It’s good to remember the reason for the season at Christmas time. One church congregation in Nashville, Tennessee spread the Christmas spirit by coming together to bring a Christmas church service to an elderly couple unable to attend church services. They can’t come to church, so the church came to them.
Members of the Charlotte Road Baptist Church gathered in front of the home of Jim and Dot Singleton on Thursday night to share a Christmas Eve service. The Singletons are longtime members of the church. They have been married more than 80 years. Pastor Joe Frejosky said they are the longest married couple in the United States. For the sake of the story, I’ll take the word of the pastor on that claim. I’ve not been able to confirm that they are the longest married couple – last year Congress honored a California couple as the longest living married couple in the country. At the time, the California couple had been married 86 years. That’s certainly worth recognition but the length of time the Singletons have been married is notable, too. It’s not the point of the story, though.
Jim is 102 years old, and Dot is just less than 100 years of age. Due to their advancing ages, they have been unable to attend Christmas Eve church services for a long time. Thus the decision by the congregation to bring a service to them. Church members were singing “Joy to the Word” as Dot came out of her house, smiling. “We thought we’d bring church to you,” the pastor said. Then he read a short word of scripture.
At the beginning of the video, the pastor explains that Jim would miss the surprise church service because he had fallen earlier and was recovering in the hospital.
The congregation sang several Christmas songs to Dot and her family members. She looks great, by the way. At first she sat in a chair on the porch. She stood and moved closer to the pastor when he began what he called a short sermon. She remained standing.
After the last song there was a prayer and a big “Amen.”
This was a lovely gesture and a display of the true spirit of Christmas. The pastor and congregation gave of their time to celebrate with an elderly member who doesn’t get to church services anymore. Imagine how much this gesture must have meant to Dot and her family. It’s hard to think of a better gift, other than Jim being there with them, too.
You can watch the front yard church service using this Facebook link:
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