Commun ty Matters Newton Presbyterian Manor
Puffed up By Jerroll Martens, Newton Presbyterian Manor chaplain
Most of us have heard a version of “no one cares how much you know until they know how much you care.” I Corinthians 8:1 speaks to this issue, “knowledge puffs up but love builds up.” Without a doubt, knowledge has blessed our world, giving us daily comforts of life as air conditioning, lighting, medicine and travel. The list is virtually endless. We should be so grateful! But on a personal level, great knowledge, whether from formal or personal study, carries with it the temptation of pride. This is true in secular as well as spiritual areas. Generally we do not like to be around the person who wants all the world to know how much they know! On the other hand, kindness and love pleases God and opens doors for us to be a help and blessing to others. Surely God wants us to use our minds, acquiring the right kind of knowledge while being aware of the temptation to be “puffed up” about it. And, it is not a matter of knowledge or love. With the right attitude our knowing may be of great help and blessing. Caring and love will open that door. Let’s work on it!
October 2015
Art is Ageless®
Local artists to be featured in 2016 calendar Six artists in Newton Presbyterian Manor’s annual Art is Ageless juried competition will join nearly 50 senior artists from Kansas and Missouri whose work will be featured in the 2016 Art is Ageless calendar and note cards. The annual competition features entries exclusively by artists age 65 and older. “We are so pleased to have six of our local artists featured in the 2016 calendar. With such strong competition, having this many local winners says much for the Newton area arts community,” said Noelle Dickinson, marketing director.
“Radiant Sunflowers” by Max Voran.
Local winners are automatically entered into a masterpiece level competition with amateur and professional winners from 17 other Presbyterian Manor campuses in nine categories. The winners at the masterpiece level are featured in the annual Art is Ageless Calendar and notecards. The following winning artists and entries from Newton will appear in the 2016 calendar: •
“Swedish Weaving” by Ann Heidebrecht, fiber arts
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“Eska Box” by Hank Heidebrecht, mixed media/crafts
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“Little Arkansas River” by Gene Marsh, painting
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“Poppy Happy” by Marilyn Hope Lake, painting
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“Inside the Summer Sun” by Dick McCall, photography
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“Radiant Sunflowers” by Max Voran, photography
To be eligible for PMMA’s masterpiece level competition, artists entered a juried competition at one of 18 Presbyterian Manor communities in Kansas and Missouri. Works must have been completed in the past five years.
Browse & Shop Retired teacher restores nativity scene The angel’s trumpet was broken. were missing their ears. Holiday Event Animals Other figures had broken arms, and Friday, November 13 4-7 p.m. Broadway Apartments Community Room Also: Come to our art sale in the Manor library. Watercolors by Mary Kessler will be sold to benefit the Employee Scholarship Fund. Guests are welcome!
Community Matters
is published monthly for residents and friends of Newton Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org. Marc Kessinger, executive director Noelle Dickinson, marketing director Melinda Ebersole, activity director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Noelle at ndickinson@pmma.org. Telephone: 316-283-5400 Fax: 316-284-5900 Address: 1200 E. Seventh, Newton, KS 67114-2862 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. NewtonPresbyterianManor.org
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Community Matters October 2015
everyone needed a fresh coat of paint. Newton Presbyterian Manor’s nativity figures badly needed a makeover. Thanks to the efforts of two local artists, the newly restored set will go on display this Christmas in its traditional place at Broadway and Sherman streets. Jim VanDyke, a retired Berean Academy teacher, is completing the nativity restoration that was started by Newton resident Vince Garcia. There are about 15 figures in the set, which is believed to be about 35 years old. “There hasn’t been an average piece,” VanDyke said. “One took about 20 hours to restore; the least has been maybe six.”
Above: Jim VanDyke restores an angel that is part of Presbyterian Manor’s nativity collection. Left: Newton resident Vince Garcia began the restoration.
VanDyke was asked to take on the project by his pastor, Jerroll Martens, who also serves as chaplain of Presbyterian Manor. Martens needed someone to take over the work from Garcia, who had volunteered to restore the figures about two years ago. “They were in extremely bad condition. Any close look would have not been very appealing,” Martens said. “When Vince brought back the first figure, it was like one of those ‘Ah!’ moments. We could not believe what he had done.” Sadly, Garcia was diagnosed soon afterward with ALS and could not continue. VanDyke agreed to take over, and he was able to talk with Garcia before he passed away earlier this year. “I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to tackle it,” VanDyke said, but he was encouraged by the research Garcia had done. VanDyke learned to reinforce weak spots with a fiberglass resin and cloth. For small details such as hands and faces, VanDyke used the kind of paint sold for model airplanes. And he crafted a new trumpet for the angel out of plastic pipe and sheet aluminum. At times, VanDyke found parallels between his work and the gospel, and he shared some of those thoughts in a talk at Newton Presbyterian Manor this summer. “Sometimes it’s like that when God works in our lives,” he noted. “It looks worse at first, until it gets better.” He also thought of how God looks at humans, compared to how we see one another. “God looks at the heart, but we only look at the outside.” With more than 115 hours invested, VanDyke said he’s looking forward to sharing his work with the public. “I’ve enjoyed it, and I trust it will be a blessing to people as they see those figures,” he said.
Cottage available
We are currently modernizing and remodeling a 2-bedroom, 1 ½ bath cottage to be ready yet this fall. Please call Noelle Dickinson, marketing director, at 316-283-5400 or email her at ndickinson@pmma.org. Call soon and you can be involved in picking the design finishes!
Healthy Learning Lecture Thursday, October 22 “Random Acts of Kindness” presented by Alex Ramos, wellness director. Guests are welcome!
Tiki bar
Friday afternoons are often a time for a relaxed week-ending event called Tiki Bar. All are invited for specialty beverages and seasonal treats. Live entertainment also is available at times. A group of residents recently enjoyed a warm afternoon on the Haury Place courtyard with coffee-flavored ice cream and music with friends.
School days
School is in session! Apple-a-Day Preschoolers have begun their studies and will be in Utz, Haury, Claassen and Anderson Place each week for intergenerational programming and friendship.
Everyone has a story to tell others Christmas will be here before we know it, and we’ll be talking about celebrations and traditions in an upcoming issue of Community Matters as we celebrate the holidays. Does your family have a special tradition? Is there a song that immediately conjures up memories of Christmases past? Do you have a memorable Christmas story to share? Contact Marketing Director Noelle Dickinson, and your story may be selected to appear in an upcoming Community Matters. Newton Presbyterian Manor
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Newton Presbyterian Manor 1200 E. Seventh Newton, KS 67114-2862 Return Service Requested
Walk to End Alzheimer’s Above: The Newton Presbyterian Manor Walk Team raised $2,165 by the walk date, with more expected to come in. Right: The back of the purple Walk T-shirts was designed by Nancy Periolat of Anderson Place. Right: Team members, from top left, Lisa Diehl, Tim Clark, Gladys Conner, Susan Corona, Janice Kessler, Carrie Supernois, Alex Ramos, Marc Fitzroy and Lisa Fitzroy. From bottom left, Taylor Ebersole, Rachel Diehl, Payten Ebersole and Melinda Ebersole. Not shown: Rich & Joey Giblin, the top personal fundraisers of the team.
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Community Matters October 2015
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