Description
Book SynopsisReligious faith is a powerful source of comfort and support for individuals and families facing dementia. Many faith leaders need help in adapting their ministries to address the worship/spiritual needs of this group. A product of Faith United Against Alzheimer's, this handbook by 45 different authors represents diverse faith traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Native American. It provides practical help in developing services and creating dementia friendly faith communities.
It gives an understanding of the cognitive, communicative and physical abilities of people with dementia and shows what chaplains, clergy and lay persons can do to engage them through worship. Included are several articles by persons living with dementia.
Trade ReviewWe believe Dementia-Friendly Worship is fulfilled within the Great Commission; Matthew 28: 18-20. The love of God has no boundaries or limitations, and this provides our places of worship opportunities to lead with empathy while building a more inclusive, compassionate and loving community, ultimately transforming the lives of members with dementia and their families.
Even if expressive ability is imperiled, Dementia-Friendly Worship provides opportunities to experience a form of worship that encourages participation and engagement through creative and spirit-filled moments during worship. This form of worship allows communities, family members and those affected with dementia the opportunity to share the wonders of God's love together.
-- Rev. Dr. Tony J. Craddock, Sr., Associate Minister & Stephanie M. Craddock, Small Groups Director & Alzheimer’s Support Group Facilitator, First Mount Zion Baptist Church, Dumfries, Virginia
My own experience in dementia ministry resonates with every section of this book. It provides theological foundations for dementia-friendly worship. It is filled with specific steps to be followed in creating dementia-friendly faith communities. Faith communities are uniquely positioned to move to the leading edge of addressing this major need of society. In this book the reader will be equipped with the understanding and practical tools needed to start the life-giving, hope-filled journey of creating dementia-friendly worship and dementia-friendly faith communities. I have seen how this experience can revitalize an entire congregation and for that reason I welcome this book as a key resource for all faith communities. -- Bishop Lawson Bryan, South Georgia Conference, United Methodist Church
Dementia-Friendly Worship provides a valuable, practical and spiritually uplifting resource for clergy of all faiths who seek meaningful ways to minister to this ever-expanding community. The personal reflections, as well as the examples of worship services from various venues, allow clergy to see and hear the voices and souls of those we care for. -- Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min, Director, Jewish Sacred Aging®
"Dynamic, comprehensive, practical" are three words to describe
Dementia-Friendly Worship. Too often people living with dementia are not invited nor involved in worship mainly because worship leaders do not know how to communicate with them.
Dementia-Friendly Worship presents ideas and concepts from many faith perspectives that can be used to enhance worship in this population. Worship is not just for the lucid and healthy, but for all people which includes persons living with dementia. Thank you to Lynda Everman and Don Wendorf for putting together a book that will become a classic in the field of dementia care. -- Rich Behers, DMin., BCC, CFHPC, Spiritual Care Program Manager, CPE Supervisor, Cornerstone Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc.
My beloved mother, Rebecca, died not that long ago. She had suffered the impact of Alzheimer's for 20 years. As her eldest child I struggled with how to accompany her on this cruel journey. With my siblings I experienced that first death when we had to let go of who our mother had been and accept who she became with Alzheimer's. We eventually settled in to years of learning and caring for her, while also receiving so much from her resistance to allowing her illness to erase her faith. She loved to hear the Psalms. She would close her eyes and become peaceful when I would say to her that I was going to pray for her. To her last days of life, she would hum her favorite songs of faith at daybreak. It took me too long to realize that the faith within her was sustaining her and needed nurturing. How I wish this book had been written earlier. I am deeply grateful, though, that it will bless those who live with and care for those afflicted by dementia and Alzheimer's until it is eradicated. -- Bishop Minerva Garza Carcaño, Resident Bishop, San Francisco Area, The United Methodist Church
Since 2017, when Lynda Everman shared her vision for this book with me, I have been eagerly waiting to hold it, read it and use it.
Dementia-Friendly Worship arrived and page after page filled my heart and mind. In the spirit of Dementia Friends' commitment to transform how we think, act and talk about dementia, this book adds how we engage spiritually with those living with dementia. More than a book,
Dementia-Friendly Worship is a veritable library, each chapter a volume written by dedicated and knowledgeable scholars and spiritual leaders who live and serve in close proximity to the realities of dementia. They bless us with their perspectives, ideas, experiences and tools that will help spiritual leaders invite persons living with dementia to draw near to God, even as we enter their holy space. Above all, the authors collectively remind us again and again the affirmations we share across all faith traditions: God is with us and loves us; do not fear; love one another; uphold each other's humanity and come before God's presence together. For months I have been telling my circle of parish pastors, chaplains and spiritual directors, "
Dementia-Friendly Worship is coming....it's coming." I'm delighted now to tell them, "It's here!" -- Cynthia L. Ray, M.Div., Executive Director, PAHSA: Presbyterian Association of Homes & Services for the Aging
Table of ContentsForeword by Virginia Biggar, Executive Director, Faith, Patient & Caregiver Initiatives, UsAgainstAlzheimer's, USA. Editor's Reflections. INTRODUCTION TO DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY WORSHIP. I. Introduction: Souls Shine Forth. Daniel C. Potts, MD, FAAN, Elder (Presbyterian Church, USA). II. Worship Adaptations. Rev. Linn Possell, (The United Church of Christ, FL, USA). III. Continuing to Hear the Voice: A Reflection. Rabbi Cary Kozberg, MAHL, DD, (Jewish, USA). VOICES OF PERSONS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA. Editor's Note. IV. From Death to Life: My Alzheimer's Journey. Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel, (Presbyterian Church, USA). V. Adventures of a Substitute Preacher with Alzheimer's. Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel. VI. Rocks in My Head. Greg O'Brien (Roman Catholic, USA). VII. Anchor Me. Truthful Loving Kindness (Noahide, USA). VIII. Me Fe Nos Sostiene (My Faith Sustains Us). Daisy Duarte (Nondenominational Christian, USA). IX. Be Not Afraid. James L. Gulley, MA (Roman Catholic, USA). WORSHIP SERVICES. 1. The Personhood of the Clergy. 1.1. Be Open, Be Humble, Be Adaptable, and Definitely Laugh! Rev. Theresa Brion, Chaplain, Goodwin House Bailey's Crossroads, Falls Church (Episcopal, VA, USA). 1.2. Being with Alzheimer's. Rev. Tim Langdell. Ecumenical Catholic Priest & Zen Buddhist Priest, USA. 1.3. Living Kindness, Latin Prayers, Chewed Hearing Aids and the Nature of Impermanence. Chaplain Gillian Renault (Buddhist). 2. Conducting Services in Care Communities. 2.1. Nurturing the Spirit Through Worship. Rev. Kathy Fogg Berry, Chaplain, Westminster Canterbury, Interdenominational Christian, VA, USA. 2.2. Worship With Rather than For. Ret. Bishop Kenneth L. Carfer, United Methodist, USA and Norma Smith Sessions, American Baptist, USA. 2.3 Things Remembered. Chaplain Drew DeCrease, Chaplain, Redstone@Home Hospice, Roman Catholic Deacon, USA. 2.4. Worship Brainstorming. Robin Dill, United Methodist, USA. 2.5. Devotions in Respite Care Settings. Robin Dill. 2.6. That All May Worship: Creative Worship for Persons with Dementia. Rev. David J. Fetterman, United Methodist, USA, and Rec. Dr. Richard L. Morgan, Presbyterian Church, USA. 2.7. Sensing the Sacred: A Small Group Worship Experience for Those with Alzheimer's and Other Dementias. Rev. Nancy Gordon, Lutheran, USA. 2.8. A Layperson's Guide to Improvised Worship: Finding Spiritual Expression Through Intentional Connections. Elizabeth R. Reinert, MEd, Interdenominational Christian, USA. 2.9. Familia Hymns, Prayers, and Scriptures to Use in a Small Group Setting for Memory Impaired Adults. Elizabeth R. Reinert. 2.10. Thank You, Lord, For My Right Mind. Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, Christian, USA. 2.11. Spiritual Metamorphosis. Tryn Rose Seley, Christian, New Church, USA. 2.12. Making God 'Real': Using the Senses to Experience Scripture. Dr. Jane Marie Thibault, Roman Catholic, United Methodist, USA. 3. Ministering to Specific Faith Communities. 3.1. The Sacred Circle of Life: Native Americans and Dementia. Rev. Cynthia J. Abrams, Former Executive Director of the Native American United Methodist Center, Washington DC, USA. 3.2. Shabbat Services for Residents with Dementia at Miami Jewish Heath. Rabbi Israel de la Piedra, Director of Spiritual Care, Miami Health, FL, USA. 3.3. A Buddhist Approach to Connecting with CARE. Rec. Allison Draper, Zen Buddhist, USA, and Rev. Dr. Grace Schireson, Zen Buddhist, USA. 3.4. Memory Care and Shabbat. Dr Andrea (Yonina) Foster, Jewish, USA. 3.5. Seeing the Spirit Through Dementia: A Sikh Dharma Perspective. Amar Atma Singh Kalsa, Dharma Sing Khalsa, MD, Ek Ong Kaar Kaur Khalsa, Kirti Kaur Khalsa, Sarb Nam Kaur Khalsa, Sarb Sarang Kaur Khalsa, Sikh Dharma Int'l Ministers. 4. Conducting Congregational Services. 4.1. Dementia-Friendly Congregational Worship. Rev. Karen S. Dumey, Presbyterian Church, USA. 4.2. African Americans' 'Old Timer's Day'. Pastor Bobby Fields, Jr., Baptist, USA. 4.3. Walking with Individuals with Dementia and their Families: An Interfaith Service. Rev. Dr. James W. Ellor, Presbyterian Church, USA. 5. Praying and Prayers. 5.1. Prayers of Loving Kindness and Compassion from Buddhism. Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle, Buddhist, USA. 5.2. The Lord Be With You! Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel. 5.3. Prayer for a Fellow Soldier. Rev. Bob Inkenbrandt, Nondenominational Christian, USA. 5.4. A Prayer for Forgotten Souls. Chaplain Maria Khani, Muslim, USA. 5.5. The Intimate Touch of Meditative Prayer. Carlen Maddux, Presbyterian Church, USA. 5.6. Prayer in a Jewish Long-Term Care Facility. Rabbi James R. Michaels, DMin, BBC, Jewish, USA. 5.7. The Ministry of 'Dedicated Suffering': Mutual Spiritual Practice with Persons with Dementia, Dr. Jane Marie Thibault, Roman Catholic, United Methodist, USA. BEYOND WORSHIP: DEMENTIA-FRIENDLY FAITH COMMUNITIES. I. A Church-wide Response. Kathy Fogg Berry. II. The Dementia-Friendly Church. Rev. Dr. William Randolph, United Methodist, UUMC, USA. III. Moving Beyond Name Tags. Rev. Dr. Cynthia Huling Hummel. BENEDICTION. I. That Which Endures. Ret. Bishop Kenenth L. Carder, SC, USA.
