When Memory Fades, Does the Church Remember? (Part 2)
By Adj A/Prof (Dr) Kenny Tan, Chief Executive Officer and Ms Ho Yin Yin, Senior Manager & Senior Chaplain, St Luke’s ElderCare
The church is called to actively remember and support individuals with dementia and their caregivers, reflecting Christ’s unwavering love through intentional presence, inclusive worship, and practical care.
When dementia enters a person’s life, it doesn’t just take away memories—it can take them away from the life of their community. As memory fades, relationships often grow strained. Friends drift away. Conversations become awkward. Even the church can quietly forget those who seem to slip out of sight.
But forgetting is not an option for the people of God. The church is called not only to remember God but to remember one another, especially those who are vulnerable and easily overlooked. Dementia is not just a medical diagnosis—it is a call for the church to reflect Christ’s love in deeper, more intentional ways.
The church is called not only to remember God but to remember one another, especially those who are vulnerable and easily overlooked.
Throughout Scripture, God calls His people to bear the burdens of those who are weak, forgotten, or struggling. In Galatians 6:2, Paul writes, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.” Dementia is a burden too heavy for individuals or families to carry alone. The whole church is called to lift it together.
The apostle Paul paints a beautiful picture of this kind of community in 1 Corinthians 12:26: “If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honoured, every part rejoices with it.” The church is not just a group of individuals—it is one body. When dementia affects one person, the whole community is affected. Choosing to walk together in suffering is how the church shows that Christ’s love is not merely a feeling but a commitment.
The church reflects Christ’s love most clearly when it refuses to turn away from those who can no longer “give back.” In the Gospels, Jesus consistently moved toward those who were weak, forgotten, or rejected. When the church stays close to those affected by dementia—both the individuals and their caregivers—it lives out that same Christlike love.
He is not a distant God—He is Emmanuel, God with us. Quiet companionship, gentle words, or simply holding a hand can offer profound spiritual care.
So how does the church “remember” those who forget? One of the most powerful ways is through worship. Even in advanced dementia, familiar hymns or Scripture passages often bring moments of recognition and peace. Patterns of worship—the Lord’s Prayer, the doxology, or a familiar blessing—can cut through the fog of memory and speak deeply to a person’s spirit.
Just as important is the ministry of presence. Being with those who can no longer remember us echoes God’s own character. He is not a distant God—He is Emmanuel, God with us. Quiet companionship, gentle words, or simply holding a hand can offer profound spiritual care. Visits from pastors, elders, or church members remind the person—and their family—that they are still part of the body of Christ.
In a world that forgets, the church remembers.
Churches can also consider making their physical and social spaces dementia-inclusive—offering quiet spaces during worship, providing caregiver support groups, or hosting special services designed to welcome those living with memory loss. These steps send a clear message: “You still belong here.”
In a world that forgets, the church remembers. And in that remembering, the love of Christ becomes visible, steady, and true.
