A small group from my church does just that each month at Care-age of Brookfield: I put together the songbooks and the music from favorite CDs (including selections by everyone's favorite singer, Tennessee Ernie Ford), and Nancy Weinkauf helps with transferring residents, turning songbook pages, and generally making members of our senior-citizen chorus feel happy and loved.
What's more, the entire Carrillo family pitches in. Each time, dad Chris delivers an excellent biblical message, custom-prepared and carefully tailored to the needs of those residing in a long-term care facility. And we get wonderful assists from mom Carrie and children Dylan, Tanner, Isabella, Cole, Braden and Danica -- help ranging from sharing sunny smiles with everyone to turning pages, from passing out gospel tracts to helping everyone get to their tables for lunch when we're finished.
Here are the songs we'll be singing this month:
- He Leadeth Me
- Softly and Tenderly
- Draw Me Nearer
- Beneath the Cross of Jesus
- Jesus Paid It All
- The Old Rugged Cross
- The Love of God
- O Love that Wilt Not Let Me Go
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
- In the Garden
- We Gather Together
- What a Day That Will Be
We sing different hymns each month, sometimes focusing on special themes. For instance, every year we spend an hour or two or three singing songs that feature heaven prominently, such as these:
- Abide with Me
- Rock of Ages
- In the Sweet By and By
- Sweet Beulah Land
- Be Thou My Vision
- Be Still, My Soul
- It Is Well with My Soul
- Hallelujah! What a Savior!
- Finally Home
- Shall We Gather at the River
- How Great Thou Art
- Beyond the Sunset
It's quite a popular event; we usually have anywhere from one-third to almost one-half of the home's residents in attendance. Not many of us sing very well, but we certainly know how to make a joyful noise unto God!
If you're intrigued and have questions about developing such a program in your community, perhaps I can help; don't hesitate to drop me a note.