Getting to Know Us
This is the second month of introducing Augustana’s membership.
Due to the holiday rush from Thanksgiving to Christmas, plus a major plumbing
crisis in the home of the interviewer resulting in the need for a new kitchen
ceiling and new bathroom floor, the planned interview with some of our youngest
members did not take place. Rather than skip a month the author conducted
a self-interview/introduction.
Barbara E. Solt -- March 16, 1943
Barbara is the one who usually sits on the
pulpit side near the rear, often in the row in front of Bill Reid
or in the row
where
Ruth Hunter sits. She is the one who sings “lustily.” Some
have said they appreciate her helping them through new or difficult
songs. Others,
who sit in front of her, find other rows on subsequent Sundays.
So, Barbara, when did you become a member of Augustana?
I began attending in late 1983 after moving here and joined in March of 1984.
I shopped around a bit, for I knew the pastors of Reformation Church and
Luther Place and I lived in Falls Church at the time.
What made you choose Augustana?
I had been a member of St. Peter’s in Manhattan, and grew to love the
formal, traditional liturgy there and was pleased to experience Augustana’s
celebration of that tradition. Also, on the first Sunday I attended, Clarence
Johnson, sitting next to me, said, “Welcome, you should sing in our
choir.” That was nice. Soon afterward I did join the choir.
Why aren’t you a choir member now?
I miss singing in the choir, but when I began my PhD studies about 5 years
ago, I realized I couldn't do all that I had before. Soon afterwards
my father became ill, and I began going to PA on alternate weekends, and
of course all holidays, so I decided that choir singing be deferred until
I could attend more regularly.
You really do like to sing.
Yes, my mother always sang alto and my father, although a monotone, valiantly
tried to sing the hymns and the service. In self-defense, I learned to
carry a tune and to sing boldly. In high school I sang in an a capella
girls choir and the high school mixed chorus, and have sung in church choirs
in most churches where I have been a member.
So, you’ve been a member in several other places?
Yes, after Muhlenberg College, I went to the Columbia University School of
Social Work, where I sang in Advent Lutheran Church's choir in the
upper West Side. From there I went to CA, and from there back to PA, where
I was a member of St. John's in Allentown, and from there to Palm
Desert, CA where I sang in Hope Lutheran Church's choir of six people,
then back to Manhattan then here. I think of myself as bi-coastal.
What were you doing in all those places?
I started as a psychiatric social worker, helping people move back home after
being in a state psychiatric hospital, then I went to Lehigh University
to manage a student volunteer program and serve as a community liaison
between "town and gown." From there I moved into program management
in community based mental health services, mostly serving people in crises
or those whose emotional problems were long-standing. I also did a stint
in urban ministry policy development for the LCA and as a regional volunteer
leadership developer for AAL, which is what brought me to this area. I
also worked with Lutheran Social Services in DC for nine years. After 31
years working, I decided to renew myself through pursuing a doctorate at
Catholic University, which I finished last year. My dissertation was on
resilience in adults who had experienced a major trauma many years ago.
And now what are you doing?
I now work for a social work professional organization which was formed by
several social work organizations to advance social work research. If you
want to know more about what I do you can go to our website: www.iaswresearch.org.
I do a weekly online alert service for social work faculty, researchers,
and doctoral students, and attend lots of meetings where research policy
or evidence-based practice issues are discussed. It's pretty far
a-field from the street-work I did before, and it's a fun new challenge.
I work only part time so that I can still go to PA alternate weekends to
care for my mother who will be 90 on January 10.
Besides singing, what have been some other Augustana involvements?
You name it. I've been on the Evangelism, Stewardship, Long Range Planning,
75th Anniversary committees and on the Call Committee which brought Pastor
Cox here. I served on Council and served as its secretary.
So, what do you do for fun?
I love movies, and concerts, and theatre occasionally, and going to NYC,
and walking my dog, Shadow, a 20 lb blue Chihuahua. I also love to travel,
and have been to most of Europe, Russia, Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Hawaii,
Mexico, and in every state except North and South Dakota. And now I am
really enjoying reading fiction again. Updike, Tony Hillerman, John Irving.
Good story tellers. And most recently The DaVinci Code and Hillary's
Living History, which, though not fiction is a very interesting story well
told.
Well, Barbara, I guess that’s enough for folks to know more about
you. Is there anything you’d like to add?
I love to sing. I love meeting people and listening to their life stories,
things to celebrate, and things to unburden themselves. Being single has
allowed me the freedom to become close to many people along the way, and
to be present to others who may not have "family" nearby. God
keeps bringing me new adventures, and opportunities to serve.
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