Ideas for Your Church: Honour Health Care Workers

Have you ever thought of having a service in your church to honour some particular group of care givers in your community? (We did it for those involved in health care. But it could be done for those in law enforcement, fire fighting, education, or some other group.) It is a way of demonstrating that your church is supportive of the community at large, and provides a unique audience for the gospel.

Whichever group you decide to work with, you will need a good liaison person within that group. This is key. Someone who will pass on the information and actively encourage attendance.

We built our service honouring health care providers around the theme Helping Hands. Each person who came received a pen inscribed “Thank you for the helping hand!” A couple of members of our church gave a word of commendation in the service, thanking doctors and nurses for their care for them personally. After the service we served a lunch, giving more of our folk a chance to express their gratitude. We donated a podium to the hospital which could be of use in the chapel area. In addition, a plaque was prepared which was put up in the local hospital, expressing the appreciation of our congregation. I preached on “The Hands of Jesus.” (There are many references to the hands of Christ in the gospels.) Outline: 1. Curing Hands; 2. Caring Hands; 3. Crucified Hands.