The Gathering Respite Care

08/31/2026

There was a little bit of everything at The Gathering this past week - laughter, music, celebration, and even some tender moments shared together.

August gave us plenty of reasons to celebrate, with four birthdays in our Gathering family in one week — and would you believe THREE of them fell on the very same day?! 🎂🎉 Needless to say, we sang “Happy Birthday” more than once and made sure everyone got their moment to be celebrated!

We were also together the day after hearing the sad news of Dolly Parton’s passing. For so many of us, especially here in East Tennessee, Dolly and her music have simply always been part of the fabric of home. We spent time talking, remembering, and sharing our own thoughts about a woman who brought so much music, generosity, humor, and joy to the world. ❤️

And, as always, there was plenty of joy of our own to be found! We played Tic-Tac-Toss, rang the bells, sang familiar songs together, laughed, visited, and simply enjoyed being together.

Sometimes the best part of The Gathering is just that….. gathering. Sharing the celebrations, the memories, the music, and whatever the day happens to bring.

Join Us for Joy! ❤️❤️❤️

08/23/2026

The last couple of weeks at The Gathering have been filled with rhythm, movement, laughter, and plenty of joy! ❤️

We were so grateful to welcome Gaye King from Rivers From Within Ministry, who led us in a wonderful drumming circle. There’s just something special about making music together. The rhythm, connection, and smiles say it all! 🥁🎶

We’ve also kept our bodies moving with chair Tai Chi, helping us work on balance, flexibility, and mobility while enjoying a little calm along the way. And, as always, there have been plenty of games, conversations, laughter, music, and those spontaneous moments that make our days together so special.

Join Us for Joy!

08/11/2026

We wrapped up July and stepped into August doing what we love most at The Gathering - learning, creating, moving, making music, and enjoying one another! ❤️❤️❤️

Our friends painted rocks to add a little color and personality to our Memory Garden, filled the room with music through bell playing, learned about rain sticks (and, of course, had to try them out!), and enjoyed chair thai chi to keep our bodies moving and our minds engaged.

And as always, there was plenty more sprinkled in - conversation, laughter, dancing, friendship, and those spontaneous moments of joy that make our days together so special.

There’s just something wonderful about seeing everyone bring their own personality to the table and discovering what sparks a memory, a smile, or a little curiosity.

Join Us for Joy! ❤️❤️❤️

07/27/2026

Much like the ground is soaking up this much needed rain in our area, we soaked up more joyful moments at The Gathering last week! From friendly rounds of balloon tic-tac-toe to the calming movements of chair Thai Chi, every activity brought smiles and connection. Of course, there was plenty of dancing to keep the energy high, and we were delighted to welcome special guests Michelle Johnson and her daughter, Maggie, who shared beautiful music that made the day even more memorable. We are so thankful for the laughter, friendships, and moments of joy we continue to experience together each week. Join us for Joy!

07/18/2026

Join Us for Joy! 💙

What a wonderful week at The Gathering!

There was plenty of friendly competition during a very intense game of Jenga (we may have a few future champions to follow in our midst! 😊), lots of laughter as we shared our July Jokes, and a peaceful time of Tai Chi with Larry and Blue that helped us slow down and recharge.

Our music time was another highlight as we played Rhythm Bingo, recognizing familiar rhythm patterns Sabrina has been teaching us through drumming, handbells, and this week’s rhythm expression…maracas! It’s always amazing to see how music engages minds, sparks memories, and brings smiles to every face.

One of the greatest joys of the day was welcoming several new friends into The Gathering family. There’s always room around our tables for new friendships, and we love watching our community continue to grow.

Days like these remind us that joy is found in the little moments…from sharing a laugh, learning something new, moving together, making music, and simply enjoying one another’s company. Thank you to our incredible volunteers, caregivers, and friends for making every week so special.

07/10/2026

What a special day at The Gathering!

We were honored to welcome LeRae Edwards Collins, President & CEO of the Holston Foundation, as she presented The Gathering with a generous grant award. This funding will help us continue providing meaningful engagement, compassionate respite care, and a welcoming community for older adults and their caregivers.

We are incredibly grateful to the Holston Foundation for believing in our mission and investing in the lives of those we serve. Partnerships like these make it possible for us to continue creating moments of joy, connection, and purpose every week.

Thank you, LeRae, and thank you to the Holston Foundation, for your support and commitment to strengthening our community!

07/10/2026

Come join us for joy! 💙

Another wonderful week at The Gathering was filled with laughter, friendship, and meaningful moments. We were especially honored to welcome LeRae Edwards Collins, President & CEO of the Holston Foundation, who spent much of the day with us experiencing firsthand the joy, connection, and purpose that make The Gathering so special.

Thank you, LeRae, for taking the time to visit and for your continued support of our mission. We are grateful to share this journey with partners who believe in caring for older adults and their caregivers.

06/19/2026

So grateful for the coverage! Thank you Encore Ministry for helping shine a light on The Gathering and the work we do.
❤️❤️❤️

https://certainage.org/resource/the-gathering-offers-respite-connection-and-joy-for-families-in-jefferson-city/

This is "CertainAge Rachel Freshour Watson The Gathering First UMC Jefferson City TN" by ENCORE Ministry Foundation on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

06/18/2026

This week at The Gathering was extra special. We were honored to welcome the Quilts of Valor program, who presented a quilt to Guenter in recognition of his service to our country. The quilt was made by our local Jefferson City Quilters Group at FUMC. We are so grateful for his sacrifice and thankful to share in this meaningful moment together. We were especially grateful that his wife, Jeanette, and daughter, Mary Beth, could be there to share in the presentation. Thank you Guenter for your service! 🤗

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06/09/2026

At The Gathering, joy often finds us in the most spontaneous ways! These dance moments, big and small, are all about connection, laughter, and pure human spirit. Every step, every twirl, reminds us why we’re here—building moments of love and belonging together. Come share in the joy!