The Quill—Newsletter of Saint Simeon's Senior Community July/August 2025

The Chaplain's Chat

Given to the Glory of God

We have recently received three of six icons written by local artist Allen Cutler: Advent, Christmas, and Ordinary Time. Icons serve as aids to worship, tools for spiritual contemplation, and educational resources for the faithful. They are “windows into heaven,” ways for us to connect with the Divine through images and symbolism. They also connect us to Christian tradition and understandings of who God is. For example, each of these icons include the beginning and ending letters of the Greek alphabet: Alpha and Omega, a description of God who is eternal (Rev 1:8). For Advent, Mary blesses Jesus, the one who entered her womb for the sake of God’s love for the world (John 3:16), and who will also come at the end of the ages (Rev 22:13). In the Christmas icon, Jesus, identified with a lower-case alpha and omega in his halo, was born in Bethlehem and blesses all creation in the arms of his mother, Mary. During Ordinary Time, the six months of the longest season of the church year, Jesus holds the Book that contains stories of creation, the story of Israel, and his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. The artist has incorporated a shade of blue that pays homage to the blues of the iconic peacocks at Saint Simeon’s.

Icons for Lent, Easter, and Pentecost will complete the series. They will be on the altar in the Chapel of St. Anna and used in services in the different units of the building. These icons are donated to the glory of God by three full-time chaplains who have served Saint Simeon’s since 1986: The Rev. John Norris (1986-2005), The Rev. Bill Holly (2006-2020), and The Rev. Susanne Methven (2020-2025).

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Simeon’s

THE CHAPLAIN’S CHAT

The

Rev. Susanne Methven, Chaplain

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Yes, there is an end date for my service! I am retiring from Saint Simeon’s, and my last service is on Sunday, July 27th. My ministry started during COVID, when all residents were isolated in their rooms, family members could only visit through windows, and staff members were tested twice a week for COVID. My time here has been full of what I love to do: connecting people with God through worship and Bible study, with beauty through weekly programs such as Art Notes, and with each other through storytelling and conversation.

Thank you to the residents, resident families, staff, and leaders of Saint Simeon’s for all the joy I have found in this work. Thank you to Bishop Poulson Reed and my clergy colleagues for your support. I have learned to sing more, dance more, laugh more, and live more fully.

Saint Simeon’s began with the vision of The Rev. Dr. Edward H. Eckle for a place to care for the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of its residents. This is the godly work that generations have undertaken. I pray that God will continue to favor and help Saint Simeon’s, so that all its works begun, continued, and ended in God may glorify God’s holy Name (BCP, 832).

I end most services on Sundays by extinguishing the candles and reminding everyone to “let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

And to that we say, “Amen,” may it be so.

FOUNDATION NEWS

Tickets and Sponsorships are now on sale! Hop on and enjoy the ride at Western Days 2025 Go West: Steel and Steam. Get ready to roll into an unforgettable evening featuring a mouthwatering dinner from the one and only Chef Levin, toe-tappin’-tunes by local favorite Austin Dixon, a premier silent auction, and plenty more surprises along the track

Mike Collier will be your conductor and Emcee for the night, making sure your ticket’s punched, the energy’s high, and the party leaves the station right on time. Whether you’re in it for the food, the fun, or the full steam celebration Western Days 2025 is your next stop!