... but I'm seeing something really neat....
We have six nursing homes in town, ranging from "assisted living" (older folks who are really "with it") to.. um... downright near palliative care.
Our Church does a "church service" on the first Sunday of every month in two of the six nursing homes - one at 2:30 and one at 3:30 - so that, in a 3 month time, we've "done Church" in all six nursing homes.
We spend about 15 minutes singing some of the old hymns, then one of my associate pastors does a sermon, then we sing some more.
Some of the residents don't even seem like they're "there". Until we sing. Then it's almost like (sorry, but this is what comes to mind) Weekend at Bernie's. The songs seem to reach inside and turn something on, bringing back memories and even smiles. They don't always seem to "get" the sermon, but they really seem to connect with the music.
This afternoon, we had a lady who looked pretty much "out of it", but when we began to sing some of the old hymns, she "came to life", and sat there "directing" the music, waving her arm in time to the music. I watched her, and I would have to guess she was, at one time, the music leader, or "minster of music" for some Church somewhere, because she was really into it.
They're a blessing. We go there to be a blessing, but they bless us.
We have six nursing homes in town, ranging from "assisted living" (older folks who are really "with it") to.. um... downright near palliative care.
Our Church does a "church service" on the first Sunday of every month in two of the six nursing homes - one at 2:30 and one at 3:30 - so that, in a 3 month time, we've "done Church" in all six nursing homes.
We spend about 15 minutes singing some of the old hymns, then one of my associate pastors does a sermon, then we sing some more.
Some of the residents don't even seem like they're "there". Until we sing. Then it's almost like (sorry, but this is what comes to mind) Weekend at Bernie's. The songs seem to reach inside and turn something on, bringing back memories and even smiles. They don't always seem to "get" the sermon, but they really seem to connect with the music.
This afternoon, we had a lady who looked pretty much "out of it", but when we began to sing some of the old hymns, she "came to life", and sat there "directing" the music, waving her arm in time to the music. I watched her, and I would have to guess she was, at one time, the music leader, or "minster of music" for some Church somewhere, because she was really into it.
They're a blessing. We go there to be a blessing, but they bless us.
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