Building A Future Foundation

A number of residents and staff in the Terraces of Skyline began asking me before Ash Wednesday in 2014 what they should give up for Lent. One staff member proudly exclaimed, “Chocolate!”

With a twinkle in my eye, I asked this team member, “Didn’t you give chocolate up last year?” And didn’t I see you eating yesterday in the break room?” (Laughter erupted from the group, who congregated outside of my office near the elevator.) I mentioned, “Instead of giving up something, let’s give back.”

The idea took off. I started us off with approximately $200.00 of yarn that I bought out of my pocket because it was a small price for a service project in building community through levels of care. Family and friends of the residents and staff donated yarn to their loved ones. Our Lenten project took off. For the 40-days of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding on Easter Sunday, the core group of residents and staff from the assisted living and health center made one hat at a time, totally 239-hats for 4-charities. 

The Memory Care residents helped in their way, too. I brought yarn with me as we visited. I had the respective resident feel the yarn and shake the tangled yarn to untangle it. The residents would smile and that was enough to keep me working on the project.

My friends and neighbors continue to donate yarn. I finally gave my dinette set to a young server at the Terraces so she could move into her first apartment, and I would have space to wind and store yarn that my friends and neighbors continue to donate to this day. (Many organizations have started in garages and other spaces.) I made approximately 400-hats with the help of two volunteers from Easter Sunday 2014 to Easter Sunday 2015.

Then Seattle’s KING 5 News presented a series during Holy Week of 2015 titled, Church on the Rise http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2015/04/01/church-on-the-rise-complete-coverage/70792402/.  (Please view KING 5’s Theologians study Seattle for future of 'church' http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2015/03/30/seattle-religious-affiliation-future-of-church/70687648/) I am not a news or television watcher and somehow I stumbled upon this series. I tuned in.

The series spoke volumes, and I wondered how church and service had changed for me since Lent 2014. Sunday Worship service is a time of renewal and being in community. How I give is not only a tithe. I give my time. I give in service. Church is transforming. Change is inevitable.  That is why Living Stones Ministries Rock On! has emerged.

Living Stones Ministries Rock On! was the name given to my blog on January 1, 2014. I named it after a hymn about living stones a resident’s son wrote and a long-time memory resident, who loved rocks, and she collected them.  I even daily carried rock in my pockets because she loved them so. I called her my “Rock Star.”  A foundation was built.

Christmas in July was celebrated by Living Stones Ministries Rock On! Please read: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2753297433968893643#editor/target=post;postID=6032609251903552817;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=14;src=postname and https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=2753297433968893643#editor/target=post;postID=332797485760881827;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=10;src=postname.

Living Stones Ministries Rock On! is more than serving others through making and giving hats. It is all inclusive. All are welcomed in serving others through intergenerational activities, engagement and enriching lives of others no matter where you are on your life journey. 

Since there is a time and season for everything, the projected kick-off of Living Stones Ministries Rock On! is late 2016 to mid-2017.

Rock On!