Massachusetts Conference Edition
Return
to main page
Read
National Edition
Read the UC News Spotlight E-Newsletter
Return
to main page
Read
National Edition
Read the UC News Spotlight E-Newsletter
June/July 2006
The Rev. Sylvia Robinson, a member of Christ Church United in Dracut and retired pastor of South Congregational Church, UCC in Lawrence, visits nursing home residents with Betsy, her four-legged companion. Robinson adopted Betsy from the MSPCA and the two have been ministering together over the past several years. |
Sporting a white bandanna peppered with red hearts, Betsy sits in a corner of the room as people sing “Kumbaya.”
She looks up when her owner asks the small gathering what other songs they like to sing. Rose Pappalardo answers, “Let There Be Peace on Earth.”
“That’s a good song for these days,” the Rev. Sylvia Robinson answers as she starts playing the Yamaha portable keyboard. Robinson, 77, along with her keeshond, Betsy, is at Sun Bridge Colonial Heights Nursing Home for one of the services she leads there twice a month. The South Union Street nursing home is one of 11 that Robinson visits…throughout Lawrence, North Andover, and Methuen.
Robinson retired as pastor of South Congregational Church, UCC in Lawrence five years ago. Two days later, she was ministering to patients at nursing homes at the suggestion of Dave Edwards, executive director of Greater Lawrence Council of Churches.
Edwards said he had the idea to start a nursing home ministry for a long time. “The nursing homes were not well served,” he said. “So I thought it would be a great ministry to start.” He said some pastors worked part time and a large number of residents who came from out of town had been separated from their home church. “It has turned out better than I thought it would,” Edwards said. “It’s been a remarkable ministry because of the way she interacts with the patients.”
Throughout the one-hour ser-vice, participants sing hymns; Robinson reads a Bible passage, delivers a short sermon, and then asks patients for any prayer requests. They end with the Lord’s Prayer, Hail Mary and Glory Be. Throughout the service, Betsy – Robinson’s four-legged helper – roams around the room as people pet her. “People love the dog,”Robinson said. “They perk up as she walks in.”
Robinson said there have been times when patients express their love for Betsy and forget her. “It keeps me humble,” said Robinson, a minister since 1985. At a February service at Sun Bridge Colonial Heights, she read about Jesus’ love for the world and his commandment to love one another, in keeping with Valentine’s Day.
Richard Waugh, a resident at Sun Bridge, enjoys when Robinson and Betsy visit.
“It makes me feel happy,” Waugh said. “It breaks the daily routine and everybody loves the dog.”
While some of the patients may not be totally aware of their surroundings, Robinson said she would not think of doing anything else.
“I hope they pick up something,” Robinson said. “It’s true of any congregation; you hope you’re planting a little seed.”
Robinson feels “uplifted” after leaving the nursing homes.
“I receive as much as I give.” Robinson said.
This article was reprinted with permission.
Copyright 2006
Eagle-Tribune Publishing Company
Written by Yadira Betances