“This was the first all-campus Christmas Eve service ever held at MapleCreek,” said Rev. Rebecca Ebb-Speese, ordained chaplain for the entire senior living community. About 80 to 90 people joined together at 2 p.m. on Dec. 24, 2010, to celebrate the birth of the Savior.
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“Three busloads of residents came over from The Lodge (skilled nursing and rehabilitation) and The Woods (memory care) to join residents of The Terraces (independent living apartments) and family members in Trinity Chapel,” Pastor Becky said. “Rhonda, our campus bus driver, and staff from all three centers helped to make this happen smoothly.”
The service was the traditional “9 Lessons and Carols.” Pastor Becky began with the bidding prayer and ended with the closing prayer and benediction. The rest of the service was led by the residents.
Readers were Terraces residents Ethel Evert and Bernie Scholton, Lodge residents Avis Brothers and Fern Peterson, and Woods residents Virginia Sasso, Geri Kleiman, Marie Hobson and Gloria Verberg. The acolyte was Carl Wollen (Terraces), who at 84 calls himself "the oldest Lutheran acolyte" because he likes performing acolyte duties for all Trinity Chapel services. The ushers were Terraces resident Erma Sundbeck, Terraces Life Enrichment staff Julie Trammel and chaplain volunteer Mike Alof. Terraces resident Warren Timmerman played the organ.
The MapleCreek choral ensemble presented "My Soul Proclaims Your Greatness, Lord," involving staff members Pastor Becky, Dollie Grant, Betty Honicutt, Rachel Westberg and Rachel Haveman, plus massage therapist Leslie Barnett, Cottages resident Curtis Druckrey and Terraces resident Carl Wollen. Irene Vander sang "Jesus," and Woods resident Dick Oberlin sang "O Holy Night." The Terraces choir sang "Emmanuel/A Maid Engaged to Joseph," and Pastor Becky and Terraces resident Bonnie Whorley sang a duet.
A special treat was the group of residents from The Woods that played "Silent Night" using the center's new tone chimes, which are similar to handbells but easier to use. The group had been rehearsing for weeks to prepare the song for this special program.
After the service, the MapleCreek residents commented about how much they enjoyed seeing and worshipping with their spouses and their old friends who now live in different centers at MapleCreek. “No one minded coming early or waiting for their turn on the bus to go back because they had so many friends to visit with,” Pastor Becky said.
PHOTO: "Pastor Becky" Ebb-Speese with her mother, Terraces resident Virginia Ebb (standing), and her mother-in-law, Virginia Speese (rehab at The Lodge)
PHOTO: Sharon Munson, MapleCreek volunteer coordinator, plays piano to accompany Marcia Alban, daughter of Terraces residents Earl and Ruth Relph, on viola for "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming"
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