Local Church Members (left to right), Brooke, Rosemary, Pastor Brad, Eilert, April, and Jackie outside the Long Term Care in Wrangell, Ak.
It should not have come as a surprise for the Wrangell Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church that when April rolled around it would be time for singing at Long Term Care (LTC). The local Christian churches have been taking turns a month at a time to bring singing and fellowship to the local hospital where Long Term Care is located. April and October have been the months for the Wrangell SDA Church to share in this ministry for many years. Yet due to the Covid-19 pandemic, as with so many events, it had been cancelled for the past three years.
So it came as a surprise when Pastor Brad told the church family at the beginning of April that it was their turn to sing again. The first Sabbath they were assigned was rescheduled since the facility was not quite ready for them. During the pandemic, the LTC relocated to its new location attached to the new Wrangell Hospital. Due to the restrictions, few of the church members had been inside the new location. "We weren't sure what to expect. And I was a little nervous," said Brooke Reynolds, one of the guitar players.
The next Sabbath, April 15, a small group took guitars, voices, and book full of hymns to the LTC. They were greeted by friendly staff who were eager to orient them to the new space. The LTC now had a homey feel to it and cafe like dining room. The Activity Directory explained that many residents were happy to have company. She directed the church members to go into any room that had an open door.
So for the next three weeks that is what the church members did. They greeted the residents upon entering the rooms and sharing a few songs and prayer. Then they'd head to the next room. One resident who had been sleeping when they arrived woke up mouthing the words to a familiar hymn. She had tears in her eyes and so did some of the church members.
Another resident asked for special prayers for a family who was having surgery. Once the church members were done singing for individuals, they file into the dining room or living space and share one final song. Then April was over. The church members agreed that they would be looking forward to singing again at LTC in October.
So it came as a surprise when Pastor Brad told the church family at the beginning of April that it was their turn to sing again. The first Sabbath they were assigned was rescheduled since the facility was not quite ready for them. During the pandemic, the LTC relocated to its new location attached to the new Wrangell Hospital. Due to the restrictions, few of the church members had been inside the new location. "We weren't sure what to expect. And I was a little nervous," said Brooke Reynolds, one of the guitar players.
The next Sabbath, April 15, a small group took guitars, voices, and book full of hymns to the LTC. They were greeted by friendly staff who were eager to orient them to the new space. The LTC now had a homey feel to it and cafe like dining room. The Activity Directory explained that many residents were happy to have company. She directed the church members to go into any room that had an open door.
So for the next three weeks that is what the church members did. They greeted the residents upon entering the rooms and sharing a few songs and prayer. Then they'd head to the next room. One resident who had been sleeping when they arrived woke up mouthing the words to a familiar hymn. She had tears in her eyes and so did some of the church members.
Another resident asked for special prayers for a family who was having surgery. Once the church members were done singing for individuals, they file into the dining room or living space and share one final song. Then April was over. The church members agreed that they would be looking forward to singing again at LTC in October.
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