipate with joy. The purpose of the visits is to make sure everyone remains connected to the body of Christ, no matter what their situation. If something limits their ability to participate fully in the life of the church, then we bring the church to them with this sacrament. Communion is a visible sign of God’s grace extended to us, and once the bread and cup is made sacred, Christ becomes truly present with those who gather together.

So, in the ministry of visitation, my role is to communicate remembrance. We remember what God has done, is doing, and has yet to do in Jesus Christ. We also remember that even though their activity in the church is now limited, they are still meaningful participants in the body of Christ, and without them that body is incomplete.

But the secret of pastoral ministry is that the Members to Remember are not the only ones who need these visits. I need to remember as well. These people help me remember that there is more to the church than what we see on Sunday morning, or even in the packed sanctuaries of Christmas Eve.

The holiday season is filled with joy and “Christmas cheer.” But sometimes all the bright, shiny celebrations cause us to forget the people living in the shadows. In the glow of Christmas, our Members to Remember are in danger of being the “Members We Forgot.” But because of this ministry practice, I have kept them at the forefront of my mind. And I can think of no better way to celebrate the coming of Emmanuel, which means “God with us,” than to spend time with Members to Remember.