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Several years ago I retired knowing that I wanted to use my talents for discipleship of the Lord in some way. Through prayer, I prepared for nursing home visitation and in a musical ministry I had for sometime wanted to start. I had met Gary Snowden, who was also retired and we began playing guitar together. I had played in church a few times but had been disappointed by an individual's comments. I started taking guitar lessons from a prefessional guitarist to reinforce my ability. The lessons not only taught me much about guitar, but also encouraged me to realize I do have a talent for playing.
At this time God suggested very strongly that there were hundreds of senior citizens in this area who loved hearing the songs that they knew from the 40' & 50's. While visiting a nursing home in Penobscot, I mentioned that I had been thinking of starting a program to play for seniors. I was encouraged to come down. Loaded with an arsenal of hymns, contemporary music, Broadway hits, some Celtic music, and some of the old sing-a-long hits, I took my electric guitar to Penobscot Nursing Home. The Lord was right there with me pushing and this first time turned into a whole program of playing and singing on a regular basis.
I contacted Gary to tell him about my first visit to Penobscot, and soon Gary was going with me. Others have joined in, and now the Silver Threads Ministry plays at Tallpines, Senior Spectrum (now known as Senior Generation), Harbor Hill, as well as Penobscot Shores and Reynolds House. In addition to regularly scheduled music ministry, I still visit each nursing home on a weekly basis and have found friendship with so many seniors who live in those places. It is through the guidance of the Lord that I continue with "Silver Threads Ministries".
People who enjoy the music tell me it brings back many memories of when they were younger. When people ask me what I am doing in retirement, I tell them I play around a lot!!.
God has blessed this ministry and those who participate in it. I find new friends in every visit and become more aware of how valuble these friendships are. As always, I owe it all to the Lord. I feel blessed to have found a purpose in my retirement years that I share with Lord and thank God each day I am able to continue.
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