Commun ty Matters Salina Presbyterian Manor
December 2014
‘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
Let’s celebrate
Events include Christmas dinners and parties Decorating the lobby tree Marketing Director Kim Fair would love to have some artistic assistance in decorating the lobby tree this year. We will decorate the tree on Dec. 1 at 2 p.m. As always, it will feature Presbyterian Manor logo colors and will serve as the Angel Tree. Kim will provide treats and spiced cider for those who come. Even if you don’t have a decorator’s touch, come anyway and cheer us on. Holiday happenings in health care The health care Christmas party is scheduled for 3 p.m. Dec. 5. We’ll have plenty of Christmas music and homemade treats. Health care residents and employees also will learn about the many faces of Santa Claus, and we will read and discuss “The Gift of the Magi.” A wassailing party is scheduled for Christmas Eve. Fruitcake and eggnog will be served for the holiday. The month (and the year!) will end with a Mistletoe Martini Party on New Year’s Eve. Christmas dining for independent and assisted living The independent and assisted living resident Christmas dinner will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 11 in the Ivory Keys Cafe. Bus transportation will be available for townhome residents. Please call the office and let us know if you would like a ride.
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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 Salina Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Bradley Radatz, executive director Kim Fair, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Kim Fair, kfair@pmma.org. Telephone: 785-825-1366 Fax: 785-825-6554 Address: 2601 E. Crawford, Salina, KS 65401-2595 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. SalinaPresbyterianManor.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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Christmas memories... Rusty and Marge Hadorn
A family Christmas tradition is to attend church and return home where the extended family finds presents from Santa Claus all around the house. They enjoy boiled oysters during their celebration. Bob and Pat Weber A traditional Christmas recipe they have enjoyed for 50 years is cranberry ice, similar to a sorbet. It’s perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas—or both! Recipe: • Place 2 quarts of fresh cranberries and 2 cups water in a pan and cook at a low boil for 20 minutes. Drain in a colander. Mash the juice from the fruits through a fine colander; discard the skins. Mix with 4 cups of sugar. Add the juice of 12 lemons and two oranges. Freeze in an ice cream freezer. This recipe makes up to 6 quarts. Beverly Olson One of the Olson family Christmas traditions was caroling to friends. We were fortunate to have soprano, alto,
tenor and bass voices in our family choir to complete the harmonies. We always went caroling before the big Christmas dinner. Each stop ended with our favorite, “Children of the Heavenly Father,” sung in Swedish. After dinner, we exchanged gifts. Kim Fair, marketing director Christmas Eve always included the traditional church service with beautiful music, including a soprano solo from Mom. The sanctuary and altar were full of poinsettias and lit with candles. On Christmas morning, two anxious little girls rushed into the living room to see what Santa had brought in the night. Christmas was always in our own home. Mom and Daddy stuffed the stockings, but Santa brought each of us a special gift, one we knew our parents couldn’t afford. The most memorable for me was at age 7, when Santa brought me my first real doll named Terry Lee. I told Mom her full name was on her back and her name was Terry Lee Patent Pending. And I still have that doll. Don Smischny My most memorable Christmas occurred on our farmstead in western Ellsworth County in 1935 when I was 7 years old. My
younger sister and I became ill in early December and soon the county health official appeared at our home and diagnosed that we both had scarlet fever. A large sign appeared outside our front door that read: QUARANTINED. My parents soon restricted us to the front parlor where we remained until the six-week quarantine was lifted. After a couple of weeks we began to feel better and restlessly began wondering if Christmas would skip us this year. During the “dirty ’30s” and the severe Depression years, we always anticipated Christmas as we would always receive one present. What would happen this Christmas? Our older sister did not get scarlet fever and would peek her head in the door and tell us they had a wonderful tree in their room. This of course made us feel that we would be skipped this year. On Christmas morning we awoke and discovered a most unusual Christmas tree. My mother had cut a small branch from a tree in the creek and wrapped all of the branches with cotton and some paper ornaments. There were two presents under the cotton tree. My gift was a big barn with farm animals. I believe my younger sister got a small doll. We were so excited! After the quarantine was over everything had to be washed with lye soap, and most of the bright colors became washed out. I have celebrated many Christmas holidays since that special one in 1935, and it is really the only one that is stored in a special compartment of my brain. MEMORIES, continued on page 4 3
Resident relocates to sister community
Recently Delores Patton chose to move closer to her children. We were sad to see her leave Salina but we are happy that she was able to stay within the Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America family. Delores moved to Aberdeen Village in Olathe, one of our sister communities.
Although the day she left was sad in some ways, the Patton family made it a party for all of us when they joined us for lunch in the Ivory Keys Cafe. Delores’ son, Rick, played an original composition on the baby grand piano, and they made time to say goodbye to friends and employees. Delores Patton
There are so many options at PMMA communities. One that resonates with residents and family members alike is the ability to relocate and be closer to family without leaving the PMMA system. If you or your loved ones live in Kansas or Missouri, there is probably a PMMA community within easy driving distance of your home.
Rick Patton, who is Delores Patton’s son, plays the piano during her send-off celebration.
MEMORIES, continued from page 3
Becky Augustine, accounting assistant When our oldest son, Andrew, was in Tiger Scouts, we would take turns going to each family’s home for a program. During the holidays, another scout’s family had all of the boys paint a shelled peanut to look like a boy, and pipe cleaners were inserted to make arms and legs. Andrew also made one for his younger brother, Adam. These “Peanut Men” were to be placed on the Christmas tree depicting the height of each boy. Each year, the Peanut Men moved higher on the tree, and eventually they were put near the top. Even though our boys are grown, we still place the frail, worn out Peanut Men near the top of our tree. 4
Sign up now to volunteer in 2015 The 2015 Host/Hostess Committee Sign-up Sheet is on the podium. You may sign up to help serve refreshments for the monthly birthday party, Alice Thomas events and potluck if you would like to help. Happy holidays!
Dustin Covert
Employee of the Month
A Zentangle exhibit provided by Brenda Smith.
Art is active in our community
In addition to the Jennison Collection of Smoky Hill River Festival prints, we are pleased to have an exhibit in the business office hallway on first floor just off the lobby. Brenda Smith provided us with a large exhibit of her Zentangle work. Presbyterian Manor was a polling location on Election Day, and many of the voters asked about the exhibit. They also wanted to see the Jennison Collection. Art speaks to all.
Congratulations to Dustin Covert, employee of the month for November. Dustin worked at Presbyterian Manor for five months as a groundskeeper and is now a maintenance technician. Dustin likes to play basketball and stay in shape. He also enjoys reading and music. One thing we may not know about Dustin is that he is the youngest of four children. He says he wants to return to school once he figures out what he wants to be when he grows up. Congratulate Dustin when you see him.
Musings from Chaplain Mary: Consider Again Christmas When Pope Julius I authorized Dec. 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have thought that it would become what it is today?
Christmas
When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have thought that the decorations would become as elaborate as they are today?
which is hope;
It’s been a long time since 1832, longer still from 353, and longer still from that dark night brightened by a special star in which Jesus the King was born. As we approach Dec. 25 again, it gives us yet another opportunity to pause, and in the midst of all the excitement and elaborate decorations and expensive commercialization that surround Christmas today, to consider again the event of Christmas and the person whose birth we celebrate.
May you have the gladness of Christmas the spirit of Christmas which is peace; the heart of Christmas which is love! 5
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. 6