The Willows of Kilgore, a nursing and rehabilitation facility, is located at 1901 Whipporwill Lane in Kilgore, where Pilgrim regularly conducts a weekly Brief Service of the Word. (Photo from The Willows of Kilgore Facebook page.)
When Pastor Galler one day in the fall of 2014 called bingo as invited at the Willows of Kilgore, he was told by several residents that they needed weekly services on site. Leaders of the nursing and rehabilitation facility agreed, Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. were chosen for scheduling reasons, and Pastor Galler began conducting regular services within weeks.
People from Pilgrim are encouraged to come at 9:45 a.m. each week that Pastor Galler conducts the service. (Since the schedule is so irregular, they are always welcome to check with him to see if he is conducting the service that week or to check the live on-line schedule linked below.) The congregational volunteers personally invite residents from their rooms, help them come to the Dining Room where the service takes place, themselves participate in the service, and, afterwards, help residents return to their rooms or wherever in the facility they would like to go. Sometimes accompanists from Pilgrim also volunteer their talents to lead the hymns.
A typical service order follows (based on “A Brief Service of the Word” from Lutheran Service Book: Pastoral Care Companion):
- Opening hymn
- Invocation
- Psalm and Gloria Patri
- Gospel Reading appointed for the next day
- Homily on the Gospel Reading
- Apostolic Creed
- Prayers (Collect appointed for the next day, prayers for the residents and their caregivers, and the Lord’s Prayer)
- Benediction
- Closing hymn
Hymns come from Lutheran Service Book, large-print copies of the hymn texts and their melody lines are made with Lutheran Service Builder, and they are distributed each week to the residents, volunteers, and their guests.
From the outset in November of 2014, the Kilgore Ministerial Fellowship agreed to sponsor the weekly service with its members taking turns conducting the weekly service. Leaders of other religious traditions are encouraged to learn more and to sign-up for one or more future services by clicking here or by contacting Pastor Galler via email or via the other contact information at right.
