My Call and Our Call to Nursing Home by Roberta Finnmore

Nursing home service every third Sunday 
at the Gardiner


Stetson Memorial UMC

8.24.25

My name is Roberta Adams Moore—though some know me as Roberta Finnemore. I was born in 1940 in Patten, Maine, and I’ve lived a long life by God’s grace. Even now, at 85, I see that God still has work for me to do.

These days, I live in a nursing home. Some might think that’s the end of ministry, but for me, it’s just a new beginning. God has opened doors here for His work. It started with small things—devotionals every morning with Wendy and Sharon. We prayed, sang, and studied God’s Word together. When Wendy moved on, I wanted to keep learning, so we asked Pastor Joyce and Houlton UMC to lead a Bible study every Friday. And now, every third week, we have a Sunday service right here in the nursing home. Through all of this, I feel part of Houlton UMC, even though I am far from my home church.

Pastor Joyce once told me that I was like Moses in the nursing home. That touched my heart deeply. Moses had a calling, even in his later years, and God used him to bless His people. I feel the same way. Even here, I have a calling—to love the residents, to pray with them, to encourage them, and to help them grow in faith. God is using me in ways I never imagined, even at my age.

Through this calling, we’ve started a pen-pal ministry, a weekly Bible study, and special services every month. Residents are learning about God’s love, sharing their stories, and feeling part of His family. I believe God will open even more doors for this ministry in the future. It’s not about me—it’s about His calling, and how He uses each of us to bring hope and joy to others.

I still love hymns like “Blessed Assurance” and “I Love to Tell the Story.” Singing them with the residents reminds me of my mother, who taught me to love God’s Word. Every song is a story, and every story points us to Jesus.

If I could say one thing today, it would be this: God loves us all, no matter our age or circumstance. He still calls us, and He still sends us, even when we think our work is done. Here in the nursing home, I’ve learned that our calling is never too late, and God can use us to bless others in ways we cannot imagine.

And so, I will keep praying, singing, and sharing God’s Word, waiting to see what He will do next—because His calling is bigger than me, and it reaches every life around me. Amen.

 

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