Emporia Presbyterian Manor
Lessons from Ecclesiastes SEPTEMBER 2021
Love, hot from the oven For staff, it’s her banana cake. For residents, it’s her apple crisp. But no matter which creation a person craves the most, Dining Service Director Jessica Goodwin’s love of baking is matched only by the chef’s own love for her work. “Baking is my passion,” said Jessica. “I think the balance of different combinations of flavors and textures is what can make a great dessert. When it’s done right, it should give you a warm satisfying feeling—like home.” For anyone who has ever tasted one of Jessica’s creations, it’s hard to imagine her anywhere other than the kitchen, but during her 10 years at Emporia Presbyterian Manor that hasn’t always been the case. Jessica Goodwin “I started out as a part-time server here and kept working my way up. When I started to bake, I found out that I really loved it. From there, I moved on to cooking and then getting to work with Chef Johny Partwary really inspired me to learn more and grow myself into a chef,” said Jessica.
Now, as the director of dining services, Jessica does less of the day-to-day cooking and more budgeting, managing and teaching her team the finer points of hospitality and service. But that doesn’t mean that her job is any less rewarding. “I love the rush when it’s serving time then being able to watch the residents enjoy their food,” said Jessica. Luckily, she still finds time for the banana cake and apple crisp. u
By Mary Bridges Chaplain, Salina Presbyterian Manor Editor’s Note: This is a guest column from the chaplain at Salina Presbyterian Manor. In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we will be periodically sharing columns from our community chaplains in your Community Matters newsletter.
In July, the Rev. Elwyn Holmes of Salina’s First Presbyterian Church led our first worship service in over a year. He used the familiar words from Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 for his message. The reverend said that these words from centuries ago continue to remind us that life isn’t always great and it often brings things into our lives that we don’t like. He used “The Message” translation by Eugene Peterson. These words gave me renewed hope for our world. Jeffery Kranz, an author who lives in Bellingham, Wash., tells us that “Ecclesiastes explores the unpredictability of life: we have an idea of how the world should work, but it rarely goes that way. And no matter how wise we are, or how hard we work, or how strong our faith is, we don’t have any guarantees and we are encouraged to be loyal to God and enjoy the simple things in life — because we really don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow.”
Devotion – continued on page 2 Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
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Mission Committee members drawn to service by personal experience Larry and Linda DeDonder were already active volunteers in and around Emporia when they decided to join the Emporia Presbyterian Manor Mission Committee a little more than three years ago. While they had known of the community for years, it wasn’t until a family member became a resident that they became aware of the important role it played in the community. “My mother was a resident for about three years,” said Linda. “It turned out to be a great solution for her, and I very much appreciated knowing that there was
somebody nearby in case she needed any help.” For Larry, seeing the care Linda’s mother received was a truly eyeopening experience. “It wasn’t until Linda’s mother was [living there] that I discovered just how caring the Presbyterian Manor was,” said Larry. As members of the Mission Committee, Larry and Linda support the community by coordinating events like the holiday luminarias and the annual Veteran’s Day celebration as well as working on various fundraising efforts.
“Calling about fundraising isn’t always the easiest thing to do, but I have had very positive responses, and I think that indicates that the community appreciate what the Presbyterian Manor provides,” said Linda. In addition to the Mission Committee, the DeDonders are also active in their church and volunteer once a week for the sheriff’s department. “We enjoy volunteering and seeing the fruits of our labor—that’s what is important to us,” said Larry. u
Devotion – continued from page 1 There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth: A right time for birth and another for death, A right time to plant and another to reap, A right time to kill and another to heal, A right time to destroy and another to construct, A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer, A right time to make love and another to abstain, A right time to embrace and another to part, A right time to search and another to count your losses, A right time to hold on and another to let go, A right time to rip out and another to mend,
A right time to shut up and another to speak up, A right time to love and another to hate, A right time to wage war and another to make peace. But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I’ve had a good look at what God has given us to do — busywork, mostly. True, God made everything beautiful in itself and in its time—but he’s left us in the dark, so we can never know what God is up to, whether he’s coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That’s it: Eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift. There is an opportune time for everything. u Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
Community Matters 620-343-2613 ◆ Fax: 620-343-9195 2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6635 EmporiaPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2021
is published monthly for residents and friends of Emporia Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: ataber@PMMA.org Susan Siepelmeier, executive director Andraya Taber, marketing director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Six local artists among Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners Six winning artists in Emporia Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2022 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of MidAmerica). “Poinsettias,” a Christmas entry by Paul Johnston, “Friends,” a painting by John King, “Hale’s Trestle,” a
sculpture/3-D entry by Herbert Morton, and “Mabry Mill,” a photograph by Ken Suchy, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall. Works by local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition with winning art from 14 other PMMA communities. More than 160 entries were received for this year’s masterpiece competition. The winners are featured in the Art is Ageless calendar with pull-out postcards and greeting cards. “Flying with Grandpa,” a painting by Steve Barnard, and “The Door” and “Peaceful Retreats,” paintings by Sarah Nix, will be featured on greeting cards. “I am blown away at the talent we have here in our community
“Hale’s Trestle,” a sculpture/3-D entry by Herbert Morton
and am honored that we get to share this exhibit of artwork by seniors,” said Andraya Taber, marketing director at Emporia Presbyterian Manor. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of artists age 65 and older. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.” u
“The Door,” a painting by Sarah Nix
“Flying with Grandpa,” a painting by Steve Barnard
“Friends,” a painting by John King Emporia Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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2300 Industrial Rd. Emporia, KS 66801-6636 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
Art is Ageless – continued from page 3 “Mabry Mill,” a photograph by Ken Suchy
“Peaceful Retreats,” a painting by Sarah Nix
“Poinsettias,” a Christmas entry by Paul Johnston
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2021