Rolla Community Matters April 2019

Commun ty Matters Rolla Presbyterian Manor

April 2019

Three important Easter points to remember

By Allen Teal, chaplain Rolla Presbyterian Manor

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NIV).

Our lives can seem bound by deadlines. With income tax filing day coming up on Monday, April 15, 2019, many people will be scrambling to file their taxes before it’s too late. A sense of urgency will drive them forward. In a world filled with the “urgent,” it is critical to maintain a view of the “important.”

The Apostle Paul warns the church to remember three important truths about Christ.

1. Christ died for our sins.

From the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden until today, people live with the stain and influence of sin. Our sense of right and wrong reminds us almost daily that we are imperfect. Because God requires sin to be either judged or cleansed, a sacrifice was necessary to make a way for our sins to be wiped from our record in heaven. Christ’s CHAPLAIN, continued on page 4

Senior Companions June Hinson, Mopelola “Lola” Lolusanya, Goldie Masterson and Linda McCoy regularly visit residents at Rolla Presbyterian Manor.

Providing assistance, creating friendships For at least 16 years, our community has participated in the Senior Companion Program and hundreds of our residents have benefited from the compassion and care these volunteers provide.

Senior Companions are older adults (age 60 and older) who assist adults and their peers to maintain the independence they have worked for all their lives. Whether it’s helping with errands or just lending an ear, Senior Companions do everything from being a friend, providing rides to appointments, picking up groceries, going for a walk, preparing light meals, helping with hair or nails, making phone calls or keeping clients company.

“They become the residents’ friends. One of our Senior Companions found out after being randomly assigned two clients, that she used to go to the same dances, so they have a lot to talk about. Recently, one of our Senior Companions came back from a week away, and one of her clients just gave her a great big hug and said she missed her. I agree. The Senior Companions are truly missed when gone! I truly couldn’t do my full job as director without them,” said Joy Parker, activities director and volunteer coordinator.

Currently, there are 20 residents in our community who benefit from the COMPANIONS, continued on page 2

COMPANIONS, continued from page 1

Mopelola “Lola” Lolusanya

program. Since we’re celebrating Volunteer Appreciation Week April 7-13, we’re putting the spotlight on several of the Senior Companions who make a difference in our community every day.

Lola has been encouraging her clients to move as a Senior Companion since 2005. “I’m able to move, and I like to make people happy. I like reading to them – their Bible, books or letters. We go outside and get fresh air and sunshine. We take them to activities around here – Bible study, Bingo, games, movies, dancing, sewing. I enjoy what I do. I’m a gifted singer, and I sing and dance with them. It makes them happy and feel alive.”

Linda McCoy Linda has been a Senior Companion for the past six years, visiting clients three days a week. “I’m a Senior Companion because it gets me out of my apartment, but the biggest reason is to help people who don’t have family who can help them. I’d encourage anyone who is able to do this. It gives you a good feeling knowing you’ve helped someone or just listen to their problems.”

Community Matters

is published monthly for residents and friends of Rolla Presbyterian Manor by Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America Inc., a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. Learn more at PresbyterianManors.org Ann Caudill, executive director Joelle Freeland, marketing director To submit or suggest articles for this publication, contact Joelle Freeland at lfreeland@pmma.org.

Telephone: 573-364-7336 Fax: 573-364-7336 Address: 1200 Homelife Plaza, Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Our mission: We provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. RollaPresbyterianManor.org

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Community Matters April 2019

Goldie Masterson Goldie started volunteering as a Senior Companion 17 years next month. “My first client was 98 when I started going to her. Every week I visited her I had to make her two pecan pies. When I came back the next week they were gone, and I made her two more.”

For Goldie, being a Senior Companion is just as much about helping others as helping herself.

“I’ll be 78 in April. I have arthritis and fibromyalgia, but when you have these things you have to keep moving, or you won’t be able to.

This helps me help others, but helps me keep going, too. I also like to think about others and how they feel and encourage them to do things if they can. I think it’s important to let them know they’re important too.

it’s incredible how many people are out there that can’t get out of their house. It gets me out and it’s a joy bringing joy to someone else and the joy it gives me.”

June Hinson June had already been visiting with people at a nursing home where her mother lived in Sullivan, Mo., for years before she came to Rolla and heard about this program. She became a Senior Companion about five years ago after hearing about it from a friend.

“I like to visit. And most of them can’t remember what happened yesterday or the day before but they can remember way back—they like to reminisce, and I like to hear it.

And I encourage it. I’m a rooter on.

Rah, rah, rah! And I like to get them out to activities to get away from their room and get amongst the others. I’m in my 80s, but I’m still able to get out and do something that I feel like is going to help somebody.”

If you’re interested in becoming a Senior Companion or want more information about the program, call 573-458-6180.

Elaine Gillis Elaine heard about the Senior Companion Program from a neighbor who was one about seven years ago. “I think it’s the greatest thing I’ve heard of in a long, long time. It’s too bad more counties don’t have this program because

Senior Companion Elaine Gillis visits residents at Presbyterian Manor.

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Alice Kalb breaks ground on the first Presbyterian Manor, which opened in 1949.

Presbyterian Manor system to celebrate 70 years On April 19, Presbyterian Manors of Mid-America (PMMA) will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Our first very first community opened in Newton, Kan., on April 19, 1949, nearly two years after ninety-yearold Alice Kalb of El Dorado, Kan., asked the United Presbyterian Synod if it would consider opening a home for the aged. A small exploratory committee formed to look at the idea and determined it had merit.

funds for Presbyterian Manors on Mother’s Day continues today. The first resident, Mrs. Frances Belle Townsend of Smith Center, Kan., moved into the first Presbyterian home for the aged on April 19. Alice Kalb moved in on April 21, and lived there until her death in 1951.

When it came time to name this new establishment, the committee did not choose to name it the Presbyterian Home for the Aged.

To raise funds for the Newton effort, Instead, based on the separate a dedicated offering throughout suggestions of two women—Mrs. the synod took place on Mother’s Mary Page of Topeka and Grace Day in 1948. The practice of raising Derby of Manhattan, it was named Like us on Facebook

Newton Presbyterian Manor. Grace later lived at Presbyterian Manor in Newton until her death in 1966.

Alice’s dream has turned into a network of 17 senior living communities across Kansas and Missouri with more than 2,400 residents.

The mission of the organization remains true to its core: to provide quality senior services guided by Christian values. PMMA has plans to extend its mission into Colorado with the proposed development of Aberdeen Ridge in Colorado Springs.

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Rolla Presbyterian Manor 1200 Homelife Plaza Rolla, MO 65401-2595 Return Service Requested

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proof of the empty grave.

death on the cross did this for us.

He became our sacrifice. One man died that every person may have the opportunity to be forgiven for his or her sins.

3. He was raised on the third day.

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These were the words of Christ that his body would be raised to life on Presbyterian Manor the Rolla third day.

It was not enough for 2. Christ was buried. him to die for sins.on His resurrection stands to testify that those who His burial offers a proof of his death. follow Christ will have a personal It also reminds us that our sins were resurrection to a new life. buried to be gone forever. Third, he was buried in a cave-like tomb April 15th may be an urgent date that made it easy to determine if this year, but April 21, 2019, is a far the body was there or not when the more important date. It is a date we resurrection happened. Anyone near should anticipate and celebrate that Jerusalem had access to verify the Christ died, was buried, and was

raised back to life on the third day— on Easter Sunday.

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