St. Peter’s is a hospice and slow rehabilitation facility located in the city of Hamilton. Ministry started when my own Mother was admitted there. Peter, the Chaplain, would visit my mother often to pray with her. In getting to know Peter, I felt there was an opportunity to possibly sing hymns to seniors: I felt there was such a need for those patients to be able to hear, sing and rejoice in God’s love to connect back to prior memories of their own prayer and devotion.
I called Peter. We met, and I shared my thoughts and ideas with him. I yearned to sing of God’s love to these patients for an hour, possibly even praying for them and reading words of encouragement to them. Peter was open and supportive of my initiative, and took the idea forward to the Director of St. Peter’s. Within a week, an opportunity emerged, and I proceeded to go through the requirements of becoming a volunteer.
With God’s direction, I now lead a service the first Sunday of each month and every third Friday of the month. The patients are responding to God’s love, despite their diagnoses, and comprehend the sharing of this message.
One woman in particular stands out. She never responded to any of the caregivers, only stared at them. When I began the service, this woman, who never responded, sang along with “Jesus Loves Me”. God’s love reaches beyond our own capabilities and assumptions.
God’s love is reaching and I see it with the staff and volunteers at St. Peter’s.
