Commun ty Matters Farmington Presbyterian Manor
‘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 CEO, continued on page 2
December 2014
Lucille and Harold Weiss
Manor scooter helps couple spend days together After 70 years of marriage, Lucille and Harold Weiss still spend every day together. Harold just has to cover a little extra ground to make it happen. Every morning, Harold leaves his apartment at Farmington Presbyterian Lucille and Harold Weiss Manor and rides a scooter over to the health care neighborhood, where Lucille is recuperating from a fall. They have lunch and dinner together before Harold returns for the night. The scooter was donated by a former resident. When staff members saw Harold walking back and forth to Lucille’s room every day, they offered him the scooter for his daily round trip. “It saves me a lot of wear and tear,” he said, adding that he still walks a good deal. The Weisses moved to Presbyterian Manor in 2009. This April, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. The couple met in 1941 while attending Flat River Junior College, now known as Mineral Area College. They were engaged a year later while Harold was serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II. Lucille supported the war effort by working in the rationing office. After a two-year engagement, they married in 1944. “I came home, and we tied the knot,” Harold said. Harold went on to work in the offices of St. Joe Lead Co. for 42 years, retiring in 1985. That’s when the Weisses became world travelers, taking trips with their square dancing group, cruises and other excursions. They visited Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico and at least 10 European countries, including stops in Italy so Lucille could visit some of the places Harold saw in the war. Plus, he fondly recalls, “I climbed a tower in Ireland and kissed the Blarney Stone. I played a bagpipe and danced a Scottish jig.” Lucille has “exceptional talent” as an artist, her husband brags. She painted for many years and later took up the art of engraving pictures on metal. Her talents also extend to the fiber arts. Lucille learned to sew as a girl and made many clothes for the couple’s two children, David and Donna. Today, she continues to crochet afghans. Harold said she recently gave six afghans to their church fundraiser, where the warm and cozy creations were snapped up quickly.
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CEO, continued from page 1
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.
Community Matters is published monthly for residents and friends of Farmington Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Jane Hull, executive director Holly Bauman, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact hbauman@pmma.org Telephone: 573-756-6768 Fax: 573-756-6014 Address: 500 Cayce, Farmington, MO 63640-2910 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. FarmingtonPresbyterianManor.org
My second key belief is in the spirit of Santa Claus. Santa has always been a big part of my family’s Christmas celebrations, dating back to when I was a little one. Santa has always come out of the fireplace in the house I grew up in in Lindsborg, Kansas. It is quite the spectacle to see the Jolly Old Elf come out of PaPa Har’s (my dad’s) fireplace to deliver gifts to all the good girls 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 you” is pure happiness for the giver, the receiver and those watching, and the best is when someone will ask with a wink and whisper in Santa’s ear, “Who are you, really?” and Santa gets to tell them the truth: You are really Santa Claus. Priceless! Finally, my third and final belief is in the employees of the PMMA system in providing the care and 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. 3
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Employees will be bell ringing at Wal-Mart in Farmington for Salvation Army. Independent Living Christmas Party at the Presbyterian Church ,12 p.m. Residential Care Cookies & Cocoa party, 2 p.m. Health Care Cookies & Cocoa party, 2 p.m. Memory Care Neighborhood Christmas Party, 2 p.m. Health Care Christmas Party 2 p.m. Residential Care Christmas Party, 2 p.m. Christmas Caroling at the Manor, 10 a.m.
Prize winner
Farmington Presbyterian Manor employees who received flu shots at the campus were eligible to participate in a drawing for a prize. Christine, a quality assurance nurse, was the winner of a Samsung tablet.
Farmington Presbyterian Manor 500 Cayce Farmington, MO 63640-2910 Return Service Requested
Soul Food: The fourth aspect the ‘Fatherhood of God’ By Ray Chappell, Farmington Presbyterian Manor chaplain
that God the Father, the First Person, is the Father of the Dear people, we have now reached the fourth aspect of the “Fatherhood Lord Jesus Christ, the Second Person. of God,” which will be continued Jesus Christ is next month. The most important Ray Chappell referred to in the and extensive revelation related to New Testament as the Son of God the fatherhood of God involves the and the attributes and works of God relationship of the First Person to the Second Person. The First Person are assigned to him. This constitutes the proof of the deity of Jesus Christ is described as “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:3). and the doctrine of the Trinity as a The most comprehensive theological whole, with Christ as the Second revelation of the New Testament is Person in relationship to the First 4
Person as a son is related to a father. Theologians have wrestled with a precise definition of how God is the Father of the Second Person. Obviously the terms “father” and “son” are used of God to describe the intimate relationship of the First and Second persons without necessarily fulfilling all the aspects that would be true in a human relationship of father and son. This is especially evident in the fact that both the Father and Son are eternal.