MOSES LAKE — The chapel at Brookdale Hearthstone is blessed and ready to serve once again.  

“This is a sacred place,” said Pastor Rick Garcia. “This is a consecrated place. And today we've come to bless this space and this chapel (and) rededicate it to the Lord.” 

Garcia, who most recently was the pastor at Warden Assembly of God Church, was at Brookdale Hearthstone on Thursday to reconsecrate the chapel. He was joined by Father John Washington and Reid Baker, a representative of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

The little chapel room at Brookdale Hearthstone has been there all along, said Executive Director Laurie Ahmann, but at some point, before or during the COVID-19 pandemic, it's sort of fell into disuse. The space was instead being used as a theater, Ahmann said. Family members might bring communion to residents and sometimes there would be a Bible study, she said, but there hadn’t been any formal services for years. 

“So, I went and got a cross and put it back up,” Ahmann said. “And I thought, we need to rededicate it, have people come up and start using it again.” 

The event started with a gathering in the dining area of Brookdale Hearthstone, where Ahmann played piano and the residents and guests sang old familiar hymns including “How Great Thou Art” and “Rock of Ages.” Garcia led the assembly in prayer, and the people, about 15 or 20, gathered made their way to the second floor where the chapel awaited. 

The chapel is small and simple, with about five pews, a piano, a lectern with a large King James Bible on it and the cross, a muted but elegant wooden construction, on the wall. The artwork on the back wall of the chapel is like that found in the hallways; Ahmann said she hopes to replace it with Christian images like the Last Supper. 

Washington, who serves as the parochial vicar at Queen of All Saints Catholic Church in Warden and Our Lady of the Desert in Mattawa, spoke first. 

“We pray that this place be a place of sanctity and rest for all of you,” he said. “We know that many of the residents here need that rest and that quiet time in their lives … so we want to make sure that this is a place of respite for you all, and a place of respite for the people who take care of each and every one of you.” 

Baker hadn’t expected to be called on to speak, he said, but he took the floor and spoke about the blessings of God and the hope of the next life. 

“The reminder that I would (leave with you), as we begin a new season in this chapel, is that as you come here, you might be able to look at the cross and remember the Savior,” Baker said. “Remember the great blessings that he's promised us. I'm getting a little closer to the other side than the beginning, and the resurrection is starting to sound better and better all the time, to have a perfect body and a perfect frame, and all those great things that have been promised sound pretty great.” 

Garcia’s words alluded to the dedication of the Temple of Solomon in the book of II Chronicles. 

“‘For now, I have chosen and sanctified or consecrated this house, set this house apart that my name may be there forever, and my eyes and my heart will be there perpetually.’” Garcia quoted. “… Not only is this a place and a space for you and for the staff to come and find solace and comfort and the prayer, but actually, God's presence will be here. The Scripture say wherever two or three are gathered in his name, there he is in the midst of them … so I just want to encourage all of you to come to this place often if you need prayer, if you need strength, if you need wisdom, whatever you need.” 

The three men then anointed the wall of the chapel with holy oil, and Ahmann led the assembly in one more hymn before adjourning for light refreshments. 

Few assisted living facilities are fortunate enough to have a space devoted to worship unless they’re operated by a religious organization, Ahmann said. She hopes area churches and ministers will come and lead services at the newly reconsecrated space. 

“It is a special thing for not only residents, but staff and family,” she said. “The rededication of it is saying we are here, we're inviting you to come back. We need you. We want you to come back and pray, to be with these residents, to bless us with your presence.” 

    Brookdale Hearthstone Executive Director Laurie Ahmann, second from right, cuts the ribbon on the facility’s chapel surrounded by representatives of local churches and Brookdale Hearthstone staff.
  

    Visitors, resident sand staff raise their hands to join in blessing the chapel at Brookdale Hearthstone Thursday. About 15-20 people were present as well as representatives from three local churches.
  

    Brookdale Hearthstone Executive Director Laurie Ahmann leads hymns, joined by Fr. John Washington, left and Pastor Rick Garcia, at the reconsecration of the facility’s chapel Thursday.
  

    Reid Baker of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints speaks in front of the newly restored cross at the reconsecration of the chapel at Brookdale Hearthstone Assisted living Thursday.