At Holy Moly, a church to be renamed later, we’ve formed 4 different kinds of ministry teams, and I’ve signed on for a couple of them. One is “Nurturing,” or pastoral care, and we’re creating it from the ground up – we’ve put in for a diocesan grant to offer some kind of healing ministry in the area (taking communion, services at care centers and hospices, etc).

I heard this item on WBEZ the other day, and it’s been on my mind for a while. I was talking to my friend Katy last night, and mentioned an idea that I’d had for a simple way to start us off: a hymn sing that we could start on a shoestring, with photocopied hymns in large-print format. We could offer an actual modified service, of course, but with plenty of hymns and perhaps a whiff of incense and the sound of the handchimes.

I think I’ll email somebody about this and see what they think.

Chicago Public Radio

But these worship services aren’t just about remembering the past. They’re designed to help engage residents in this present moment. So, in addition to traditional hymns and scripture, chaplain Janet Aldrich works to provoke the other senses. That’s why she’s tied red streamers to a fan for this Pentecost service–a symbol of the presense of the Holy Spirit. She also hands out red carnations. And if you’ve ever smelled a snuffed-out church candle, you can imagine why she sought special permission to use real fire.

ALDRICH: There is just a treasure house of imbedded spiritual memory that just has to be tapped. And it’s exciting when you realize whatever I have done in the design of the service has worked at least with someone.

MILDRED: Hi there Jason. Hello. Just put that thing down in front of you.

After the worship service, Mildred and Joseph make their way to the dining room. Joseph still lives at home, but never misses supper here with Mildred. They sit next to each other. Joseph looks lovingly at Mildred. Mildred holds the red carnation from the Pentecost service. Chaplain Aldrich and I join them.

MILDRED: Did you enjoy the worship service? Of course. Do you always come to the worship service? This is the first one I’ve been to because I live very close by, so I have to be careful where I go. But I liked it.

This isn’t Mildred’s first time. She’s lived her for two years. But Joseph and chaplain Aldrich have learned that correcting Mildred only makes her anxious. Comforting Mildred is a matter of pastoral care. Still, this isn’t a one-way street. There’s something Mildred offers Joseph as well.

JOSEPH: When I come here to be with her and try to comfort her, an amazing peace and serenity comes over me. And I feel healthier.

Joseph says that serenity is more than physical, mental or emotional. It’s a deeply spiritual peace. And a form of connection–soul to soul–he never imagined making with his wife at this stage in her dementia and their life together.