Cornerstone Goes Caroling

Every December our church goes Christmas caroling.  We generally go to people's homes that don't get to get out.  We sing and pray for them.  Everyone has so much fun!  We met after church Sunday afternoon at 2 pm in the parking lot of a local pizza place.  Some of us loaded up in a wagon for a hayride (minus the hay).  The rest followed in their cars.  I can't believe I didn't get a head count, but I think it was around 25 folk in all.

After we went to a couple of people's homes to sing, we went by Jeff Davis Living Center.  It is one of the two nursing homes in our town.  We walked down the halls singing and stopped by the room of a lady who came to our church.  We have special binders made up with all the Christmas carols in them, so we sing the first and last verses and sing "We wish you a Merry Christmas" before moving down the hall or to the next room.  

Jennings has a VA Home as well.  We walked through the VA home singing.  We went into the Alzheimer's Unit here.  It was amazing to see some of the residents singing along!  It's always very touching and moving to see.  The VA home was decorated very nicely.

We had one more stop at Camelot Brookside.  It is another nursing home in our town.  We have Services there monthly on the third Wednesday of the month.  It was to be our final stop of the day.  However, when we pulled up, there was another large group about to go in and carol.  We decided to come back on another day to sing for them.  We'll be there for services on the 20th anyway.  It was about to get dark and would be dangerous to be in the trailer going down the road.

We headed back to the Fellowship Hall at our church and sang one more time.  Then we asked a blessing over the meal and feasted on brisket, potato soup, shrimp mold, and a dizzying array of desserts!  Caroling is a simple thing, but it brings joy to people.  They remember old times and sing along and smile.  It was a great day for everyone involved, and I'm glad that we do it!

For Those Who Served

There is a Veteran's Administration Home in our town.  Veterans from all branches of the Service make residence there.  Our little church (before Covid) held monthly services at the VA home.  We said, "If you can't come to church, we'll bring church to you."  We'd meet and sing some old hymns, pray, and then have a message from the Word of God.

Then Covid happened.  We could no longer get access to the VA home or the other nursing homes in town.  We recently started going to one of the nursing homes on a monthly basis, and we're trying to do the same at the VA Home.  But while we are working that out, a local family that sings Gospel music was set to play for the veterans.  They are a great family that plays great music.  The community was invited to attend.  It was at 2pm today.  I took a break from work and Tricia and I made our way over there.

The gospel music was great!  They played old songs like, "When we all get to heaven," "I saw the Light," "Are you washed in the Blood?," "I've never been this homesick before," and "How Great Thou Art."  I looked around the room and those that served our country were really enjoying it, singing along with the old hymns from memory, smiles on their faces.

Many of the veterans had caps on: Veterans of the Korean War, Vietnam Veteran.  If you look in the very center of the photo below and to the far right, you'll see a couple of gentlemen with caps on and you can make out the word, "WORLD" on the cap.  Yep, World War II veterans!  Nurses and attendants served Kool Aid and snacks to them as they listened, clapped along and sang along in praise.

I took a video of a brief part of "Will the Circle Be Unbroken" so that you could enjoy it, too!  Click on the arrow in the center of the photo below and listen as The Crochet Family Gospel Band from Iota, Louisiana sings it.  You can sing along, too.  I know you want to.

Will the circle be unbroken

By and by, Lord, by and by

There's a better home a-waiting

In the sky, Lord, in the sky