Home  >  Features  >  Looking Back: "This Do" In An Eventide Home

Looking Back

Image: archives-piccropped.jpg

Looking Back

August 1962


“This Do” in an Eventide Home

When we reached the Home most of the residents were seated in the drawing-room ready for the Service. A comfortable fire glowed, though even the damp and dismal day couldn’t spoil the magnificent view of the country-side from the large windows.

The elements were brought in; the Superintendent and Matron took their places beside the minister; and the familiar Service began.

I watched the congregation sing “My broken body thus I give,” and realised again, as I had done at the hospital Guild Meeting, how familiar that generation was with the Bible, and with the well-loved psalms and paraphrases – there was no need to follow the book.

Then the words of Institution, and the beginning of the Communion. “Take ye; Eat ye,” and the Superintendent of the Home bore the bread to the first of the communicants. She was blind; and gently held the plate within easy reach and guided her hand to pick up the bread.

The next communicant had, with the easy passing between sleeping and waking of old age, fallen asleep. Gently a piece of the bread was placed in his hand and, just as he suddenly wakened and for a moment forgot where he was, he looked with astonishment at the bread. Then recollection came, and the head was reverently bent in prayer.

There followed the large silver cup, obviously quite an effort for some hands to hold and manage. But the wine passed safely and reverently round this little congregation.

Thanksgiving (the first two verses of Psalm 103, ‘O, thou my soul bless God the Lord…His gracious benefits He hath bestowed on thee”) completed the Service – for me a most moving one.

K.M.B.M


Looking Back menu

Life and Work is the magazine of the Church of Scotland. Subscribe here.

Our cookies

We use cookies, which are small text files, to improve your experience on our website.
You can allow or reject non essential cookies or manage them individually.

Reject allAllow all

More options  •  Cookie policy

Our cookies

Allow all

We use cookies, which are small text files, to improve your experience on our website. You can allow all or manage them individually.

You can find out more on our cookie page at any time.

EssentialThese cookies are needed for essential functions such as logging in and making payments. Standard cookies can't be switched off and they don't store any of your information.
AnalyticsThese cookies help us collect information such as how many people are using our site or which pages are popular to help us improve customer experience. Switching off these cookies will reduce our ability to gather information to improve the experience.
FunctionalThese cookies are related to features that make your experience better. They enable basic functions such as social media sharing. Switching off these cookies will mean that areas of our website can't work properly.
AdvertisingThese cookies help us to learn what you're interested in so we can show you relevant adverts on other websites and track the effectiveness of our advertising.
PersonalisationThese cookies help us to learn what you're interested in so we can show you relevant content.

Save preferences