Joyful noise: Good Shepherd ladies' hymns bring 'church and God to people'

Bringing a part of a church service to those who didn't know it was coming is a rewarding new initiative for the Good Shepherd Lutheran Chapel Ladies Guild.

Joining representatives of the 1904 W. Cape Rock Drive church's choir, 10 singers paid a surprise visit to The Lutheran Home at 2825 Bloomfield Road in late October, and made a series of a cappella stops, performing pieces of six hymns.

"I have been in the choir for 20 years, and we wanted to bring music to the residents other than on Christmas and Easter," said Ruthie Boxdorfer before the group's 4:30 p.m. warm-up session.

"It's joyful praising to our Lord with familiar songs they have known."

Doris Rodgers said the trips are "bringing church and God to people.

"We need to be here for them," said Rodgers. "At Christmas, they follow us down the hall."

Judy Borgfield said the singers enjoy singing parts. "We have plenty of altos and sopranos, but we can always use some more men," Borgfield said.

Good Shepherd church secretary Brenda Wissman said the singers will return for Christmas, but the time and date had not been scheduled.

Choir and guild member Frankie Allison has been "singing all my life," she said, adding, "My dad, Walter Keller, had talent, and we always had music in our home.

"It's the camaraderie and, of course, praising God," Allison said. "We really enjoy getting together every week and rehearsing.

"The people here at the home enjoyed it so much that they said they would like for us to come back at other times of the year."

The Rev. Weston Wildauer, church pastor, said the visits "are a way to reach people and lift them up in some way.

"We share a little bit of Christ with them on a day when they may not have it," Wildauer said. "Sometimes we don't get much reaction, but when you talk to them, they say it meant a lot."

Choir member Jo Ann Bock began each stop by saying, "We're from the Good Shepherd Ladies Guild, and we want to sing a few songs for you.

"Sing along, if you know some of the songs."

Most of the residents were attentive, and there was applause in the main section of the nursing home and in its assisted living area.

"I love it when they make a little movement with their hands," singer Dorothy Schuessler said.