Highlights
January 2001
The following are the articles that ran in the above issue of Highlights. This corporate newsletter provides news about Lutheran Homes of Michigan and related services.
Just click on the article you'd like to see or scroll through to see all of them:
An important day for an important woman
June 7, 1982 was an important day in the history of Lutheran Homes of Michigan. For it was on that day that Jean Fields began her career with us, serving first at Independence Village, then later as Administrative Assistant to the president and CEO. In fact, Jean has served three presidents in this capacity over the almost 19 years of service.
December 31, 2000 was an important date in the life of Jean Fields. For it was on that date that Jean began to enjoy the fruits of her many years of labors, retiring from Lutheran Homes on that date. Jean leaves having experienced many changes over the years; up and downs, highs and lows. Through it all, Jean has served her Lord and co-workers faithfully, always willing to put in the extra effort. Jean took special joy from the relationships formed over the years, particularly in her interaction with the Board of Director's, whose work she supported behind the scenes for almost two decades.
Jean retires to well earned leisure time and being a full time Grandma to her three grandchildren. We pray God's blessings on her and her husband Jack as they begin this new and exciting time in their lives.
The Problem with VISION
Much is said about "having vision" in today's world. We look for leaders with "vision"; we look to organizations with "vision"; we consider great future plans as "visionary". But, in the ministry world of Lutheran Homes, we have a problem with vision.
The problem is quite simple. It is not that we lack it; in fact, God has given us a tremendous vision for the future. It is not that we are not accepting of it; in fact, God has provided great Board and staff leadership to carry it out. The problem is that God has a way of telling us the "WHAT" in a visionary idea long before He shows us the "HOW".
This is nothing new. God has been doing this for centuries. When God spoke to Moses, He told him what to do - "lead my people out of Egypt" - long before He showed Moses how to do it. He told Noah what to do - "build me and ark" - long before Noah understood how carry out this great work. He told the disciples what to do - "feed the five thousand" - before showing them how to do it. The pattern is obvious and consistent. First we are told "what", then we are told "how".
In between the what and the how, is the important ingredient of obedience. In each instance, the servant leader(s) responds to the call with obedience, less concerned about being successful than in being faithful. I am convinced God waits on that obedience before He shows us the path to completing the great work He has given us to do. For it is in the obedience that we acknowledge that He is our true leader, and apart from Him, we can do nothing.
So that is Lutheran Homes' "problem" with vision. God has, over the past several years, outlined a vision for us that calls us to be involved in new and exciting senior housing, home care, hospice, and assisted living programs across the State of Michigan. Of this the leadership of Lutheran Homes is convinced. We just don't have the "how" yet.
How will we accomplish all He has laid before us? Quite simply, by being obedient to the call, and counting on Him to provide all we need, when we need it. God will work through His people, sending us supporters, willing workers, and volunteers each step of the way. Perhaps you are an individual or attend a congregation that God will use in this way, blessing Lutheran Homes in its work even as you are blessed through your own personal obedience to Him. It's a marvelous web of inter-related blessings God weaves when His people follow the path He has set for them.
As we have now embarked upon this New Year, join me in thanking God for another opportunity to serve Him through Lutheran Homes of Michigan, even as we thank Him for the gift of a vision for this ministry and fellow Christians obedient to Him.
Together in Service,
David M. Gehm,
President & CEO
Lutheran Homes of Michigan
From the Development Desk
As I'm writing this, it is not yet Christmas and I am going through my head making sure I have all the details of the celebration wrapped up before the busy weekend ahead of me. I'm also doing a lot of that planning and double-checking as it relates to my new position with Lutheran Homes of Michigan.
Many of you met me for the first time on the cover of our last Highlights edition, back in October, shortly after I started with the organization.
The past three months have brought a wealth of new introductions - both to people and ideas and challenges. As the article in the October issue of Highlights discussed, my background is neither in the non-profit world nor the senior care industry, but I come from a for-profit business background in marketing and sales.
I have enjoyed the past several months, as I have begun to grab hold of the vision and future of our organization and the industry at large. And that learning process takes me back to planning and double-checking.
There are many exciting things that our organization will likely see over the course of the next year - some of which we know and others that are yet to be uncovered. The year 2001 will likely bring the launch of a Lutheran Homes of Michigan Endowment Fund - an exciting opportunity for our supporters to assist us with long term growth and benevolent care opportunities.
Next year may bring expansion and growth of services and facilities - yet another opportunity for our supporters throughout Michigan to help us create a legacy of Christian care for God's frail and elderly around the state. Your prayers, volunteer efforts and gifts of time and talents all combine to enable Lutheran Homes of Michigan to continue serving the ever-changing needs of His frail elderly.
As we look to the future of Lutheran Homes, we can look through the pages of this and previous Highlights issues, as well as our Annual Report, and thank the many generous groups and individuals who have supported us. We also raise thanks to God for the number of friends and supporters that He continues to raise up across the state. As you go through your planning and "double-checking" process for the new year, we thank you for making Lutheran Homes of Michigan a part of that process.
Mary Powers Thankful for 100 Full Years
By RICHARD KHAVKINE
Evening News Staff Writer
Reprinted with permission from the Monroe Evening News, which ran the article in December.
Mary Powers has done some living and she has the tales to tell that prove it.
On Thursday, Mrs. Powers will turn 100. Friends, family and caretakers at the Lutheran Home will help her celebrate. In turn she will regale the collective with yet more from a store of memories.
Like recollections of her voyages to just about all parts of the globe; or of her full nights of baking breads and icing cakes at family bakeries in Dexter, Richmond or Port Huron; or about how she would twine empty flour sacks around care packages to send to deprived relatives in post-World War II West Germany.
"I think things are how you make them," she says. "That's probably not very bright but it's true."
Seated in the home's spare chapel, dressed in red top and sweater, beige skirt and pearls, Mrs. Powers revisits these episodes and others with health and vitality, spinning recollections like so much sugar.
In 1977, she traveled with her sisters to the Holy Land, southern Europe and the Far East, an improvised pilgrimage to holy sites around the world. "If we hadn't heard of a place, we went there," she says.
Even at 77, she couldn't be daunted, like the time in the South Pacific when she and her sisters rolled up their pants and waded to shore when a transport boat couldn't reach the drop point.
"I think we were afraid there was something we hadn't seen," she says.
Born in Marion, Indiana, of German parents in 1900, Mary Agnes Schnebelt married Dan Powers, whom she had met at mass in the late teens. They would have 10 children together.
It might be from sharing life for 52 years with the tall, handsome Irishman that she developed that puckish glint in her hazel eyes. But, she says, she worked hard, reaped her rewards and shared them.
"I worked at something all the time, above all," she says.
Living a hundred years, she's had her share of aches and pains: She survives four children.
All 10, though, remain treasures: "My pearls, my jewels, are my kids," she says.
Her strong faith, she says, has kept her sound. She is quick to mention her devotion to St. John Catholic Church. "My philosophy is God is through, above all and in all," she says. "And I love him."
A hip replacement a few years ago has slowed her body down and she has to lean a little closer to better make out a question or an aside. But her mind feeds on something more than just memories, even if with a touch of equanimity.
"If this is the way it has to be, I will accept what comes," she says. "I find it good, so it's kind of hard to say everything is wrong."
NEWS FROM OUR HOMES
News from Frankenmuth
Christmas Bazaar
Members of the Lutheran Home Sewing Circle proudly pose upon completion of a beautiful quilt, which was raffled during our Christmas bazaar in December.. Residents also sold baked goods and homemade crafts.
Solving the Mystery
Remember the board game "Clue?" Recently residents and staff members embarked on a fun game of "who done it." On the left of is resident, Minnie Schwinger and housekeeping aide, Jane Schemm. They looked absolutely grand when they realized they took first place in solving the mystery. On the right is resident, Lillian Fillinger with housekeeping aide, Nancy Wilson. They came in a proud second place in the same event.
Dedicated Nurse Assistants
Erna Grosz is assisted by Sherri Reinke during a stroll down the hall in the facility. Sherri is just one of the many dedicated Competency Evaluated Nurse Assistants devoting their time and talents to serve the many daily needs of the residents. We thank God for them.
As our new year begins&ldots;
From our Lutheran Home Frankenmuth to your home, we wish you the best of the holiday season and may your New Year be filled with God's richest blessings.
News from the Frankenmuth Auxiliary
The Frankenmuth Auxiliary officers for 2001 are: Pastoral Counselor, Rev. Joel Kaiser; President, Marlett Grueber; 1st Vice President, Lois Eischer; 2nd Vice President, June Williams; Recording Secretary, Dorothy Cottrell; Corresponding Secretary, Betty Bender; Treasurer, Irene Rodammer; Board Members, Ruth Meckes and Gertrude Hadaway.
Seventy-two delegates, members and guests attended the October meeting where Wallace Bronner, founder of Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, was the guest speaker. He told the story of "Silent Night," composed by Mohr and Gruber, and of the chapel in Obendorf, Austria. A replica of this chapel is located on the property of Bronner's in Frankenmuth.
Christine Ryan, Frankenmuth, will show a video and speak of her trip to Honduras at the next meeting of the Auxiliary, Monday, January 22, 2001.
Livonia Gets Perfect Score on State Survey
The Livonia Home recently celebrated its 2nd anniversary, which is exciting news for those of you who have watched this labor of love proceed from idea to reality. Also very exciting was the recent State Survey result at Livonia. The State of Michigan surveys all Skilled Nursing Care Facilities, rarely exiting without providing at least one area of improvement or concern. Early November brought to our Livonia facility the State Survey team and a survey without a single citation, which is extremely rare! Our staff, residents and families at Livonia are very proud of their achievements and we are thankful for their hard work and diligent care. This once again demonstrates our commitment to quality Christian care. Thank you for your continued support.
Livonia Certified Nurses Assistants Demonstrate the True Meaning of Thanksgiving
As you visit with Chris Baker and Geri Stroud, two Certified Nursing Assistants at the Lutheran Home - Livonia, you can feel the excitement they have about helping the needy. This excitement not only applies to the residents that these ladies care for each day, but it extends throughout the community.
As a Thanksgiving gift, each Lutheran Homes of Michigan employee receives a turkey for their holiday meals. Chris and Geri, however, along with 10 other staff members at the Lutheran Home Livonia, decided there were others who needed that turkey more than they. So together with many of their fellow staff members, Chris and Geri donated their turkeys to the Brightmore Community Center.
The giving did not stop there. The group also collected names from the community center, of 14 senior shut-ins in the area. They used two of the 12 turkeys to cook complete Thanksgiving dinners for each of those shut-ins and delivered them to their homes. The holiday feast included turkey, dressing, green beans, potato salad, and a variety of desserts - pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, cherry pie and pound cake.
"One gentleman even tried to give me a tip," Chris relayed in amazement. The group was just happy to help and the joy that they received delivering to each shut-in was all the "tip" they needed.
The giving did not end at Thanksgiving. The group also delivered canned goods for the Christmas holiday as well.
Thank you to the Certified Nurses of the Livonia Home for their continued Christian Care!
News from the Monroe Ladies Guild
The Lutheran Home Monroe was beautiful with all of the Christmas trees and decorations, and many groups visited to sing Christmas carols for the residents. Thank you!
The December and January Birthday Party for residents was December 29th. The Guild served pie for dessert.
The next meeting of the Guild will be January 31, 2001 with a pot luck dinner at 12:30 p.m.
Mildred Bernitt, a resident, will reach 100 years of age on February 5, 2001. The Guild will honor her with flowers and a small party.
Welcome New Member Congregations :
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Cassopolis, Mich.
Salem Lutheran Church, Colima, Mich.
Lutheran Homes of Michigan also thanks the following Renewal Member:
Salem National Lutheran Church, Westland, Mich.