Clay Center Presbyterian Manor
OCTOBER 2022
Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Dave Parker, chaplain at Salina Presbyterian Manor®.
Chasing the Son By Dave Parker, Chaplain
New director appreciates “human” approach at PMMA Since taking on the role as Executive Director of Clay Center Presbyterian Manor in February, Amy Hoch Altwegg has found herself filling a number of different roles. “I had someone tell me that in this role your job is to obtain and allocate resources,” Amy said. “That can be money, people, training, and you’re trying to take those things in and process those things out.” It sounds simple enough, but it can be a unique dynamic. “When you’re small like us, Amy Hoch Altwegg you’re always trying to forecast and trying to look from the balcony, and not just the weeds,” Amy explains. “I always try to remember a training I attended before - and ask whether you are on the dance floor, or looking down from the balcony. You can’t just be on the floor, someone has to look from the balcony to see the big picture. But some days we are fighting through the weeds. Some days, we’re working through the dance floor.” Executive Director –continued on page 3
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and selfcontrol.” 1 Timothy 1:7
I am deathly afraid of heights. Not so much high places, but edges. Mountain roads that are sheer, edges of buildings, roofs, even ladders. Above the third rung on a ladder, I feel like I’ve accomplished something. But I can assure you my heart is pounding as I step up to that fourth rung. I tried crossing the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado many years ago. I was just fine — until I looked down and could see between the metal planks under my feet. I immediately dropped to my knees, did an about-face and crawled back 20 feet to solid ground. Then I sat there for a while, just to make sure the world was stable. Heights are just not my thing. I simply do not trust my own ability to stay safe around edges, and I don’t intend to try to conquer that fear any time soon. We all have certain fears that hold us back. Some may be more obvious than others. Maybe those fears keep us from being all that God wants us to be for Him. Too often, fear may turn into complacency, as we give it
Chaplain –continued on page 4
Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ClayCenterPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
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Local artist among Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners Local winning artist in the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor annual Art is Ageless® juried competition will be featured in the 2023 Art is Ageless calendar produced by PMMA (Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America®). “365 Block Quilt,” a Quilting entry by Ginny Beck, 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
170 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.
A copyrighted program of PMMA, Art is Ageless is open exclusively to people age 65 and older. For the competition, works must have been completed in the past five years.
“Zenbroidery Mandala,” a Needlework entry by Coleen Weller, will be featured on Art is Ageless greeting cards.
PMMA’s Art is Ageless program encourages Clay Center Presbyterian Manor residents and other area seniors to express their creativity through its annual competition, as well as art classes, educational opportunities and current events discussions throughout the year.
“We are honored to exhibit artwork by seniors,” said Dani Kuhlman, marketing director. “Art is Ageless is unique in featuring only the works of senior artists. Our artists prove that art, in any form, is an ageless ambition.”
For more on Art is Ageless, visit ArtIsAgeless.org. u
“365 Block Quilt,” a Quilting entry by Ginny Beck “Zenbroidery Mandala,” a Needlework entry by Coleen Weller
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Community Matters 785-632-5646 u Fax: 785-632-5874 924 Eighth St. Clay Center, KS 67432-2620 ClayCenterPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | October 2022
is published monthly for residents and friends of Clay Center Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: dkuhlman@pmma.org Dani Kuhlman, marketing director Amy Hoch Altwegg, executive director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
Executive Director from page 1 That need to see both the details and the full picture, requires flexibility and adaptability. “We talk a lot here about how we can’t just see things in black and white,” Amy said. “We are in the people business, not the widget business. Sometimes there are rules and we don’t have a choice. Sometimes we need more information.” Amy has been working in retirement care since she was a teenager. She’s always worked to remain focused on the humanity of the work - and to remember that everything revolves around people. “In high school I worked in longterm care,” Amy said. “My mom’s best friend was the office manager in a community, so I didn’t just work there during the summers in high school, I’d go there for fun and help with activities and paperwork.” In college, she didn’t originally plan to pursue a career in longterm care. But when she saw there was a gerontology club available, she thought it would be an extracurricular activity that would be fun and familiar. “I changed my major,” Amy said. “I thought maybe I don’t want to move to the city. Maybe I want to do something I could do anywhere, not just corporate law in Chicago. I originally didn’t think
this would be my career, then at some point the light bulb goes off.”
grandmother who lived with Amy for a number of years.
Throughout her career Amy has come to appreciate efforts to keep the focus on the people something she’s found to be particularly refreshing at Presbyterian Manor and PMMA.
“I still have a picture of her on my wall,” Amy said. “She’s a reminder of my why. She’s always looking at me. When you can remember that it’s about family, we remember that it’s important, that we all have to step back and wonder if that was my family, what would I want.”
“What drew me here was these small-town people we’re taking care of,” Amy said. “These are people we know. People who are community minded. PMMA has a great reputation for doing things the right way. We are taking care of people, and proud of what we do.” There have been moments in her career when that wasn’t always the case - when the focus was on data and numbers, and some of the humanity of care seemed to be lost. “We’re a people business,” Amy said. “There isn’t a cookie cutter situation. Everyone has different needs - health, emotional, and family support. Being ready to be there for all of that is important. You can tell the difference in what the morning meeting criteria is it’s not just facts and numbers. We’re talking about people. When you see that you’re making sure we can take care of people’s needs, and not just some admission number, it’s awesome.” Much of her enduring motivation to care for people - and to keep the focus on what’s important - is the experience with her
When Amy’s not focusing on the people she cares about at work, she’s enjoying time with the people she cares about at home. “Kids and family are our main stuff,” Amy said. “We have two boys who are teenagers, and life revolves around them. My kids are kind of goers and doers - so they have a number of different activities.” Amy says her family is sporty and outdoorsy. But even though they enjoy different interests, they have enough overlap to fit together. Her children enjoy old cars and signs, her husband enjoys digging for old treasure, and Amy enjoys antique furniture, crafts, and repurposed material. They also all bleed K-State purple. “In the fall, we do the football games and the tailgating,” Amy said. “We’ve been season ticket holders before we had kids. I went to K-State, so I’ve got too much purple in me to stop now.”u
Clay Center Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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924 Eighth St. Clay Center, KS 67432-2620
Chaplain continued from page 1 too much control over our life. We try to justify an attitude of, “What’s the point in trying? I’ll just work around it.” This is especially true when it comes to sharing the Gospel: Fear of rejection turns into avoidance. But Paul tells us that rather than allow fear to direct us, the Spirit fills us with the power and love of Jesus Christ. He will guide our steps. This gives us courage and strength to live our lives without the fear of worldly obstacles.
as He promised, He is always with us wherever we go - even on edges. The love of God conquers all things. Lord, we place our faith in You. We lift ourselves to Your service for
There is no fear in Christ. His perfect love for us strips away all the insecurities, doubts and uncertainties. In His image, we are empowered to go make disciples. We are filled with the Spirit of Jesus, and
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | October 2022
Your mission to build Your church. Thank You for loving us perfectly and giving us your Son as the pathway to redemption and eternal life with Him. In Jesus’ name. Amen. u
The love of Jesus Christ gives us courage and strength to live our lives without the fear of worldly obstacles.