Religious faith can often be a source of reassurance for individuals and families facing dementia, yet many faith leaders lack the know-how to adapt their ministries to help this group to draw comfort from their faith. Compiled by around 50 different authors, this collection represents diverse faith traditions, including Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Native American, and how each tradition can offer support to people with dementia. Providing an understanding of the cognitive, communicative and physical abilities of people with dementia, it shows what chaplains, clergy and lay persons can do to engage with them through worship.
Foreword 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.
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!""
