Residents@JV

Deacon Joe Stofleth

Thursday, Dec. 20, 2008, Jacob’s Village welcomed a good neighbor into their home about
6:30pm. Deacon Joe Stofleth, representing St. Philip’s Catholic Church and Elementary School blessed Jacob’s Village with a spiritual visit for the Christmas Season. The Jacob’s Village bunch of Debbie, Donna Kay, Wanda, Mike, Michael, and Scott were in the Women’s Home on this night where Home-Coordinators Janice and Joe had prepared their evening meal. At this time of the year, well, since Thanksgiving, both of the Men’s and Women’s Homes are decorated with the holiday season’s finest goods. Much time and effort is spent working with assorted seasonal paraphernalia making the homes look appealing and inviting not only for the residents but for the many guests and/or groups who stop by to visit. Since opening up in October of 2004, Jacob’s Village is always in the Christmas Spirit, this time of year, each year with a fully decorated tree, a manger scene, Advent Wreath’s and candle sets, just to name a few of the decorative items. For the past couple of years, Deacon Joe has graciously come out to Jacob’s Village a few days before Christmas to provide a prayer service with the residents. Expecting no less, Deacon Joe was prepared to share a little enlightening Christmas message. He brought along with him a handout quiz sheet for everyone to check and see how much of the Christmas Story they really knew. Deacon Joe elaborated on the Christmas Story for the residents, same ‘ol story, but nobody gets tired of listening to it when it’s told and personalized by an affluent member of the cloth. He also read some scripture, inviting ones to share their experiences of Christmas’s past, and talking of hopes and dreams of the New Year. He didn’t bring any musicians or Holiday snacks, which is not required anyway, but did finish up with a few Christmas Hymns and favorite Carols. The residents will have to see what they can do about that…maybe inserting a special clause in the protocol of Holiday Pastoral Visits. Irregardless, the residents of Jacob’s Village really enjoy Deacon Joe’s friendship, worship, and fellowship time that he blesses them with very much. And come to think of it, if there was a special clause in any type of visit, it would be free of any requirement to visit. The visitor or guests that show up would just need to be…a guest, nothing else; their presence would be gift enough. The residents love to entertain.

posted by J V Resident Blog @ 7:16 AM