Christmas, 2010 Music and Ministry

Christmas, 20-10 proved to be a season of Music, Ministry and Community Outreach that I will always remember. It all began with Laurel Jean in Concert Ministry at Grace United Methodist Church, Charleston, SC. Thanks to all the folks of Grace who promoted this concert to the Charleston community, and to all who brought a friend to enjoy the afternoon program.

Here I am presenting for the annual Holiday Party of the Charleston Association for the Blind. This was my second year of serving as Emcee and providing dinner music for the over two hundred guests in attendance. “Paws” in appreciation of Dixie Land Guide Dog Users who sponsored Music By Laurel Jean for this event.

The next day, I was winging my way to southern Indiana. Here I am with my long-time friend, fellow servant of God, and “foster dad” Rev. Tarrell Thompson as we worked together in a musical outreach effort to his home community of Owensville, IN. My thanks to the folks at Transcendent Healthcare of Owensville for making me feel so welcome during my visit there, and for their ongoing care of Tarrell’s wife, my adopted “Mama Lena” in her advanced stages of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease.

From Indiana, I was off to my home state of Illinois. In spite of a shortened stay due to weather-related travel delays, God made possible many opportunities to share in Ministry and Music. My thanks to Rev. Ken Roedder (another longtime friend and fellow-servant of God), as well as the folks of Tuscola Healthcare Center (for the care of “Rev’s” wife, Maxine in her advanced stages of Alzheimer’s). Thanks also to Pastor Lynette and Mary for ministering to me during our time of fellowship and prayer.

 

Before heading back to South Carolina, I was honored to present a Christmas concert for the folks at Woburn Church of Christ, Woburn, IL. Here I am with Pastor and Mrs. Max Whited (left), and Pastor and Mrs. Don Schmollinger (right). I am blessed to have worked in ministry with Pastor Max and his wife, Norma over many years. It was truly an honor for me to return to the Woburn Church and I look forward to going back again, soon!

The year 2010 is drawing to a close, with Special Music at Grace Church, time spent with good friends (and my precious dog, Zettie), and planning sessions for upcoming events in 2011. Please join me in keeping that Christmas Light shining as we enter the New Year!

Until next time, God bless you and keep His Song in your heart.

© 2010 by Laurel Jean Walden

Fall, 2010 Music and Ministry

Shelby, a Lowcountry blind youth and part of my Chaplaincy, sings the "National Anthem" to kick off Charleston, South Carolina’s 2010 White Cane Day Celebration. We in the blindness community take a lot of pride in White Cane Safety Awareness Day, October 15. It is a time to celebrate the independence afforded us by the long, white cane, and to bring awareness to the sighted community. The Honor Guard, the National Anthem, and the flag (with stars and stripes which can be actually touched) remind us of the unmatched independence that we, both blind and sighted, share as American citizens.

I was honored to serve as Emcee for the second year in a row, for this special event. Here I am on the stage at Francis Marion Square, with Kathy Ouzts, a vision teacher who serves actively as a sighted member of the American Council of the Blind. My thanks to the Charleston ACB, and especially to the folks of Dixie Land Guide Dog Users (who sponsored me for this event).

Prior to the official White Cane Day ceremony, God’s outa sight kids of all ages formed a procession from the Visitors Center to Francis Marion Square. The drum Corps of West Ashley High School led the way, making it very easy for everyone to follow the route.

From Charleston, SC, I was off to Southern Indiana. Here I am having a fun time with the children of the First United Methodist Church, Seymour, IN, where I presented for Morning Worship. Thanks, Pastor Steve and Congregation, for making Music By Laurel Jean part of the Fall, 2010 schedule.

The trip to Seymour First UMC brought a happy reunion with a long-time friend and fellow servant of God, Rev. Tarrell Thompson. Here we are together with our very dear, mutual friend, Miss Anna Lee. I am honored to count Rev. Thompson as a “foster dad”, among those who have most richly blessed and shaped the life of music and ministry which God has given me. Music inspired by him and his wife Lena can be found on my Family Album, Circuit Rider, and Christmas Gifts CD’s.

On to Peoria, IL and the annual banquet of Peoria Rescue Ministries! What an honor to be this year’s featured Guest Musician! My thanks to driver and friend, Carolyn, for all of her help in making this event a success.

 

Back in Charleston, here I am presenting for “Pink Sunday” at Grace United Methodist Church, promoting breast cancer awareness. We honored survivors and caregivers alike, and took time to remember those who have lost their lives to this disease. This really hit home for me. My maternal grandmother, Garnet Mansfield, was a breast cancer survivor, and her mother, Bessie Walker, lost her life to the disease. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of getting regular cancer screenings.

Stay well, everyone!

Until next time, God bless you, and keep His Song in your heart!


©2010 by Laurel Jean Walden

Able To Serve

On Sunday, August 22nd, God blessed me with yet another opportunity to serve Him in Worship. My friends and I (His kids of all ages) worked together to offer an “Able To Serve” Sunday at Grace United Methodist Church, Charleston, SC.

Pictured here is fourteen-year-old Shelby, a gifted soprano, presenting Special Music during the Contemporary service. Folks who attended the traditional service were also blessed by Shelby’s beautiful voice as she led them in the “Call to Worship”.

Sixteen-year-old Taylor joined us for the traditional service, singing and keeping us smiling with his Spirited commentary!

In addition to accompanying these two “Outa Sight” kids who are part of my Chaplaincy for Blind Youth, I was honored by the invitation to be a pulpit guest, delivering The Message in tandem with Senior Pastor, Dick Broomall.

The message, entitled “Seeing Things Differently”, discussed the integration of the disabilities community in general and the blindness community specifically, within the Body of Christ, The Church. Folks of all abilities were challenged to ask God how they might see things differently in their own lives and in service to the community at large.

A couple of small skits illustrated how the incorrect assumptions of well-meaning sighted folks can create unnecessary distractions for those of us who do not see. Here, Jerry (Taylor’s great-grandfather) and Jack (director of Disabilities Ministries at Grace) helped me to reenact a scenario that many of us who are blind encounter on a daily basis. By humorously illustrating things that one should not do, we were able to teach folks how properly to serve as sighted guides, and how to give directions to a blind individual.

 

Ministry associate Audrey Gunter (current Vice President of Dixie Land Guide Dog Users accompanied by her guide dog Zack), joined in the skits, taking time to teach what to do, and what not to do, when meeting a guide team.

What a blessing it was to be part of this event, as people of all ages, with different abilities, united to praise God and shine His Light!

With over ninety percent of the worldwide blindness community estimated to be unchurched, would you know how to be helpful to a blind person entering your church for the first time? Has your congregation ever considered hosting an “Able To Serve" Sunday? Contact Music By Laurel Jean to learn more. We’re looking forward to seeing you!

Stay tuned for more posts like this one. Until next time, God bless you and keep His Song in your heart!

© 2010 Laurel Jean Walden

August Homecoming

Here I am, outside of Old Union Missionary Baptist Church, Mt. Vernon, IL. On Sunday, August 8, This congregation celebrated Homecoming.

What a joy it was for Music By Laurel Jean to be part of this Sunday afternoon service, as the folks at Old Union marked over 60 years of fulfilling our Lord’s Great Commission in Mt. Vernon and beyond!

The Old Union Homecoming was just one of several Music Ministry stops on the schedule during my most recent trip to my home state of Illinois. I flew into Springfield on Saturday, July 31. An Access Springfield bus, a service of Springfield Mass-Transit, took me to my hotel.

On August First, I caught a cab to New Berlin, where I brought The Message In Music to God’s kids of all ages at New Salem United Methodist Church. My good friend, Carolyn who often drives for me, had brought my piano to the church ahead of time, so everything was all set! This day was extra special because it was the 90th birthday of Carolyn’s mom, Barb.

After Morning Worship, Carolyn took her mom out to lunch while many of us stayed behind, moving my piano down to the basement fellowship hall and getting ready for a surprise birthday party!

I had a great time providing background music for the party. Here I am with Carolyn and her mom.

Other engagements included music for a special open house, and for the Dominican Sisters of Springfield, IL. Thanks to access Springfield, Lincoln Cab, and a couple of volunteers, I was also able to catch up with some of my long-time friends.

 

Millie, now 82, was responsible for both scheduling and driving me to my first ministry engagement, over 22 years ago! Though time and circumstances prevented us from staying in touch, we were reunited last year. Unbeknownst to me ahead of time, Millie attended my 2009 concert for the Lincolnland Chapter of Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International, where this picture was taken.

Due to several health complications, Millie doesn’t get out as much as she would like to. Still, God’s Spirit shines brightly within this beautiful Christian lady! Public transportation allowed me to visit Millie’s home on several occasions during my recent ten days spent in Illinois. I would also like to thank the pastor, whose prayers and blessings made it possible for me to bring Communion to Millie, sharing in the Sacraments with Millie and her daughter. Through tears, Millie told me afterwards, “Nothing in this world could have pleased me more. No one has ever done anything like this for me.”

On August 10, I was up early to catch another Access Springfield bus back to the airport for a very pleasant flight back to Charleston, SC. God still has more work for me to do, so stay tuned for more posts like this one.

Thank God, and thank you, for your ongoing prayers and support! Until next time, God bless you, and keep His Song in your heart!

© 2010 by Laurel Jean Walden