Tuesday Solace is a free service to the community to support families affected by dementia. A couple in our congregation was struggling with his diagnosis and she suggested the need for such a support group. With the encouragement of our priest at the time, Fr. Stan McGraw, several people began to study the feasibility of this project. Early leaders included Carole McCall, Ginger Jones, Marjorie Lewis, Pruitt Davis, and other interested parishioners.  The Capital of Texas Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association provided much-needed organizational and training help. First Lutheran Church had begun a similar respite program (Thursday Club) a few years earlier and were very helpful as we set up our program. Thursday Club has recently ended their program while Tuesday Solace has expanded our program to include folks with various other neurological conditions, such as other forms of Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Brain Injury, and Autism. All volunteers receive continued dementia training as well as Safe Guarding God’s People provided by the Diocese of Texas.

Tuesday Solace meets every Tuesday afternoon in the Great Hall from 1:00pm to 4:00pm to allow caregivers of persons with early-stage neurological challenges a much-needed break while their loved ones are in a safe, stimulating environment – entirely free of charge. 

  • 1:00 PM – Gather & Chatter: As participants enter, they are greeted and attended by their assigned volunteer.  They are offered refreshments and assisted to join with others in the group for friendly conversation.
  • 1:30 PM – Singing & Devotional: The Pledge of Allegiance is followed by a patriotic song (ie. “America The Beautiful”) and various hymns and other spiritual songs. Next a devotional is given by a clergy or lay person volunteering from any area church.
  • 2:00 PM – Exercise: With a leader demonstrating each move, participants engage in light exercise that is set to music.
  • 2:30 PM – Refreshments & Conversation
  • 3:00 PM – Entertainment – Entertainment varies each week and includes either bingo, or musicians, dancers, vocal artists, or story tellers from the community who generously give their time and talent.  
  • 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM – Recreation: Participants engage in a game of dominoes or other games as well as arts & crafts and singing during the final hour in the program.

Our Participant Families tell us how much they appreciate having an afternoon to rest or time to run errands, and that they appreciate how well their loved ones are cared for in our program. We come together in an atmosphere of love and joy for Participants and Volunteers alike.

Potential participants or volunteers can join our group by calling the church office, 254-773-4255.