BY GEORGE! ANOTHER VOICE

Doug Haney, Minister of Music

Singing and Serving

The Boston Rescue Mission has served the hungry of Boston for more than 100 years—the immigrants in the late 19^th century, the unemployed during the Depression, the homeless now.

“This kitchen is the heart and soul of Boston Rescue Mission,” said Bill the supervisor to a small group of Wilshire Youth Choir students who volunteered during the recent mission choir tour. “We want to feed these guests and give them a little bit of dignity, because God loves them.”

Bill issued orders like a Marine sergeant: “Colman, watch the fish and do not let it dry out.” “Monica and Noemie, stir these instant potatoes.” “Hannah Mae, move that fruit salad.” “Claire and Catherine, take those dishes to the washer.” “Dillon and Josh, pour up this grapefruit juice.” “Alison, clean that countertop.” This hurried preparation was for one of six meals served every day at Boston Rescue Mission.

The hungry men and women entered in groups of 10. I was assigned to serve one cup of grapefruit juice (and no more) and one cup of water. From my vantage point, I saw two parallel lines of Wilshire students and hungry guests separated by the stainless steel serving line. Some guests talked and joked with the students, some spoke not a word. The Wilshire students responded graciously, talking, smiling. My eyes filled with tears; the contrast of our singers’ cheerful faces and the weary faces of the guests was poignant.

During a lull in serving, the students were asked to sing. And so, not in a grand historic church, or a monastery, but in a soup kitchen without windows they sang with no accompaniment, “Blest are they, the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of God.”