Card Writing

  • 27 July 2022
  • Meg Matthews

Who doesn’t love to receive a friendly card from someone telling you they care?

Two years ago, as the Covid pandemic took hold and increasingly we found ourselves isolated at home in lockdown or restricted in social interactions, SHAP, under Stuart’s guidance, launched a Call and Card writing ministry. Literally hundreds of calls have been made and cards written since then.

And why? Because we are called by our Lord to care for people, especially the vulnerable.

Loneliness remains a painful presence for many in our parish. People are often lonely and isolated in their own home; they can also be very lonely in institutional care. A sad statistic is that it’s estimated that up to 40% of people in Australian aged care homes receive no visitors at all. All of us, especially as we get older, want and need someone to show they care; we all need to know we matter.

One simple, yet profound, way to show care is to write a card of friendship and encouragement. What we offer is a glimpse of the love and light of the Lord Jesus. As we write cards to our elderly friends, in or outside of aged care homes, we do so with a prayer that God will use our words of friendship and care and bring a ray of sunshine and encouragement into that person’s life, even if just for a moment.

We are wanting to expand, not contract, our card writing reach. If you would like to be part of our card writing team at SHAP, please would you get in touch with me at meglizmatthews@gmail.com. I’m happy to provide some simple guidelines. If you know of someone in our parish you think would like to receive such a card from time to time, let me know please.

In Jesus’ name

Meg