Community Matters Aberdeen Village
December 2014
‘Believe’
By Bruce Shogren, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America president and CEO
As I look forward to the holiday season, one word is key to this season: “believe.” I truly believe in three key people: Jesus Christ, Santa Bruce Shogren Claus and the employees of the Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America system. What could be more important than Christmas Day, the day we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ? I grew up in a church in which every Sunday we would state our belief by reciting the Apostles’ Creed. I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, His only Son Our Lord,Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of theVirgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into Hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of
Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey, center, with veterans from the trip, meet former Kansas Senator Bob Dole at the World War II Memorial.
It was an honor Heartland Honor Flight a success The Heartland Honor Flight took to the skies again in October. On board were 85 veterans of World War II and the Korean War, along with their guardians. Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey, along with veterans from the trip, were able to meet former Senator from Kansas, Bob Dole. Dole greeted everyone at the World War II Memorial. Dole was instrumental in bringing this project to reality. The Honor Flight program is open to all veterans of World War II and Korea. It is funded through donations, affording a day of memorial sightseeing in Washington, D.C., free to the veterans. If you or someone you know served in either conflict and would like to go, contact Suzanne for information, or visit the website at heartlandhonorflight.org.
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Chaplain’s message: The gift of Christmas changes everything By Rev. Dr. Larry L. Thornton, Aberdeen Village chaplain
Royals fever
Royals fever swept Aberdeen Village as the team took it to game seven of the World Series. Although it wasn’t the outcome we wanted, we cheered the team on with watch parties and special events. We are proud of their success. Here’s to next year!
What are you expecting for Christmas this year? What are your hopes for the season? Do you expect Christmas to change anything, really? Most of us will observe the same family traditions and pull out the same decorations. Do you expect anything to change for you this Christmas? Maybe not, but God does! Because that is what the season is about. Even when the Christmas season seems predictable and stale, the full realization of the birth of Christ can breathe life into even the hardest of hearts.
The Rev. Dr. Larry Thornton
A few years ago I read this remarkable story of a missionary team in Russia that was teaching the story of Christ’s birth at an orphanage. Everyone listened in amazement. None of the kids had heard it before. The team gave the children some materials and instructed them to create the manger scene they had just heard about. All went well until the missionaries came to the table where little Misha sat; he looked about 6 years old. In the little boy’s manger there were two babies. They asked why. Misha began to repeat the story accurately, until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger.
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Aberdeen Village by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at: PresbyterianManors.org. Tim Allin, executive director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Suzanne Willey, community relations director, swilley@pmma.org. Telephone: 913-599-6100 Fax: 913-599-3810 Address: 17500 W. 119th St., Olathe, KS 66061-9524 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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Then Misha started to ad-lib his own ending to the story: “When Mary laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no mama and no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and told me I could stay with him forever.” Putting his hand over his face, Misha’s head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. For the first time in his life, he had found someone who never would abandon or abuse him, someone who would stay with him forever. Little Misha caught the meaning of the gift of Christmas in a fresh and profound way. What are you expecting this Christmas? Do you have a longing that God will change something in our world? That God will change someone you love? That God will change you? God loves an expectant heart, and God is eager to surprise you with the gifts of his goodness and love. May we wait for the Lord with eager hearts! May we, like Misha, “ponder” again the meaning of the gift of Christmas and receive this gift in our lives!
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Festive fun ahead Christmas Tree Lane Christmas Tree Lane is a longstanding tradition at Aberdeen Village. A variety of creative efforts don the trees that are being raffled to benefit the Good Samaritan Program. Tickets are $1 each or six for $5. The drawing will take place Dec. 22. Take a stroll down Christmas Tree Lane and with just the right raffle ticket, a beautiful tree could be yours.
Taste and Tour Dec. 9 will mark our seventh annual Taste and Tour holiday party. Enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of the holidays from 5 to 7 p.m. in independent living. Santa Claus will make a special appearance. Families, friends and people interested in living at Aberdeen Village have found this party to be a wonderful way to kick off the holidays, as well as offer prospective residents an opportunity to get to know us better – especially our fun side! Mark your calendars. RSVP at the front desk.
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sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen. This belief statement says it all for me and has been the guiding statement throughout my life. It has given me the ability to believe in the power of prayer, which has really been needed daily as my wife was healing in the hospital and at home. This Christmas season, I pray you reflect on that night long ago when Jesus was born and you continue to realize the impact his birth has had on all our lives.
and boys of the Shogren family after losing his pants once again. “Har, when are you going to fix your chimney,” Santa states every year to the delight of all in the room.You have to be there to really experience it and believe it.
But the actual thrill in believing in the spirit of Santa Claus is to be a “Santa Helper.” To see the joy in the eyes of a child when he or she sits on Santa’s lap, to experience a surprise appearance by Santa is unforgettable whether it is to children or adults, to give an unexpected and thoughtful gift which says “I know My second key belief is in the spirit you” is pure happiness for the giver, of Santa Claus. Santa has always been the receiver and those watching, and the best is when someone will ask a big part of my family’s Christmas with a wink and whisper in Santa’s celebrations, dating back to when ear, “Who are you, really?” and Santa I was a little one. Santa has always gets to tell them the truth:You are come out of the fireplace in the really Santa Claus. Priceless! house I grew up in in Lindsborg, Kansas. It is quite the spectacle to Finally, my third and final belief see the Jolly Old Elf come out of is in the employees of the PMMA PaPa Har’s (my dad’s) fireplace to system in providing the care and deliver gifts to all the good girls services to you. Being on the side
of receiving care in the past year by a caring hospital nursing and health care staff, I appreciate even more the PMMA staff throughout our system that daily provide the health care, friendship, caring and a whole lot more to you, our residents. Please join me in thanking your community’s staff for their commitment to our mission, providing quality senior services guided by Christian values. As I close my letter, let me wish that you know the blessing of being a child of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, the joy of caring for others, and that you still hear the bell ring and truly believe. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Independent living drives expansion plans This month, we continue to look back at our history as Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America celebrates 65 years of the art of life. The desire for more independent living drove expansion for Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America in the late 1980s. Duplex or apartment projects were approved for the campuses in Sterling, Wichita, Topeka, Parsons, Arkansas City and Lawrence. Existing spaces were renovated in Sterling, Arkansas City, Kansas City and Newton, and a new health care center was constructed in Newton. Wichita received funds for and constructed a chapel. Community interest and persistence led to the development of a campus in Emporia. Ground was broken on May 22, 1984, and Emporia Presbyterian Manor campus opened in 1986. Construction started on a new campus in Dodge City in a joint venture with the CSJ Health System of Wichita, Kan. The new campus, adjacent to St. Mary of the Plains College, was named Manor of the Plains. In conjunction with the closing of St. Mary of the Plains campus in 1992, Presbyterian Manors Inc. acquired CSJ Health System’s joint venture interest in Manor of the Plains and became the sole owner. PMMA’s dream of providing services for severely physically handicapped adults became a reality when Hutchinson Heights opened in 1986. The 1980s also brought serious conversations about the relationship between Presbyterian Manors of Mid-
America and the synods of the Presbyterian Church as well as increased competition in the senior care market. Board minutes from 1986 demonstrate PMMA’s desire to keep the ties with the Synod of Mid-America and individual Presbyterian churches strong. In 1989, the original United Presbyterian Foundation of Kansas Inc. (Newton), and the other separate Kansas Manor corporations, (Arkansas City, Clay Center, Emporia, Kansas City, Lawrence, Manor of the Plains, Parsons, Salina, Sterling, Topeka and Wichita) and Presbyterian Manors of Missouri Inc. (Farmington, Fulton and Rolla) were merged to form Presbyterian Manors Inc. In 1990, an office building was constructed in northeast Wichita and the headquarters of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc. moved from Newton to Wichita.
Seeking ‘angels’ for Good Samaritan Program Christmas angel ornaments – each representing a gift to the Good Samaritan Program for Benevolent Care – are adding to the holiday decorations at Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America’s senior living communities.
Donors responding to the annual Christmas Angel Appeal letter mailed in November include paper angel ornaments with their gifts. Each ornament will then be displayed at the PMMA community designated by the donor. During the past two years, angel donors have given more than $94,000 to the Good Samaritan Program, which assists PMMA residents who have run out of funds through no fault of their own. 4