Giving Back through the Gift of Music

The white cross that stands high above GraceWorks Church at 6445 Lee Highway.

by: Phyllis Nicholson

Pastor Michael Prettyman sings with a crowd of residents during a regular visit to Morning Pointe.

Recently I had the privilege to interview a young man who has spent his entire life sharing memories through music to seniors. Michael Prettyman, one of the pastors at Grace Works Chattanooga, does just that week by week. He takes a group from the church to several assisted livings in the area and they have a ball. Residents request their favorites to sing and the fun begins! Pat Vaugh, along with Chip and Judy Liner, help make each week a success. Of course COVID 19 has played havoc with this ministry but things are improving and life is getting back to normal. At present they are going weekly or at least monthly to: Morning Pointe Hamilton Place, Morning Pointe of East Hamilton, Morning Pointe of Hixson, The Lantern at Morning Pointe, Hickory Valley Retirement Community, Elmcroft of Shallowford, The Terrace at Mountain Creek, Garden Plaza at Greenbrier Cove, and Life Care of East Ridge.

As a young child of only five or six, Michael went with his dad, who was a pastor, each week to the local nursing home in the area where he grew up and watched his dad minister to the seniors there. He can remember singing to them at an early age and how much they loved him being there. He remembered going to the cafeteria and eating Jell-o (all colors). It was instilled in him to give back. He didn’t think about it at the time, but now he can see how those in the nursing homes loved seeing the children come in. The residents love to get hugs, just sit, and watch the children. Many of them have not seen their own relatives or especially children in such a long time. So making things special to them has been a passion for Michael. Just sitting and having a short conversation, giving a hand, or a smile means more to them than anything you can give materially.

As soon as Michael became one of the pastors at GraceWorks, someone called and asked him to sing. He immediately said yes and things quickly opened up for the church. He and Pat Vaughn have worked together to help get the entire church involved. The In-Home Ministry chaired by Chip and Judy makes it easy for people to be a part of the program. They go, take gifts, send cards, and do things to help make folks’ lives sweeter as the days go by. Michael noticed that the workers in these facilities enjoy this time as well for they see their patients having fun, singing, and interacting in ways they don’t experience on a daily basis. The other ministries of the church also are involved such as the Children’s Ministry volunteers taking cards, presenting musicals, etc., and also when appropriate taking a bus to bring them to the church to enjoy an event or outing. Just being a part means so much when life has changed and you no longer can do the things you loved to do. Michael dreams of a bus ministry where individuals can be brought weekly to the church and GraceWorks can be their church.

As we went through the quarantine this past year and Christmas and New Year’s fell into these times, Michael was called by Morning Pointe Hamilton Place and asked if he could just go stop by each resident’s door to sing. What a blessing each received that night. A smile and a song said it all! He has been their Christmas, Easter, Valentines Day, etc during these times. They might not be able to go out but Michael and his group have become their family. This passion of a child has now become a blessing for an entire church. He commented that each time he goes in he feels liberated like those who had been in confinement in concentration camps. Time is something that can be lost and never reclaimed so each moment is precious.

If you are interested in this ministry or have a loved one who needs help, the information below might help you understand a bit more. You can be on a team or just share life with others. You never know, you might reunite with someone from the past or see an old neighbor. This indeed will bless your life. They also go to members’ homes to visit, take gifts, and sing.

Go to the GraceWorks page on Facebook and you will see the weekly visits, Trivia, and also the messages on Sunday mornings led by our Pastors Tony Leonard and Bill Owens. You can also find more information at graceworkschatt.com.

GraceWorks hopes to return to normal one day soon and have events or concerts. “Giving to others is just what we do”, commented Michael, “It is a commandment from our Lord and Savior.” Whether being a part of the Alzheimer’s Walk, going to assisted living facilities, or visiting the homebound, GraceWorks takes this mission seriously. As seen below, they just assisted with the Reopening of Morning Point on Shallowford.

Recently, Ruth Lowery at this location said, “We can’t wait for the third Wednesday of each month for Michael and Pat to come sing. It’s just like getting to go to church and is such a blessing.”