Gotta Do My Time
[adapted from The August 2007 Word]
"Gotta do my time, I've got to do my time -- with an aching heart and a worried mind."
[Doing My Time, Johnny Cash (1954)]
[If I could talk with each of you, individually, the conversation might go something like this:]
ME: That title is taken from a classic Johnny Cash song about spending time in prison.
YOU: If you say so . . . but what's this to do with St. Alban's?
ME: In a moment . . . but first, think on this -- extracted from Matthew 25: 36-40: [Jesus addressing the disciples re the coming of God's kingdom]
"I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me." Then the righteous will answer him, "Lord, when was it that we saw you . . . sick or in prison and visited you? And the king will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these, who are members of my family, you did it to me."
YOU: Well, that's more familiar than the Johnny Cash bit . . . but I'm still wondering where we're going with this.
ME: Just one more thing. Would you agree that a broad definition of being in prison might involve confinement in a particular place and an inability to go where and when one pleased?
YOU: That's pretty broad, alright, but I suppose so. Look . . . so what's your point?
ME: A block away from us is Sleepy Hollow Manor Nursing Home (SHMNH), a facility with about 200 residents who're largely unable to go where and when they might choose. Among these residents are some 10-15% who -- before they became SHMNH residents -- would and did choose to regularly attend services most Sundays at their home church. Owing to illness or infirmity, or simply age, they're now unable to make that choice.
For 45 years a comparatively small group of St. Alban's parishioners has volunteered to extend our own worship service each Sunday and share the essence of it with these residents. Two services (10:00 and 11:00 am) are necessary, given the somewhar sprawling facility and the consequent difficulty in assembling the residents in a single location. Each service involves two teams, with each having at least two participants (a service leader and a musical accompanist). Once monthly a Holy Communion service is provided and is facilitated by an Altar Guild representative. The focus of these services is succinctly described in the longer invitation to Confession in Morning Prayer II of the BCP (p.79):
"We have come together in the presence of Almighty God our heavenly Father, to set forth his praise, to hear his holy Word and to ask, for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and our salvation . . ."Participation in this ministry is open to all St. Alban's adult members (and, in some cases, to older teens). Materials are provided, as is a bit of training -- principally of an on-the-job nature. In terms of commitment, it requires an investment of only about one hour on a Sunday morning every 5-6 weeks . . . which is no more than most St. Alban's ministries (and less than some). The return on that investment -- both to the SHMNH residents and, quite likely, as inspiration in your own spiritual journey -- is incalculable.
So . . . how about coming along with me (or one of the other participants) some Sunday and see first-hand what this ministry is about -- no strings attached?
YOU: Well, I don't know . . . I'm not sure I'm really qualified to do that kind of thing.
ME: A few weeks ago -- in gathering materials for the forthcoming Jamestown commemoration service -- I had need of access to a volume from the rare books collection at the Seminary. I phoned the librarian to ask what I might need to bring along to establish my bona fides (e.g., a note from the Rector). She replied: "All you need is a smile on your face and the love of God in your heart. I can arrange everything else." That works for the Sleepy Hollow worship ministry, too.
Contact me [(703) 490-4934 or e-mail dabbleva@verizon.net], and let's talk.
[P.S. We'll also have a table at Rally Day with additional information.]
David Bell, Worship Ministry coordinator
