news article

Waterville UMC’s sustains solid relationship with a long-term care facility

August 26, 2019 / By Shannon Hodson / .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Sixty-six years ago, Catherine Harding, a member of the Waterville United Methodist Church, was a trailblazer in the field of long-term care. Along with her husband and mother, she founded the Harding Nursing Home (now named the Waterville Residential Care Center). Catherine worked as an administrator and LPN at the center, now in its fourth generation of family ownership, until her retirement in her 80s.

From the beginning, Waterville Residential Care Center prided itself on having a phenomenal team of volunteers. Catherine Harding solicited several volunteers from her beloved Waterville UMC. Catherine’s granddaughter, Judy Harding, who co-owns the facility with Joseph Murabito, is also an active member of Waterville UMC. She has helped continue the tradition of gathering volunteers from her church to volunteer at Waterville Residential Care Center.

Lauren Wratten has been the Director of Activities and Volunteer Services at Waterville Residential Care Center for five years. She said, “It’s amazing how committed the members of the Methodist Church (Waterville UMC) are. They plan so many meaningful experiences for the residents.”

Betty Bartch, a member of Waterville UMC, volunteers regularly, but she called herself a “a wishy-washy volunteer.”

Lauren jumped in and said, “Betty is so devoted—she is here all the time, yet she calls herself wishy-washy. These women are volunteering their time and they are so committed that they apologize profusely when they can’t make it….and call themselves wishy-washy. That is so far from the truth.”

“I tell them that they don’t have to ‘call in.’”

Pointing to beautiful floral centerpieces on the dining room tables, Lauren said, “They do crafts with the residents and one they do every month is make new centerpieces to help beautify this room.”

She added, “One of the events they plan every year is a picnic, and I am always amazed seeing over a dozen members of the church coming in with such beautiful salads.”

Waterville UMC’s relationship with Waterville Residential Care Center extends beyond volunteering. A couple years ago, Bryant Clark was fresh out of seminary and was appointed to Waterville UMC and Hamilton: Park UMC.

When Pastor Clark arrived at Waterville UMC, he was given a letter describing the fact that Waterville Residential Care Center offers their residents a Protestant service every Thursday and that he would be preaching there the fourth Thursday of every month.

Pastor Clark was a little surprised, but also excited; he said, “I pulled Betty Bartch aside, and said, ‘Hey what am I supposed to do?’ She said, ‘Just do whatever you want to do. You can bring your guitar and I’m sure the residents will love that. And they do. It’s a pretty cool thing.”

Every fourth Thursday of each month, recorded contemporary Christian music plays with lyrics on the large screen TV in the center’s dining room from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and then Pastor Clark delivers a message at 10:30 a.m.

On August 22, Pastor Clark gave a message on “Welcoming” to over 20 residents. He explained, “I think being welcoming is a very important part of being a Christian.”

Pastor Clark referenced the story of the crippled woman that Jesus heals in the book of Luke.

He said, “Jesus visits a synagogue and sees this woman who is hunched over and not able to walk straight…It’s as though Jesus said, ‘Stop the presses! Stop what we’re doing; we have a new guest. He not only sees this woman come to the synagogue, the same synagogue that she has probably come to over and over again, but he sees her in her ailment and pain, perhaps coming in a little timidly.

So in the middle of a teaching surrounded by all these people, Jesus says, ‘Hey you, yeah I see you. Come here! Not only are you welcome in this place, I know you. I know what you are going through.’ And he puts hands on her and heals her and she immediately stands up straight and praises God.

When there is a newcomer that comes, acknowledge them and introduce yourselves. This is how we can be like God here.

It can even be something simple like inviting another resident to your lunch table…Hey I see you; I know you.”

After his sermons, Pastor Clark takes time to visit with residents, some who are members of Waterville UMC.

Pastor Clark explained, “Waterville has a deep relationship [with this center]. A couple years ago, we decided to lean into this even more. We help host parties and we’ll come over here the week before and maybe do crafts that will serve as the decorations for the parties.”

Laura said, “Things have changed here over the years; we’ve had remodels for example, but one thing has not changed and that is the core value of building solid relationships the very same way that the woman who founded this place did.”