Parsons Presbyterian Manor
Living out ‘response ability’ NOVEMBER 2021
Dining services director brings thankful spirit to everything she does We want to celebrate the season of thanks by talking about how the Parsons Presbyterian Manor community has persevered and found ways to be thankful, even during the hardships we have faced during the pandemic. For insight, we turned to Jackie Stewart, our dining services director. Jackie has recently transitioned from the Presbyterian Manor staff to Cura Hospitality. Any big change presents challenges, but Jackie has maintained a thankful spirit throughout the process. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity that PMMA has given me,” she said. “I started here a little over six years ago as a dietary aide, and now I’m the director.”
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By Mary Bridges, chaplain NOTE: Our featured chaplain for November is Mary Bridges, chaplain at Salina Presbyterian Manor. Each month, we share a devotion from one of the chaplains around the PMMA® system in a nod to our faith-based roots in the Presbyterian Church.
My father, Henry, was an eighthgrade graduate and smarter than anyone I have known. He was a lifelong Lutheran. He did not verbalize his faith or quote scripture; he simply lived it, every day. He cared for my grandmother when she lived alone. She was eventually diagnosed with dementia and moved into a nursing home. My father continued to visit her, even though she didn’t recognize him and no longer spoke. My father loved the land. After he retired from active farming, he leased a small amount of land north of Russell on Salt Creek. There he had a huge garden, and he shared his garden produce with everyone. One year, he raised turkeys. That November, he and my mom cleaned and dressed more than 20 turkeys, which my father distributed to family, friends and people he knew were struggling. He reserved one of those turkeys for a man who stopped
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Get the latest on visitation and COVID-19 at our campus at ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org/covid-19.
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to help my father change a tire earlier that year. That Thanksgiving season, and every day, my father exercised what the Rev. Richard J. Fairchild calls our “response ability” that is the result of His goodness. “Our ancestors in faith — from Sarah to Mary and from Abraham to Jesus, all were convinced that God is the source of everything,
and that by graciously giving all things to us, God provides us with a response ability,” Fairchild writes. That’s the ability to respond to God and to others, Fairchild says. God hopes we will use this ability “for the good that he intends for us and for the good that he intends for our neighbors and our world.” My father grasped this innately, and we all felt it: his family and his neighbors, certainly, and I firmly believe he showed the world God’s great goodness.
I wish you the happiest of Thanksgivings. I will close with more wisdom from Rev. Fairchild: “In the hard times you see, we still have so much, we have life, no matter how slenderly we may hold to it, we have family and friends, no matter how scattered, we have community, no matter how it is organized and we have the presence of God and the promise of Jesus Christ that when we seek first God’s kingdom and God’s righteous-ness, that all that we need will be added unto it.” u
Thanksgiving Trivia
5. What is the most famous Thanksgiving parade celebrated today? 6. Which President made Thanksgiving a national holiday? 7. What percentage of american homes eat turkey on Thanksgiving: 88% or 98%? 8. Which day of the week does Thanksgiving always occur in Canada?
1. 2.
4. What year was the first Thanksgiving?
Around 46 million! Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys Minnesota 1621 Macy's Thanksgiving Parade in New York Abraham Lincoln 88% Monday Plymouth, Massachusetts The Wampanoag
3. Which U.S state raises the most turkeys?
3. 4. 5.
ANSWERS
2. What 2 football teams always plays on Thanksgiving?
6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
1. How many turkeys are eaten on Thanksgiving?
9. Where was the first Thanksgiving celebrated? 10. Which Native American tribe took part in the first Thanksgiving feast? u Like us on Facebook to stay updated on news and events.
Community Matters 620-421-1450 u Fax: 620-421-1897 3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 ParsonsPresbyterianManor.org
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | November 2021
is published monthly for residents and friends of Parsons Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America, Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.
To submit or suggest articles: mpegues@pmma.org Maegen Pegues, executive director
OUR MISSION: To provide quality senior services guided by Christian values.
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Jackie is thankful to have had support from Presbyterian Manor to further her professional development. The company paid for her certified dietary manager classes, books and certification test. She has many personal reasons to give thanks, too. “I have been so thankful through the pandemic that three of my four in-laws that got sick with COVID-19 survived,” she said. “My son was able to be a remote learner for the last school year, so
he was safe at home. I’ve very thankful that I was one of the fortunate that were able to remain working through the pandemic.” Jackie credits the blessings in her life to her son. “I was headed down a really dark path when I found out I was pregnant with him, and he saved me,” she said. “I knew I had to make changes for him to have a good life. It’s been an uphill battle often, as he was diagnosed with autism at 5 years old, but the patience and humility, he’s taught
me over the years have been lessons I will cherish the rest of my life.” Jackie brings her thankful spirit to every interaction she has. “I try my best to show my gratitude by making it a point to brighten at least one person’s day every day,” she said. “We never know what someone is dealing with or going through, and sometimes a smile or a thank-you can change someone’s day. I love paying it forward! I also do my best to remain humble in every aspect of my life.” u
In addition to the transition to CURA, the dining room has been undergoing renovations. The dining services team hasn’t missed a beat, making sure the residents have delicious meals. We are blessed with the BEST and appreciate the incredibly important role they play on our team to provide excellent resident care! There is a reason they are consistently recognized as the Best in Class by residents in the Pinnacle Quality Insight satisfaction surveys! Parsons Presbyterian Manor | A PMMA COMMUNITY
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3501 Dirr Ave. Parsons, KS 67357-2220 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
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COMMUNITY MATTERS | November 2021