Community Matters Aberdeen Village
December 2015
Holiday happenings On the road:
Dec. 16: Aberdeen Village Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey and Program Director of Health and Human Services at JCCC Penny Shafer will team up at the Landon Center on Aging for a brown bag lunch discussion of “Beating the Holiday Blues.” While the holidays seem to be festive for a lot of folks, loneliness and depression are also common for many folks. This hopes to be a great dialogue of understanding and helpful hints to get through the holidays. Dec. 15- Plaza Lights tour and dessert at Grand Street Café. Please reserve your spot with the front office at 913-599-6100.
Listen for the tap at the door By Rev. Dr. Larry Thornton, Aberdeen Village chaplain
Right here at home:
Dec. 2: Aberdeen Village will host the Overland Park Chamber of Commerce for a “Wake Up Wednesday” coffee from 8-9 a.m. Meet area business leaders and learn about what’s going on in the area. It’s always a great way to meet new friends! Dec. 8: Taste and Tour (see page 4) Dec. 10: Independent living Christmas party Dec. 23: Assisted living and health care Christmas party Dec. 21: Christmas Tree Lane raffle
My wife, Julie, and I often remember an early Advent/ Christmas of our marriage and ministry. We lived in a small town located on a highway to Chicago. It was common to have “strangers” knock on our front door and ask for help, but this day someone tapped on our back door. The winter was brutal with howling winds blowing snow across the barren corn fields making drifts way up telephone poles.
The Rev. Dr. Larry Thornton
When Julie opened the door, there stood a half-frozen man with ice and snow all over his whiskers and clothes. He asked if there was any work that he could do for us. She asked if he would please come in, but he said, “No, thank you for I would make a mess on your clean floor.” That’s when she noticed rag strips around the soles of his shoes. He finally did come into the kitchen for some hot soup and a sandwich and warmed up. I had an extra pair of shoes to replace his rag shoes and later DOOR, continued on page 3
CEO, continued on page 4
A proud member of Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America
Donate your vehicle to help senior citizens The season of giving is here. Wouldn’t it be great to know that your vehicle donation helped seniors who have outlived their financial resources receive the care they need this year? Turn that unneeded vehicle into holiday cheer and receive a tax deduction! We accept many donations types including cars, RVs, boats, planes and more. Donating your vehicle will help seniors who have outlived their financial resources at a Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America campus in so many ways. Call us at 844-490-GIVE (4483) or visit AberdeenVillage.com/ Vehicle_Donations, fill out the form, and we’ll take care of the rest. Each year, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America provides more than $4 million in charitable care. Our seniors need your support; a donated vehicle can help in so many ways ‘Tis the season, give for a reason.
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.
2
Community Matters December 2015
Merry Christmas
DOOR, continued from page 1
drove him to the Salvation Army in another town, where he could receive more substantial help, work and shelter. We gave him very little, but he gave us much for we truly experienced Christ “at our door.” When Julie was a teenager, her mother had a very difficult brain surgery. In those days, it was so new that it truly was experimental. Her mother later told the family that all through her semi-consciousness, she saw Holman Hunt’s famous painting of Christ standing at the door knocking holding a light. As Julie remembers her mother’s story she always relates it to Bethlehem… when Mary and Joseph were outside and knocking on a door…there was no room for the Christ to be born except a stable.
I pray that we all will listen for the “tap” on our door during Advent, for the Christ gently knocks so often. We must not only listen but also open the door, for the knob is only on our side! As the carol says, “How silently, how silently the wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive him, still the dear Christ enters in.” God bless you at Christmas and go with you through the year and whenever you are troubled may you feel His presence near; may the greatness of His mercy and the sweetness of His peace bring you everlasting comfort and the joys that never cease.
LEAVE US A COMPLIMENT. GO ONLINE AND SHARE YOUR GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH US. Go to reputation.g5search.com/aberdeen-village and choose one of our preferred online review sites to share your story.
Donate at AberdeenVillage.com
The angel in the details
They say “the devil is in the details,” but we’d like to flip that around. Aberdeen Village is filled with “everyday angels” whose work and attention to detail make this a heavenly place to be. We’d especially like to thank Maintenance Technician Lance Brown, who has been a part of the Aberdeen Village family since the beginning, almost 15 years ago. As you can see, Lance is touching up paint here and there, as we prepare for the holidays and all of the festivities this time of year brings. Aberdeen Village
3
You are invited to
Aberdeen Village for the eighth annual
Taste and Tour of Christmas December 8, 2015 5 to 7 p.m. RSVP to 913-599-6100
Aberdeen Village 17500 W. 119th, Olathe, KS 66061 Complimentary Valet Parking Available Celebrate the sights, sounds and tastes of the holidays at Aberdeen Village. Take a stroll through our Christmas Tree Lane, sample the delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts, and take a personal tour through the apartments.
LIKE
Aberdeen Village
LIKE
Aberdeen Village
ON
We love showing off what we’re up to at Aberdeen Village! Be sure to “like us” on Facebook at Facebook.com/AberdeenVillage, so you can keep up! And don’t forget to check out our blog at www.blog.AberdeenVillage.com. Our blog features news about Aberdeen Village and resources for seniors and their caregivers.
ON
What’s your secret artistic talent?
An upcoming edition of Community Matters will focus on Art is Ageless®. The Art is Ageless® program encourages residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through an annual art competition and exhibit, musical and dramatic events, educational opportunities and current events discussions. What talent have you discovered? If you’ve got a story about what inspires you to create, contact Community Relations Director Suzanne Willey, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters.
4
Community Matters December 2015
Sign up to receive our newsletter by email. Visit AberdeenVillage.com and enter your email address in the subscription box. It’s that easy!