From Sun City Christian Church (edited for length)
Sun City Christian Church (SCCC) is in Sun City Arizona, an age-restricted community for adults aged 55 and older, dedicated to leisure and recreation.
SCCC celebrated 50 years of worshiping together in November 2024. Our congregation started with fifty-seven individuals who met for the first time at one of the Sun City recreation centers on November 3, 1974. By May 6, 1979, over 450 met in the current church building and at our height over 750 attended services.
Supporting the spirit of Sun City, a parish nurse program with a designated nurse room was built into the original blueprints where parishioners could seek health-related services and information. We are seeking to revitalize the spirit of this mission with our health education and wellness program.
The mission of our wellness ministry is foremost to empower the parishioners of SCCC to be self-advocates for their medical care and wellness, as well as that of their loved ones. A secondary goal is building trusting relationships between participants to help alleviate isolation and loneliness. In addition, we sought to encourage members to remain active, better understand the aging process, community resources, and the medical system.
The Start to Our Wellness Ministry
We have identified that parish nursing is a key component in the ongoing health and wellbeing of our congregation and those who visit our facilities. The wellness room has been equipped to meet the ongoing medical/wellness needs of our community with equipment including a defibrillator and supplies for first aid and medical emergencies. Members of our team were trained on CPR, first aid, and the use of a defibrillator in emergency situations.
As part of our Wellness ministry we have offered educational sessions collaborating with qualified internal and community professionals. These have included topics including: Medicare supplemental plans; medical fraud, waste, and abuse; nutrition for seniors; foot care; senior housing; and finishing faithfully.
Acknowledging the importance of exercise to the health and wellness for seniors we began a weekly chair exercise program taught by a silver-shoe qualified member of our wellness committee. The well-received program included strength and balance training. These sessions, well attended by both church members and community members, augment the informational sessions to support an active and healthier congregation and community.
Once a month, informative “lunch and learn” lunchtime sessions are also offered, where attendees eat lunch together while learning about various topics and programs of interest in the area. LifeLines Screening conducted a cardiovascular health screening event at our facility in April 2024 that was open to all residents of Sun City and surrounding areas.
Augmenting these educational session, chair exercise program, informational gatherings, and screenings, SCCC gathers for social opportunities to build relationships and reduce isolation including game nights, musical concerts, and group attendance at external concerts.
Looking Forward
As we look forward we are excited to continue to involve our wider community, including several nearby congregations. We are planning new educational sessions on suicide prevention, integrating oral health and physical health, and hand health. In addition, a health resource fair is in the works and will include a well-vetted assortment of local agencies and providers that will offer either valuable information and/or conduct health related tests for members of the congregation and community.
Annually, we will continue to re-assess the needs and interests of community members to ensure that current topics of interest are covered.
Congregational Vitality Grants
The Arizona Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is proud to offer grants to Arizona Disciples congregations in order to promote the vitality of our congregations and their ministry, primarily through the following areas of priority: evangelism/church growth, anti-racism/prophetic unity, and public witness.
Your congregation can apply for a grant by visiting our Congregational Vitality Ministry page.
