Caroling at Consulate Care

On Sunday, December 11, 2011, after services, a group of our St. E choristers ventured out in the rain to visit Consulate Health Care and sing Christmas carols to their residents and caretakers. Our St. E pianist, Lucy Taylor-O'Kane, accompanied us with some jazzy renditions of old standards, such as Rudolph, Silver Bells, Jingle-Bell Rock, Santa Claus Is Coming To Town, and Jingle Bells. We sang two medleys: It Came Upon The Midnight Clear / The First Noel / Silent Night / O Come All Ye Faithful; and Joy To The World / O Little Town Of Bethlehem / Away In A Manger / Hark! The Herald Angels Sing. We ended the program with White Christmas.

We had the opportunity to sing for the residents and staff in "Central Park" in the main building, and repeated the program in Consulate's physical rehab facility in an adjacent building. Our listeners sang along with us and helped us out. Some of us had opportunities to speak with residents and patients after the programs were concluded. Everyone seemed to enjoy the music and singing, and we left many smiles and twinkling eyes behind.

We gave of our time and the musical gifts that God blessed us with; yet, I feel that, somehow, we received so much more than we gave. I am so thankful that the Lord provided this opportunity for us, to give not only of our time, but also of our hearts, to these wonderful, and sometimes forgotten, people.

Thanks to Bonnie and Larry Young, Kat and Andy Westerfield, Edie Ritter, Alice Stone, Lucy Taylor-O'Kane, Pam Reed, and a little help from my friends Kim and Mia Ross. Thanks to Consulate for asking us to come and visit. And thanks to Fr. Dave for encouraging us to go out on what we all hope to be the first of many musical missions....