Senior Living

Iam the director of the Sr. Adult Legacy Choir of Lexington Baptist Church. For the past 7 years we have presented a program of joyful music in December called “Share the Joy!”

We invite 19 assisted-living centers around Lexington to bring residents to our church for the program and a reception in their honor.

This year our program is called “Breath of Heaven”. It will be presented Thursday, Dec. 19 at 3 pm in our Worship Center.

The community is invited to this free event.

It is a great thing to see senior adults sharing their joyful music with others who are at a stage in life of dependency upon others for living.

A concert of familiar music is a great tool to make people feel good and experience connection with others in the room.

One of my favorite memories of the power of music was when our Sr. Adult Choir sang at a local nursing home.

We were singing our last song called “The Sunday School Spectacular.” It is a compilation of children’s songs like “I Got a Home in Gloryland,” I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in My Heart,” and “If You’re Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands.”

While singing, I noticed a caregiver was frantically motioning to another worker something to do with a lady in a wheelchair.

After we finished, I went over and asked what the problem was.

The worker said that the lady had been in their facility for a month and had not spoken a word to anyone. But she was singing along with all of our Sunday school songs!

When we finished, the worker asked the lady if she enjoyed the music and she said, “Oh, that was wonderful!”

Music has the ability to touch the soul, trigger fond memories and transport the listener back to happier times and places.

That is something worth sharing.

Next Week: The story of Silent Night

Dan Williams is the senior adult pastor at Lexington Baptist Church.