Commun ty Matters Rolla Presbyterian Manor
Chaplain’s message: June is the time to reflect on fatherhood By Allen Teal, Rolla Presbyterian Manor chaplain
And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. Genesis 4:1 (KJV) June is the month for dads. It’s time for backyard barbecue, lawn mowing, and a host of other outdoor activities frequently associated with dads. During June, fathers get their own special day. At least one day per year, we are challenged to honor our paternal parent. A man becomes a father Genesis chapter four starts out with a simple verse describing the creation of the first father. Adam and Eve had a son. The first man immediately became the first Dad. What a great moment in the history of humanity! FATHERHOOD, continued on page 2
June 2016
Richard Williams reminisces about time at NASA When Joy Parker watched the SpaceX rocket land safely on a barge at sea, all she could think was, “I’ve got to show this to Richard.” Richard Williams, a resident of Rolla Presbyterian Manor, is more than your average space buff. In the 1980s, Richard worked as a contractor on the space shuttle program at Johnson Space Center in Houston. On April 8, SpaceX successfully landed a rocket stage from its Dragon capsule on an unmanned barge in the ocean. The private firm is developing reusable rockets in its efforts to make space travel more affordable. After separating from the launch rocket, the capsule continued on to the International Space Station to deliver supplies. “He thought it was neat how it separated and landed on that barge,” said Joy, director of activities for Presbyterian Manor. She brought a computer to Rich to show him the video. Rich, a mechanical engineer who specialized in hydraulics, worked for a NASA contractor in the 1980s. He was assigned to work on a mockup of the shuttle’s robotic “arm,” aka the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System (SRMS), which were used to deploy, maneuver and capture payloads. Rich’s wife, Alberta, said they were grateful to have had the access to the WILLIAMS, continued on page 3
A man fathered the first child. While this ultimately leads to some problems for the two new parents, the event stands as a truly historic moment in human existence.
raising them properly. The Apostle Paul writes to believers in his day: “Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” I Timothy 5:8 (NIV)
A father occupies a unique position
A father can be a source of strength
From a biological standpoint, a child can only have one father. This places a responsibility on Dad to step up and be a parent to the child he has fathered. This includes training, protecting, nourishing, and offering a hand up in the world when it is needed. When it works right, no one can do this better than a father who loves his children and is devoted to
In Luke 15:18, the lost son at the lowest point of his life says, “I will set out and go back to my father.” Remembering the kind of man that his father was empowered the prodigal son to pick himself up from the pig trough and seek a better way of life. Dads have more influence on children than they are credited with. A father who presents a stable and
FATHERHOOD, continued from page 1
Community Matters
godly model for his children to trust and follow gives a lifetime legacy of strength and faith to his family. Fathers Day The day to honor fathers is coming during June. This is also a good day for dads to make a decision to up their game. On Father’s Day, Dad can look at what type father he is being to his family. If you are a father, use this opportunity to see if your example is the one you want your family to follow and make the adjustments to become the man that your children need as their dad. With prayer and faith, God will help you reach your goals as a father.
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is published monthly for residents and friends of Rolla Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Ann Caudill, executive director Joelle Freeland, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Joelle Freeland at lfreeland@pmma.org. Telephone: 573-364-7336 Fax: 573-364-7336 Address: 1200 Homelife Plaza, Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. RollaPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters June 2016
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Using technology to stay connected Elaine Thrasher uses Skype to talk with her daughter and son-in-law, who are missionaries in Germany. Skype is a program that allows you to make video calls for free, anywhere in the world. Activity Director Joy Parker lends a hand.
WILLIAMS, continued from page 1
space center that they did. “At that time, they were very free about letting people tour the place,” she said. “We had two little grandsons, we took them and we got to see the mockup of the shuttle arm.” Working with NASA was an unforgettable experience in a broader engineering career that took him to all 50 states, Rich said, plus Mexico and Japan. The Williamses lived in the Houston area for about 20 years, raising three sons there, before returning to their native Rolla in 1992. Rich also designed systems for barges and for a vehicle that explored the North Slope of Alaska. As a Navy contractor, he was sent to Pearl Harbor to help solve a problem with the memorial. With two colleagues, Rich also designed and built an oil pump jack and sold the design to the buyers in Japan. Alberta said he traveled at least three days a week while still working. “He loved every minute of it,” Alberta said. “He said he was a paid tourist.”
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Rolla Presbyterian Manor 1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Return Service Requested
August signals the beginning of school What are your memories of school? Were you a teacher or lifelong student? Did you get a degree late in life? How did education shape your life? If you’ve got a story to share, contact Marketing Director Joelle Freeland, and your story could be featured in an upcoming edition of Community Matters. 4
Community Matters June 2016
MAKE THE MOVE Residences now available in assisted living and memory care. Call 573-364-7336 today to schedule a tour.
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