Short Larson, shares her story of care ministry and her love for the people. Photos by Doreen Gosmire.

“I thank God for the gifts of Short Larson. Currently, she serves as the Congregational Care Coordinator at Downtown First, but she has cared for many people in many ways for years. She just didn’t have the title,” said Rev. Keith Nelson, Downtown First United Methodist Church. 
 
 Short Larson grew up attending the Mennonite Church in Freeman, South Dakota. When she got married, she started attending The United Methodist Church. In 1990, she began working at Downtown First United Methodist Church in Mitchell, South Dakota.

“For years, I have been connected to this church. It was the closest to my Mennonite upbringing. When I was first married, I worked at several part-time jobs, and one of those was working on Fridays at the church, filling in for the church secretary, who wanted to work four days a week because her husband had retired,” Short said.

In 1991, the church secretary retired, and Short began working as the church secretary, four days a week. Thirty years later, she became the Congregational Care Coordinator—a position she has held since 2020.

“It is amazing what comes to the front desk at the church. I never had the same day. I moved from the front desk to an office. But when I was at the front desk, I connected with so many people,” Short said. “I started thinking about retirement. There was only one thing that I had a hard time letting go of—the people. I love the people.”

Larson is grateful for the vision of Pastor Keith to develop a position around care ministry. “Keith’s vision and leadership led me to the position of Care Coordinator. What I mostly do is visit care facilities and nursing homes. I also attend worship, which Pastor Keith does monthly at those facilities. It is a great time to go and see several people. I stay after worship and visit some of them individually,” she said. “These people become family, and your life is richer because of the connections to the people.”

Following up with families after a baptism or funeral is also part of the position. For families that have lost someone, she distributes a magnet about grief. For families who have a funeral at Downtown First UMC and are not members of the congregation, she seeks out someone in the family who might welcome some care and connection.

She has started a monthly conversation group at Countryside Living—a senior living community. “I love it. It seems to meet the needs of those who come. They like visiting. It is not a Bible study. There is a short devotion, and then we talk. The bottom line is they are lonely, and they want conversation. I hope to get something going at Wesley Acres,” shared Short.

Larson works with five visitation volunteers. Each volunteer visits two to four people regularly. She coordinates a record-keeping or communication system to know who they are in contact with and share information about the status of the person they are visiting.

Larson has attended the The Caring Congregation national training. “The one thing that I remember from the training is when the congregational care person at Sioux Falls First UMC said, ‘Our goal is to reach everyone from birth to death.’ I try to follow that goal. I send notes to families that had someone do well in a sports event, a play, or something that shows up in the paper. I follow up on birthdays that I know about. The first few years, on the anniversary of a death, I reach out to a surviving family member.”

There is a variety in the schedule for the position of Congregation Care Coordinator. Larson is scheduled to work two and one-half days a week.

Communication and record keeping are essentials parts of the Congregational Care Coordinator.

“I try to set priorities and boundaries,” Short said. “You can’t predict the situations where you are needed. I have been at the hospital for four to five hours because there was a need. There are definite boundaries you must learn. You want to be there for everyone, but the fact is that the conversation is not always about congregational care. Cell phones make us available all of the time. So, there are calls on the weekend. You try to balance your time and take care of yourself.”

Communication and trust are key components to making things work. “I find that, at times, it is hard to connect with Pastor Keith and volunteers. We are going in so many directions. We work hard at communication,” Short said. “The main thing is trust. Developing trust with each other and those we are caring for. It is such a joy to listen to people. One lady in her 90s, whom I was visiting with, talked about how she missed the newspaper. She had delivered and read the newspaper since she was nine years old. Now, when I see her, I bring her the newspaper. She loves it, and I love to hear her stories. If you listen, you can find a way to connect. It is such an honor.”

There is not one specific resource that Larson finds fits the various needs. She works to match a resource with a need. “We find that some people are interested in something we find online. Others want you to bring them a treat like ice cream,” she said. “We try to care for people. Listen and make them comfortable. We are hope and connection. We are not professional counselors. “

She sees her job as a work in progress. The context and parameters are constantly changing. “People will always need care. That doesn’t change. People are aging and dying. The needs shift from one group to another, from one issue to another. Currently, mental wellness is a big focus for all ages, especially young people. We figure out what is the biggest need, and we adjust.”

Short expresses gratitude for the support she receives from her husband, Larry, “He loves to hear the stories and is always supportive.”

Pastor Keith’s vision and leadership are a continued blessing. Short said, “I was blessed to be given the option to continue the love for the people of this congregation!”

Resources: 

Care Ministry Training: Are you feeling called to care ministry and wondering where you should start? Join the Care Ministry Training on October 28, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Riverview UMC in Huron, S.D., and Legacy UMC in Bismarck, N.D. Get the details and register.

The Caring Congregation: Care ministry training  based on a scalable model of care developed and implemented at Church of the Resurrection by Rev. Karen Lampe, and is recognized by the UMC Lay Servant Ministries as qualification for a Specialization in Congregational Care for Certified Lay Ministers.  Learn more.