Dodgeville United Methodist Church celebrates the sacrament of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month. In an attempt to reach out to those members that we have who: (1) may find it difficult or impossible to leave home or (2) have residence at a nursing home or assisted living facility, we have created a Home Communion ministry that brings the sacrament to those who are “unwillingly” absent from a Communion service.

This ministry began in January of 2016 because of many wonderful church members who stepped up to be a part of this ministry: Jan Aschliman, Sandy Alexander, Mary Berryman, Charlene Mingst, Nancy Mortimer, Mary Ellen Schultze, Carol Thomas, and Mary Jean Thomas. The elements that were blessed at the communion table are packed up into mobile communion serving stations and taken out into the community. On Sunday afternoon, they share communion, some reflections from the day’s worship service, and they pray together as well.

I share this with you today because I have been reviewing the visitation reports from our March 4th Communion service and have read about how roommates of church members and some folks from other churches have wanted to join together at the table. One group had six people together for Communion! As one person write, “Yes! A very rewarding morning.” Indeed. Praise God!

If you are from another congregation and would be interested in learning more about how to start a Home Communion ministry that falls within the guidelines and recommendations of The United Methodist Church, I would highly recommend reading Extending the Table: A Guide for a Ministry of Home Communion Serving by Mark Stamm. If you have any questions about what we do, contact Pastor Jim through the contact page of our website.