The Fountains
The Elder Mission ministry is a volunteer effort that combines being a Lay Eucharistic minister with pastoral outreach. Volunteers visit an independent/assisted living facility two Sundays a month and lead a worship service that lasts about 30 minutes.
The liturgy isn’t on Saint Philip’s campus but worshipers at The Fountains feel a sense of community with the parish as illustrated by Margaret Dorner’s letter and donation.
While the format follows the Episcopal liturgy, participants usually represent a variety of faith traditions. (Margaret Dorner is Lutheran.)
Services at The Fountains* (on La Cholla between River and Orange Grove) are held at 10:00am on Sundays. Parishioners Mary Cutting and Virginia Kat are the volunteers at this residence. They are supported in their work by Chotard Doll, a resident of The Fountains who was an Episcopal priest for 44 years. Some of the worshipers also serve as lectors.
Attendance ranges from 18 to 25 people on Sundays, and the group includes people raised in the Lutheran, Jewish, and Presbyterian traditions.Below are quotes from some of them:
“I attend the service because I love the smaller community. There are fewer distractions and I can focus on the readings and the sermon.”
—Lynne Albright, a resident of The Fountains.
“I first attended because my friend Lynne invited me. But since that first visit I’ve come every Sunday. I used to worship online but I really missed being part of an in-person community.” —Terry Shreve
“These are the best 30 minutes of my week!” —Grace Hughey
Volunteers receive training and mentoring, and report that the ministry is as rewarding for them as it is for those whom they serve.
If you would like to participate, contact parishioner Sunny Bal at 520-977-4386 or balbro@mindspring.com.
*Other residences where services are held include Villa Hermosa (on the corner of Speedway and Wilmot), The Atria (on River Avenue between Campbell and Hacienda del Sol), and Desert Springs (in Oro Valley).