God is at work in my life through my volunteering with Sunday Fellowship, West Concord Union Church’s vibrant ministry with developmentally disabled adults. I’ve been a minister with this group since around the year 2000, and I consider it to be an integral part of my life.

Many of the participants who come to the twice monthly Sunday afternoon Sunday Fellowship meetings live in group homes run by Minuteman ARC. Part of my ministry is to visit six of these homes on the Saturday afternoon before the Sunday service to drop off a reminder flyer about the service and to say hello to whoever is home. Let me walk you through a typical round of visits to the houses.

I start at the Roosevelt Street house in Maynard, where Hillary is often working when I visit. She always answers the door quickly and brings me into the living room to see Christina and Kathy, and Debbie who may be visiting.

Then I go over to Acton Road in Maynard. I had visited this house many times, but no ever came to Sunday Fellowship…until recently! Another woman named Christina moved into Acton Road, and the staff learned that she wanted to attend. So they brought her to a recent Sunday Fellowship service, and her presence brought a new level of joy to our group.

Continuing into Concord, I next arrive at the Emerson House on West Street. The last time I went there the men were all sitting down to a late lunch, but Sid, the staff member, still welcomed me into the dining room, and I shared a hearty “hello” with Charles, Eddie, Paul, George and Dennis.

Onward I continue to Derby Street where Megan, Lisa, Joan Marie and Sarah live. Lisa is particularly happy that I got married last January, and she regularly asks me, “How’s your husband?”

Then I go to the Carter Building on Main Street where Brian, Chris, Lola, Mary, Cherita and Jeannie live. Last time I went there, they all swarmed around me, telling me about their jobs and how they are practicing for the upcoming Christmas musical.

My last stop is at the Thoreau Street house in Concord Center. This is my challenging house because I’ve had a hard time making headway there. I know that residents Bruce and Steven like to attend Sunday Fellowship, but I haven’t been able to get the staff to make a firm commitment to bring them the next day. But I’ll keep stopping by and reaching out to them. After all, my persistence worked with Acton Road, where Christina is now attending Sunday Fellowship.

Looking back on this summary of a trip to the Minuteman ARC houses, I realize that I’ve done a lot of “name dropping”. I’ve named the names of a lot of the friends that I have in Sunday Fellowship…friends who welcome me into their homes without hesitation. What a blessing!

So God really is at work in my life. God has brought these wonderful friends into my life, and has woven me into the fabric of the community. Thank God for Sunday Fellowship.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 1 John 4:7 NIV