Clay Center Community Matters September 2021

Clay Center Presbyterian Manor

Lessons from Ecclesiastes

By Mary Bridges Chaplain, Salina Presbyterian Manor SEPTEMBER 2021

New resident, employee have known each other forever Resident Dorcile Moon and employee Dena Van Horn might both be relatively new to Clay Center Presbyterian Manor, but they’re anything but new to each other.

Dorcile is Dena’s mother — so when Dena accepted the role of health services supervisor, she was walking into a place that was certain to feel like family.

Anyone who spends even a few minutes visiting with the mother and daughter can instantly feel the love between them.

Dorcile Moon calls her daughter, Dena Van Horn, an angel. Dena is the new health services supervisor, and Dorcile lives at Clay Center Presbyterian Manor.

Both say the other has been an “angel” in the other’s life. Dena said Dorcile helped out with her children while she was busy attending nursing school, and Dorcile did everything she could to provide the best life possible for Dena when she was growing up.

Likewise, Dorcile said that Dena was an angel as a child and continues to be one to this day. She’s also very proud of Dena and the work she’s doing.

We’re happy to share the love with this dynamic mother/daughter team and welcome them both to our community. u

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.”

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,

DEVOTION – continued on page 3

Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ClayCenterPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.

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Environmental services a team of expert problem-solvers The environmental services team at Clay Center Presbyterian Manor has gone above and beyond throughout the past year to ensure all of our residents and staff are safe and comfortable.

The problemsolving crew – our environmental services team.

Left to right on both rows Back row: Gale Fowles, Craig Easterberg, Jake Newmeyer Front row: Kelsie Dewitt, Shannon Kimbrough

But it’s not been without a few hiccups, which is typical when your work involves many moving parts and the unpredictable forces of Mother Nature.

“My first couple of months, we had a lightning storm that blew out the transformer,” said environmental services director Craig Easterberg. “It burned up half of it, so we had partial lights, and the generator was running. We got the electric company out, but they didn’t have a new one.

So they had to make a 3-hour trip, but then the tires blew out on the trailer. We were about 15 hours on the generator. It was a long day, but we got it going.”

they touch in that room has to go in the bio trash. We didn’t want the disease to spread, because that just makes it miserable for everybody.

Our staff had to always make sure they had their PPE (personal protective equipment) on and that’s really hard on a person.”

Adding to the difficulty was the changing nature of responding to the virus, as health officials learned And that was around the same time that COVID-19 cases were increasing more about the virus’ behavior. across the country. That brought a “Expectations changed as we learned unique set of challenges for those in more,” Craig said. “We put our top the department, which deals with floor into COVID, and when you laundry, trash, cleaning and went there to work, you didn’t come mechanical repairs. down until your shift was over.”

“That was a challenge — keeping everyone safe and keeping the rooms clean,” Craig said. “Each room has to have its own bio trash — anything

The staff, however, met these changing demands with a spirit of cooperation and helpfulness.

“I did get the COVID back in November, and everyone jumped right in,” Craig said. “I had to leave for a couple of weeks, and they kept everything going. The staff made it easy for me to not have to worry as much.”

Whether it’s dealing with a broken air conditioning unit, figuring out an electrical problem, or working to make sure each room is clean for every resident, the team has excelled in making sure that Presbyterian Manor is running smoothly.

“When we get that call — usually at midnight — it’s something like a water line breaking,” Craig said. “You never want to get the call, but it’s going to happen. You just relax and do your job.” u

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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 | September 2021

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: dpounds@PMMA.org Morgan Burton, executive director Dani Kuhlman, marketing director

OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.

Local artist among Art is Ageless® masterpiece level winners A winning artist in Clay Center 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 Mid-America®).

“Log Cabin Flower Garden,” Verna Lee Musselman, quilting, will appear in the calendar when it is released this fall.

See the flowers

Works by local winners are automatically entered into a “Log Cabin Flower Garden,” a quilt by Verna Lee Musselman masterpiece level competition with winning art from 14 other Devotion – continued from page 1 PMMA® communities. More than A right time to destroy and another to construct, 160 entries were received for this A right time to cry and another to laugh, year’s masterpiece competition.

A right time to lament and another to cheer, The winners are featured in the A right time to make love and another to abstain, Art is Ageless calendar with pullA right time to embrace and another to part, out postcards and greeting cards.

A right time to search and another to count your losses, A right time to hold on and another to let go, “We’re so proud of all of our A right time to rip out and another to mend, artists,” said Marketing Director A right time to shut up and another to speak up, Dani Pounds. “And we’re A right time to love and another to hate, especially happy that Verna’s entry A right time to wage war and another to make peace. was recognized as the exceptional But in the end, does it really make a difference what anyone does? I’ve work that it is.” had a good look at what God has given us to do — busywork, mostly.

A copyrighted program of 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 PMMA, Art is Ageless is open coming or going. I’ve decided that there’s nothing better to do than go exclusively to people age 65 and ahead and have a good time and get the most we can out of life. That’s it: older. For the competition, works Eat, drink, and make the most of your job. It’s God’s gift. must have been completed in the past five years.

There is an opportune time for everything. u 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. u

Celebrate our September birthdays Bill Wieland, Sept. 1 Leroy Bartley, Sept. 3 Edna Rogge, Sept. 13 Donna J. Girton, Sept. 21 Dorothy M. Turner, Sept. 26 Donald R. Hatfield, Sept. 30 Clay Center Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY

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924 Eighth St. Clay Center, KS 67432-2620 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Employees who live, work and give!

We have always believed that Clay Center Presbyterian Manor has the best employees — and they continuously prove that to be true with their dedication and generosity.

Donna Moore, Shannon Wurtz, Julie Cole, Shannon Kimbrough, Hailey Goff, Taylor Burgardt, and Penny Smith all shared their reasons for financially supporting the Good Samaritan Program, which helps residents who might one day require assistance.

Each had similar stories and reasons: They all love the work they do and love the residents, so it only feels right to donate in case any of the residents ever needs help with their stay.

“I have always been a giver, and giving to such a great program seemed like a

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no brainer,” Julie said.

“I wanted to support the population that always gets outcast so they always have a home,” added Taylor.

“After getting to know the residents, I wanted to help them in any way I can,” said Hailey Goff.

In fact, after getting this group together for pictures, three more employees signed up to donate.

If you’re interested in donating to the Good Samaritan Program, contact Shannon Wurtz or Dani Pounds for more information. u

Donna Moore, Shannon Wurtz, Julie Cole, Shannon Kimbrough, Hailey Goff, Taylor Burgardt, and Penny Smith are all employee donors to the Good Samaritan Program at Clay Center Presbyterian Manor.

COMMUNITY MATTERS | September 2021