Seniors

Making Melody at Nursing Home

/ pastorpete51 / 7 Comments 
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody 
in your heart to the Lord - Ephesians 5:19 KJV

Singing is so important that it is one of the few things we do on earth that we will also do in heaven. The key in helping seniors to sing, is finding ways, for everyone to make melody in their heart to Jesus. So, the best songs to choose are the ones that everyone can sing, because there must always be a “We” in worship. Here are three ideas that have helped me along the way.

First, remember that the voices of senior saints are not what they were when they were younger. But if George Beverly Shea and Burl Ives could record music into their 80’s and 90’s; there certainly is a way we can help seniors to participate. To begin with, the key we are playing the songs in makes a huge difference. Hymns were often written for much younger voices or for choirs to sing. Though those original keys were nice they are not sacrosanct. There is certainly nothing wrong with singing “Holy-Holy-Holy” in a key that is low enough for someone besides the cherubim and seraphim to join in!

Secondly, not only are our people’s voices changing, but their ears have also grown older. I happen to have an exceptionally loud voice (ask my wife!) and because of that I rarely use a microphone. But if you have a sound system available, please use it! If there is no microphone available, consider moving closer to your listeners. With my guitar I can walk back and forth in the room, and turn directly towards people, so that they can hear the notes, and hearing helps them to keep up with where we are at in the lyrics.

Finally remember that pacing and rhythm matter. In a nursing home meeting, even on a great day, most people only have energy to focus for about thirty minutes. Some have medications that make them sleepy, or aches and pains that make it difficult to stay put for long. The last thing we want to do is incorporate so many slow and gentle hymns, that half our audience falls asleep! I usually start out with familiar and easy songs such as “Just a Closer Walk”, so that as many people as possible join in. Then we usually pick up the pace a bit, with as many joyful songs as I have the energy for. Even Sunday school songs like, “The Joy of the Lord is My Strength” or “I’ve Got the Joy-Joy-Joy” work well. Just because they are older, doesn’t mean our friends won’t enjoy some fun and laughter. They will have plenty of problems to greet them after they leave our service. Of course, the idea is not just to sing fast songs, rather to give a variety. It is a good idea to slow down near the end of the service, for songs such as “The Old Rugged Cross”, “How Great Thou Art” or “In the Garden.” Now they are ready to focus, to pray and to allow God to speak His melody into their hearts. If you have any questions, would like to make a comment, or share your own experiences, please do. Someone may need to hear what you have to say!

Every Day’s a Gift

/ pastorpete51 / 2 Comments

For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 1 Corinthians 1:26 ESV

This morning, I took a friend down for an appointment with her neurologist, because lately she has gotten lost on the way. Since the visit stretched on for an hour and a half, it gave me plenty of time to read, and to observe the many patients streaming in and out of the office. At one point my knees were getting stiff, so I went to the door and as I began to step outside, I noticed a man coming up the walk, trailed by an older gentleman, who I took to be his father. Since I was in the doorway anyway, I held it open, for them, and they both smiled and thanked me, but the older man also apologetically said, “Sorry, but I’m a little slow.” Once they entered, the receptionist had forms for them to fill out and the younger one, pulled out a bag full of prescription bottles and proceeded to make sure they were the same as those already printed out on the form. Then, apparently that being the only purpose of their visit, after they finished the paperwork, and answered a few questions, they turned and headed towards the door. Again, the older man trailed far behind, shuffling a bit with his feet. “Have a good day,” I said as they passed.

Not expecting anything else to be said, I turned back to reading the day’s news on my phone, but as the older man reached for the door, he turned, flashed a smile towards me and said,

Remember, every day’s a gift!”.

As they headed home, I realized that, while most of us had seen this man with sympathy, but few could see how aware he was of his position in life. Once he could have sprinted up the walk, flung open the door and been the one helping others to their seats. But now, hobbled by years, and a body that no longer cooperated with him he bravely was entering a new and challenging chapter in life. But in his weakness, he had recognized grace and saw that grace could help in his weakest state. He had come to recognize that God was over it all, and as firmly in control as He has ever been. He had seen that, life is a gift, and in fact, all that God had done was a gift, from creation to the Cross. God planted the garden, then gave it to man. God created Eve and presented her to Adam. God even feeds the birds he created and gave them songs to cheer us. He sent His only Son, then gave His most precious gift of all, the blood of Jesus Christ for our sins. And right now, God offers a much overlooked and amazing gift. God’s gift is for Muslims and Hindus, for pastors and paper boys, for children and especially for one man who can only shuffle up the walkway to his doctor’s office. He has found that while he can no longer work, play baseball, or even drive his own car, he can be grateful and give a smile to me and say, “Remember, every day’s a gift!”

Embracing Christ’s Humility in Nursing Home Ministry

/ pastorpete51 / 9 Comments

“Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” John 13:5 ESV

A lot of people have come to me over the years, and say, “I want to get involved in nursing home ministry, but where do I get started?” Well, the truth is, I don’t know all the answers, but I have learned that nursing-home ministry, just like any other type of service in the body of Chrost is about joining team Jesus. Maybe it would help if you could just imagine getting together with friends to play a game of football. The team captains have already been chosen, and they begin to call out the names of those they pick. One by one, people go and stand next to their captain. In nursing home ministry, Jesus is not only our captain, but He is also the quarterback. He calls the plays in the huddle, throws the ball to different people on different occasions, and sometimes, even calls for a time out so that we can go to the sidelines to talk to our coach.

“But what can I do?” is an often-repeated question, and there is no single answer, because we all have different roles that God has given us to play. Maybe you are a people person, but not a public speaker. Why not see if a few residents might like to join a small Bible study one morning a week. Others of you can play an instrument, and you could team up with someone to hold a Sunday afternoon service, for those that can’t make it to church. One lady I met was a hairdresser, who volunteered a few hours a week to do hair, and while they were in the chair, she listened to their stories, pointed them to Jesus and prayed with them. But before you do anything, the most important thing of all is to listen to the coach, that is spend time in prayer. He already has a plan for you and me, but He gives us the privilege of seeking it out, knocking on His door, and then asking for His help to do what He asks.

But the key to everything we do is to follow how Jesus did things. In the upper room on the night of the Last Supper, Jesus shocked His disciples by washing their feet. In fact, Peter was so shocked that at first he refused to allow Jesus to wash his feet. More often than not, you and I are just like Peter. We have dirty feet, and we hate to admit it and we would hate even more for Jesus to see those feet and then kneel down and wash them. We feel so ashamed, so unworthy, so hopelessly out of control. We suddenly see how far we are from where God intends for us to be, but truth be told, that place of humility is exactly where Jesus wants us to be. He can’t use us to serve in the lives of others, until He has become the washer of our feet. We must be ready for the humility of receiving from Him before He can use us to give with humility to others.

“But what does that mean for me?” you might ask. In my case it has meant stopping a meeting to pray for a man who fell out of his wheelchair, or going into a room and praying with a family as their loved lies unresponsive in their bed. Joining team Jesus has often meant ditching my carefully planned meeting and responding to unexpected and sometimes unpleasant situations with grace. How that approach applies in your local community, begins by doing the things that Jesus did in the upper room that night. First, Jesus took off His robe, then He wrapped a towel around His waist. Now, this wasn’t just any old robe. This was the seamless one that had been lovingly woven by his mother and given to Him as a special gift. His robe marked His well-earned place of respect in His home, His village and among His disciples. Think of it like the steps I take before starting a painting project around our home. I set aside my nice comfortable jeans and slip into an old pair that hangs in our garage. Then my favorite t-shirt gets put away and I get the old worn-out one from my dresser. Last, I take off my new sneakers and dig out the beat-up ones kept in the bin holding my rollers and paint brushes.

So, if you are feeling God tugging on your heart to serve in long-term care ministry, begin where Jesus began.: on His knees in service to us. Start by asking yourself, “Where has God called me to serve? ” Then embrace the humility of Jesus, put aside the things that feel comfortable, and put on the work clothes needed for the job that God is calling you to do today!

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