The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel proclaims hope in a setting traditionally known as “The Valley of Dry Bones”, where hope is not apparent. Ezekiel 37: 3-6 proclaims, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”
A community of faith has the privilege and charge to stir spiritual hope in the midst of “dry bones.” Pastor Larry J Giese, who is full-time chaplain at Missouri Slope Lutheran Care Center (MSLCC) and Valley View Heights (VVHAL) Assisted Living, is responsible to provide for the spiritual care of our residents and tenants, upon request. Ordained in 1985 and a pastor on the clergy roster of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, he is responsible to offer faith resources, and help connect residents/tenants with spiritual leaders and resources of their choice. Most residents/tenants are of the Protestant or Catholic faith.
Pastor Larry leads ecumenical Christian worship opportunities in the MSLCC chapel on Sunday afternoons at 2:15 PM and on Wednesday mornings at 10 AM. He leads other special worship and/or devotional opportunities and is assisted in providing spiritual care by area lay and clergy volunteers. On the second Sunday of the month a memorial prayer is shared during the worship service in remembrance of residents who died the previous month. On the first Wednesday of each month he celebrates Holy Communion at chapel worship and invites all to receive the gifts of God for the people of God. He also provides or arranges for private communion, upon request.
Pastor Larry is assisted by Charles Watt who has been a long time pianist at Missouri Slope Chapel and Valley View Chapel.
WORSHIP SCHEDULE
Sunday:
9:15 am – Catholic Communion, VVH Chapel (provided by St. Anne’s Parish)
9:30 am – Catholic Communion MSLCC distributed to Catholic residents in rooms
(provided by St. Mary’s Parish)
1:30 pm – Worship, VVH Chapel
2:15 pm – Worship, MSLCC Chapel
Wednesday:
10:00 am – Worship, MSLCC Chapel
Thursday:
9:30 am – Rosary, MSLCC Chapel
10:00 am Catholic Mass, MSLCC Chapel
2:30 pm Bible Studies, MSLCC Chapel (as announced)
**Worship services are provided during the day on Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. (A Christmas Day service is offered when December 25 is on a Sunday.) Special seasonal services will be announced.
**Communion is provided monthly.
The Chaplain is on call 24 hours a day/7 days a week for pastoral emergencies. When the chaplain is on vacation, there is pastoral coverage for worship and emergencies. Our beautiful chapel is a wonderful place of worship, prayer, and meditation. It is a multi-purpose facility used for several other activities.
For further information contact the chaplain at (701) 221-9361.
