Commun ty Matters Salina Presbyterian Manor
November 2018
Mary’s Musings By Mary Bridges, chaplain Salina Presbyterian Manor
While you are reading this in November, I actually wrote it on October 4, which is celebrated by many churches as the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Francis was born at Assisi in 1182. After a carefree youth, he turned his back on inherited wealth and committed himself to God. Like many early saints, he lived a very simple life of poverty. He established the rule of St. Francis, which is known today as the Order of St. Francis. He died in 1226, aged 44. In 2004, I was called to be the interim pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Lindsborg for the year that their pastor, Stephen Pera, was called to active duty in the Middle East. During that year, we used what has become known as the Prayer of St. Francis as our theme. It is a prayer that not only touches hearts, it summarizes how we should live. Although this prayer is associated with St. Francis, it is entirely absent from his writings. The prayer in its present form has not been traced back further than 1912. The prayer was heavily publicized during both World War I and World War II. It has been set to music by songwriters MUSINGS, continued on page 4
Resident Terry Headrick and his granddaughter, Katie, enjoy creating works of art together.
Intergenerational art class Every other month, the young and the young at heart come together within the community to collaborate in the name of art. Side-by-side— and often together—the budding artists work on projects ranging from acrylic paintings to holiday ornaments, but often the finished product is little more than an afterthought. “This class gives me some time to spend with my granddaughter. They grow up so fast that sometimes you just don’t get to spend any time with them,” said resident Terry Headrick. “When they first initiated the class and said they were going to do it, I jumped at the chance, and I asked Katie, my granddaughter, if she would be interested. She looks forward to it every month we have the class.” Phyllis Sundgren, whose great granddaughters Alyssa, 9, and Emma, 13, often join her for the class, said she feels the same. ART CLASS, continued on page 2