HELPING TO SHARE THE UNIVERSAL BEAUTY OF PRAYER One of the things Bob and Shirley Houren have shared over their long and happy marriage of 72 years is a desire to help others. Their volunteerism often dovetailed with their involvement with their church: Shirley, for example, crocheted prayer shawls and baptism blankets; Bob taught the catechism to children for 15 years and also worked in a food kitchen in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood. Since moving to Central Baptist Village three and half years ago, their impulse to positively impact their community hasn’t gone away. As Bob puts it, “I’m sitting here, I’m still enjoying life. What can I do to help this person or that person?” One of the ways he and Shirley are contributing to life at CBV is by leading the rosary. During the pandemic, the weekly gathering to say the sacrament was canceled. “No groups, no rosary,” Bob says. “Once we were able to get back into groups, Pastor Mike asked us to lead it.” “I think most people don’t realize that you don’t have to be Catholic—the rosary is just another way to pray,” Shirley explains. Bob nods in agreement. “I find it soothing.” In fact, most people think of the rosary as a purely Catholic thing: a series of Catholic prayers and the string of beads or knotted cord used by Catholics to recite and count those prayers. While that’s true, the prayers come directly from the Bible, which is universal to Christians. And using beads while praying isn’t exclusive to Catholicism; prayer beads (or knots) are used in many religions, including Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Bahá’í, Judaism, and other Christian faiths. The word “bead” itself comes from the old English word for “a prayer”—bede.
Saying the rosary isn’t terribly time-consuming. “It takes 15 to 20 minutes to recite,” Bob says. The group typically engages in friendly conversation before or after. “If there’s something special someone wants us to pray for, they’ll share that,” he adds. Right now, there are about six to seven people who regularly participate. Shirley and Bob hope to encourage more of their CBV neighbors to join them on Thursdays. “The rosary is for everyone,” says Shirley, smiling. “And everyone is welcome.”
CBV’S CHOIR HITS ALL THE RIGHT NOTES Wednesday afternoons at Central Baptist Village are busy ones, spiritually and musically speaking. First, the choir director and pianist start rehearsing around 12:15 p.m. Choir members arrive by 1:15 p.m. and practice for 30 minutes. Then at 2 p.m., the choir performs during church service. “They are amazing,” Julie Ieron says. “As soon as the music starts, they sing their hearts out.” Joyce and Julie Ieron are the musical mother-and-daughter dynamic duo that has been bringing music—and no small amount of happiness—to Central Baptist Village and its residents for nine years, even during the pandemic. CBV’s previous organist asked Joyce and Julie to play while she was on vacation. “We were only meant to fill in for a few weeks,” Julie says. But the woman retired, leaving Joyce and Julie the de facto music directors. “My father had died, and my mother was feeling like her talents would just dry up.” The opportunity was a lifeline for Joyce and they both forged a deep connection with the community. “Mom and I definitely think of this as our church family.” As choir members continue to arrive, Joyce sits at the piano and quickly runs through the music for that afternoon’s service, lingering over and then repeating measures she’s not happy with... until she is. Julie moves more chairs to the front of the room where the
choir sits, leaving room at the residents who regularly sing... so ends of the rows so residents in we’re building back up,” she wheelchairs can easily line up says. “We’ll get there.” with the rest of the chairs. She The song they are working on is welcomes the group of mostly lovely, but it is not easy to sing. women and directs them to the The phrasing and rhythm of the first song they’ll rehearse. In lyrics are challenging. It isn’t clear this crazy time of variants and how long the residents have been vaccines, COVID still has the practicing it, but they sound good. last word: no hymnals or sheet Great, in fact. And surprisingly music. The lyrics are projected loud. Strong. onto the wall of the chapel and synchronized with the music. The choir follows along as Joyce plays. By the time practice is over, four more people have joined the Julie conducts them with her group, including one man who just hands, occasionally calling out an comes to listen. instruction. “Before COVID we had 30 people As the chapel fills with the singing in the choir,” Julie explains. residents' voices, it's hard to say which is bringing more joy their The choir was able to resume singing or the sunshine pouring meeting in August of 2021 (fully into the bright airy space. masked), but some residents are still leery of group events. “Right now we have eight to ten