Commun ty Matters Newton Presbyterian Manor
Special guests are scheduled on Tuesdays during summer break Just as many people take a summer vacation, the men and women’s Bible study groups at Newton Presbyterian Manor also are taking a break from their usual curriculum until September 1, and a variety of new programs featuring everything from missionaries to musical guests will take its place. “This is the first time we’re doing something like this,” said Eleanore Myers, Newton Presbyterian Manor resident and leader of the women’s Bible study group. “We have a really good schedule, and we plan to combine both the Bible studies for these seven weeks. We are hoping this summer, people will come visit and will continue to come after these sessions,” she added. The sessions include Chris Busenitz, a missionary to Guinea, West Africa, the Bergen Sisters Musical, Dr. Roy Beacham from Central Theological Seminary and Mr. Peter Hartman. “Usually we strictly study the Bible,” said Eleanore. “I’m hoping that as these missionaries come, that we as adults are going to have SUMMER, continued on page 2
August 2015
Lily Mullinax was born to teach When most of her friends were just learning how to tie their shoes or tell time, Lily Mullinax was planning how she would spend the rest of her life. “I got my first urge to teach in the first grade because I thought my first-grade teacher was the most wonderful woman,” said Lily. “I remember her sitting on the edge of her desk – we’d have our snack, then put our heads down on the desk and she’d read us a story. After that we’d sing songs. There was something about the warmth of that woman. I thought, ‘that’s what I want to do when I grow up.’ I just always wanted to teach.” As soon as she got out of college in 1956, Lily taught third and then fourth grade. After a few years, she quit her job to rest. “I had just worn myself out,” she says, and became pregnant shortly after. After having three children and getting them all in school, Lily started substituting until she was offered a job to teach kindergarten at her church, which she did for a while until she taught preschool there. “The last nine years I taught, I enjoyed the most,” said Lily. “I was teaching preschool music, but I didn’t just teach music. We sang, danced, told stories and did dramatics. And I used a lot of poetry. They called me the music teacher but I was sort of a Jill-of-all-trades. I think I enjoyed this teaching the most because it was the most creative teaching I ever did. I wasn’t bound to any particular curriculum, but one of my teacher manuals was called ‘Learning Basic Skills Through Music.’ I was free to improvise and do what I wanted.” That included having students dramatize “Peter and the Wolf ” for their parents and having them move to “The Skater’s Waltz.” Lily retired at the age of 68. “Sometimes I long to get back to it,” said Lily. “I tried being an honorary grandma at the school here at Presbyterian Manor recently but I got frustrated because I wanted to get up and teach.” Lily and her husband Roy have been married 59 years. They have three grown children and three grandchildren.
Coming up in Community Matters How has music been important to you? In an upcoming issue of Community Matters we will be focusing on music and its role in making our lives better. If you’ve got a story about what music has meant to you, contact Marketing Director Noelle Dickinson, and your story may be selected for an upcoming Community Matters newsletter.
Sign up to receive our newsletter by email. Simply visit NewtonPresbyterianManor.org SUMMER, continued from page 1 and enter your email address in a new understanding of how to pray for them. Jim VanDyck (scheduled for the subscription box. August 18) restores and refinishes a lot of the figures for a life-size nativity It’s that easy! scene we put up during the Christmas season. He’ll show before and after photos and discuss how this relates to us; how we can be restored. And Peter Hartman (scheduled for August 25) has been the chaplain with hospice for many years. He is going to quote Revelations 21 and 22 dressed like the Apostle John, probably looking like when he wrote that. That whole program will be about Heaven. It will be more like a comfort and explanation.”
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Newton Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Marc Kessinger, executive director Noelle Dickinson, marketing director Melinda Ebersole, activity director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Noelle at ndickinson@pmma.org. Telephone: 316-283-5400 Fax: 316-284-5900 Address: 1200 E. Seventh, Newton, KS 67114-2862 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. NewtonPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters August 2015
The Tuesday Summer Events will take place from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Newton Presbyterian Manor Chapel. Residents and the public are invited.
August 4: Norman & Midge Busenitz, missionaries to Germany and Romania August 11: Dr. Roy Beacham, Central Theological Seminary August 18: Mr. Jim VanDyck – Artist August 25: Mr. Peter Hartman, all about Heaven September 1: Paul & Barbara Entz, missionaries to Internationals in Omaha, NE
Walk to End Alzheimer’s
Garden tour and first responders
Above: First responders and residents enjoy an ice cream social. Left: The indoor gardens at Presbyterian Manor were part of Newton Public Library Endowment’s 2015 Newton/ North Newton Garden Tour. Richard Sadowski and Ann Showalter helped to host the two-day event. “Mary’s Garden,” a collection of watercolors by resident Mary Kessler, were on display.
Dillons Community Rewards paying off
With 17 households now participating, the Dillons Community Rewards Program raised $144 last quarter for Newton Presbyterian Manor’s Good Samaritan Program. Just imagine what could be raised if more employees, residents and their families would take the time to sign up! To participate, go to www.dillons.com/communityrewards and follow the instructions for connecting your account with Newton Presbyterian Manor. You will continue to keep your fuel points and other rewards but a portion of your spending will come back to support residents who have exhausted their personal resources.
Newton Presbyterian Manor is forming a team to fight Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia for the 2015 event Sept. 12. Staff, residents and residents’ families are invited to join the team and help.You can sign up to walk on Sept. 12, donate to the cause, help raise money, encourage others to help, or do all of the above. Newton Presbyterian Manor is selling special Alzheimer’s walk T-shirts. The “I Walk For Those Who Can’t Remember” daisy design was painted by Nancy Periolat, a resident on the Newton campus. An order will be placed Aug. 14 for pick-up on Aug. 31. Sizes S-XL are $14, 2X is $15, 3X is $16 and 4X is $17. Please order by contacting Melinda Ebersole at 316-283-5400, mebersole@ pmma.org or check at the front desk.
Raising awareness The activities team offers shirts for sale at the Independence Day festivities.
Fathers Day
Fathers Day brought barbecued ribs to a mid-day picnic in the Haury Place courtyard.
Check out the activity calendars on our website: NewtonPresbyterianManor.org Newton Presbyterian Manor
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Newton Presbyterian Manor 1200 E. Seventh Newton, KS 67114-2862 Return Service Requested
Reflections on Independence Day By Noelle Dickinson, marketing director
I get to wander the crowd and capture photos of families enjoying the Presbyterian Manor Independence Day celebration. These are relaxed, happy people who come back year after year. Here are a few memories from this year’s party: • Busy employees making and delivering more than 420 root beer floats! • Tiny great-grandkids dancing to the Bluegrass Gospel music of the McKinney Sisters. • Quote from a Haury Place resident – “I told my kids we could just watch from my living room, but it’s nice out here.” She lives in a semi-private room... clearly she feels at home. • Grateful ooo’s and ahh’s and applause for every round of fireworks. • Quote from an adult granddaughter – “This is our favorite Fourth of July tradition as a family.” • Quote from a first-time attender – “This is honestly the best fireworks show I’ve ever seen.” • Long after the fireworks were over and most of the clean-up was done, a large family group remained together in the dark, piled on blankets and lawn chairs in the grass. It was the family of a former resident that continues to meet in Newton each year for this laid-back evening. “We come from three different places to be here together. It’s become a tradition.”
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Community Matters August 2015