1. shopping
2. gifts

November 2014
SUMMIT NEWS
Souderton Mennonite Homes
207 West Summit St
Souderton PA 18964
LEADERSHIP CORNER: MEMORIES OF PEOPLE
Our Mission Statement: Together we empower older adults and families to lead lives of purpose and
joy, guided by the Mennonite tradition of care and service to others.
APPLE ORCHARD CAFÉ
THE CORNER STORE
Located within Souderton Mennonite Homes
207 West Summit Street, Souderton PA
Phone 215-723-2182 ext. 42277
Located within Souderton Mennonite Homes
207 West Summit Street, Souderton PA
Phone 215-723-2182 ext. 42213
Hours:
Monday - Wednesday & Saturday
6:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Country Gifts & Cards
Thursday, Friday
6:30 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sunday Brunch
10:00 a.m. -2:30 p.m.
10% OFF TOTAL CHECK
WITH THIS COUPON
NOT VALID ON SUNDAYS
EXPIRES: DECEMBER 1, 2014
Hours:
Monday – Friday
9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Time is flying by as usual, and as I get older looking
back on memories of specific years is more difficult
unless there was a significant event such as the birth
of my children and grandchildren, my wedding,
graduation, vacation trips, or family reunions. Sure I
could tell you where I lived, worked, went to school,
was married or not, how many children or
grandchildren I had, but recalling what I was doing
on a specific day is more difficult. Memories of
people that I have known seem to be easier to
remember than a specific day or even year in the
past.
Memories of people is my theme for this article. As
you may or may not know, my mother passed away
on September 19, 2014. By the time you are reading
this her passing will have been over a month ago
(time is still flying by). She was 86 years young and I
believe you would have liked her if you knew her.
My mother was very active in her church and
community and enjoyed traveling when my dad was
living. Mom was a member of the New Britain
Baptist Church for 50 years and sat in the same pew
for 99.9% of those years. She loved to spend time
with her children, grandchildren and great
grandchildren, and when she spoke about them, she
frequently had a smile on her face and they made
her laugh. I will not forget my mother’s laugh and
smile. My mother’s favorite restaurant was Zotos
and she always had their “wedding soup” which is
only offered on Sundays. My mother was very well
organized, so much so that she had her memorial
service all prepared with times of visitation, time of
service, specific hymns, a time for memory sharing
and she even gave a title to the pastor’s message
called “Celebration of Hope”.
My mother also gave instructions for the
information to be placed on the prayer cards and the
service went exactly has she had planned. She loved
roses so we choose pictures of red, pink, yellow and
white roses for her prayer cards. My mother’s house
was always spotless and everything was always in
its place or only temporarily out of place. No one
could call her between 12 noon and 2 pm every day
due to her watching soap operas on TV. My mom did
not really like to cook, but she was a good cook and
prepared many family and holiday meals. I could go
on and on about my mother, and like I said before, I
believe you would have liked her and I wish you
could have had a chance to meet her.
Memories of our loved ones who have passed are
easier to remember than what we did on a specific
day or what we had for breakfast. I am truly grateful
for all the caring and support from everyone during
this difficult time. Knowing my mom is now with
God and my dad helps to ease some of the pain. I will
truly miss her not answering the phone anymore
and saying “hello, it is you” after I said “it is me”. It is
so comforting to have my family at home and my
family at SMH so I do not have to go through this
alone. Thank you for allowing me to share memories
of my mother with you.
-
Mark Snavely
Director of Residential Living Services
Inside This Issue
Community Events – 2
General Reports – 4 - 5
Resident Trips & Events – 6
Resident Birthdays & Updates – 7
Campus Information – 8
COMMUNITY EVENTS
.
RESIDENT UPDATES
RESIDENTIAL LIVING EVENTS
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT
RESIDENT COUNCIL
The fiscal year Annual Disclosure
Statement will be available at the
Front Desk.
RL Resident Council will meet
Tuesday, November 4th, at 10 a.m.
in the Family Room. As always, all
Residential Living residents are
invited to attend.
IPAD TRAINING
IPAD training is offered Friday,
November 7th at 1 p.m. in the Café
with Heather. Please sign-up on RL
bulletin board to reserve your spot.
COVERED DISH LUNCHEON
Covered Dish Luncheon is on
THURSDAY this month. It will be
held on Thursday, November 13th,
at noon in FRA & B. Please sign up
on the RL bulletin board for this
favorite resident activity.
GARDEN CLUB
Garden Club Flower Arranging will
be held Tuesday, November 11th at
1 p.m. in the Family Room. We will
be designing holiday wreaths.
Please sign up on RL bulletin board
to reserve your space at this event.
Please sign up outside Heather's
office.
MAKE AND TAKE
Make Thanksgiving date and nut
bread with Rhelda Warriner on
Friday, November 21st at 11:00 a.m.
in the Family Room. Don’t forget to
sign up.
FULL FACILITY CHRISTMAS
PARTY
December 10th, featuring an
evening with Bill Monahan and
friends at 6:30 p.m. in the SVA.
COOKING DEMO
The Apple Orchard Café will start
offering Entrees for fall/winter
months on Thursday & Friday from
October to March.
WELLNESS PROGRAM
All residents are invited to join
Linda Kennard from Southeastern
Homecare as she talks about
staying healthy in the winter. Join
her Friday, November 14th at 10:00
a.m. in the SVA.
THANKS FOR GIVING BINGO
Is back on Tuesday, November 25th
at 2:00 p.m. in the SVA. Join friends,
play bingo, and take time to be
thankful by bringing canned goods
for the IVOC this holiday season.
Please sign-up with your unit Life
Enrichment Coordinators on PC
and Healthcare and at the RL
bulletin board for RL residents.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR
UPCOMING HOLIDAY EVENTS:
Souderton Christmas ParadeDecember 6th. Residents are
invited to ride the bus in the parade
and enjoy the excitement of this
annual Christmas event. Please
contact Heather Scattergood at Ext.
42225 to reserve your seat on the
bus.
Fall/Winter Dining Services
Cooking Demo will be held in the
SVA at 2:00 p.m. on November 20th.
Watch our Chefs describe and cook
using an assortment of apples.
Afterwards you can take home
some recipes and try some of the
food.
ENJOY AN EVENING WITH CHRIS
WHEELER
A Living Branches cross campus
event Wednesday, Nov. 5th at 7:00
p.m. in the Summit View
Auditorium. Chris Wheeler was a
well-known announcer for the
Phillies until January 2014. He will
discuss his vast career with the
Phillies as documented in his book,
“A View from the Booth”. Chris was
born in Philadelphia PA. He is a
graduate of Pennsylvania State
University with a degree in
Broadcasting. He started with the
Phillies in 1971, the first year of the
Vet and was on the air radio and/or
TV for 37 years. He has many
stories to share about his career
with the Phillies!
Please note: Mr. Wheeler prefers to
not sell books at his events.
However, if you bring your copy of
his book, he will be happy to sign it.
Please contact Heather Scattergood
at Ext. 42225 if you plan to do this.
Thank you!
A shuttle will be picking up at the
Villas and Cottages at 6:20 p.m. and
dropping back at these homes after
the program.
This information has been
removed to protect
the privacy of our residents.
RESIDENT EVENTS
RESIDENTIAL LIVING-Trips
CONT’D
MONTGOMERY MALL AND
WEGMAN’S GROCERY
Wednesday, November 5th –
O
9:30 a.m. Ride the Living Branches
coach to Montgomeryville for
shopping! Come with us as we shop
at the mall and then stop at
Wegman’s for groceries. You will be
able to eat lunch at Wegman’s if
you wish.
HUNTERDON HILLS DINNER
THEATER, NJ
Thursday, November 13th, at
9:15 a.m. Ride the Living Branches
coach to New Jersey. Enjoy the
matinee show “A Playhouse
Christmas” and the luncheon buffet.
For residents with reservations
already made with Wendy
O’Connor.
LANDIS MARKET, TELFORD
Friday, November 14 – 9:30 a.m.
Bring your bags and shop for
groceries at Landis. No cost for the
transportation.
SHADY MAPLE / GOOD’S,
LANCASTER
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 –
9:00 a.m. Join us for a shopping trip
to Shady Maple and Good’s in
Lancaster on Tuesday, November
18. We will depart from the Main
Lobby at 9:00 a.m. Cost $8 for
Living Branches coach
transportation. Lunch and
purchases on your own.
PENNYPACKER MILLS
CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE (TRIP
IN DECEMBER)
Wednesday, December 3rd –
9:30 a.m. Delight in visions of
holidays past as you tour the
historical site of Pennypacker Mills
in Schwenksville. Enjoy the dazzling
glass ornaments, silky ribbons and
greens of the decorated historic
mansion. No cost to ride the Living
Branches coach or tour mansion.
PHILLY POPS CHRISTMAS
SPECTACULAR SHOW, KIMMEL
CENTER PHILADELPHIA – HAGEY
TOURS
Sunday, December 14th – 12:00
noon shuttle to Hagey Tours,
Approximate return to Souderton is
7pm.
The Living Branches shuttle will
take us to the Hagey Tours facility.
We will then ride the Hagey Coach
to Philadelphia to enjoy the magic of
the season as The Philly POPS
present beloved tunes in exciting
arrangements with over 300
musicians, remarkable choirs and
the ever-popular audience sing-along. This is a 3:00 p.m. Sunday
matinee.
We will return home after the show
with no dinner stop. Please consider
bringing a snack/closed container
beverage if you are on this tour.
For residents with reservations
already made with Wendy
O’Connor.
PASTOR’S CORNER: TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON
ATTENTION ALL VETERANS, WE ARE
LOOKING FOR YOU!
If you have ever served in the U.S Armed
Forces, we would like to recognize your
service to our country. Please call Sandra
Conroy at Ext. 42222 by November 10th.
Thank you.
DID YOU KNOW: Residents from SMH
on all levels of care sent 120 Christmas
cards to four different military stations
around the world? The cards were sent
to South West Asia, The Far East, The
Mediterranean Basin, and The Pacific
Basin. Thank you to all whom took time
to acknowledge our military heroes!
SAFETY REMINDER
Please do not let anyone you do not
know into the building through any of
the exterior entrances. ALL visitors
must call residents to be allowed access
into the building, as your safety is our
priority. Thank you for your
cooperation.
Residential Living Services Team
You may recognize this title as a phrase from Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under
heaven.” You may also remember some of the examples listed; “a time to be born and a time to die…a time to plant and a time to
uproot…a time to weep and a time to laugh”. All of us experience many of these life events in the course of our lives. One of these
life events most of us experience in some way is when it is time to retire from our life occupation.
As you know, when I reached age 66 in March of 2013, I chose to make the transition to partial retirement by moving from a fulltime to a part-time pastoral role here at Souderton Mennonite Homes. This was made possible by Pastor Joy Sawatzky assuming
the full-time pastoral responsibilities. Our community has embraced and been blessed by Pastor Joy’s many gifts of ministry and
we have enjoyed working closely together in our pastoral ministry here. But now I believe it is time to move into the full season
of my retirement. Following consultation with Pastor Joy and Pastor Ray Hurst, Director of Pastoral Care and Services for Living
Branches, we have set January 31, 2015 as the effective date for my retirement.
It is hard to believe that it was nine years ago in October of 2005 that I was given the privilege of serving as pastor here at SMH
after the retirement of Pastor Carl Smeltzer. It was a clear answer to my prayer and sense of God’s call to this special setting of
pastoral ministry. I will always be grateful during those first years for the support and wisdom of Pastor Hubert
Schwartzentruber who served here as a part-time Associate Pastor until his retirement in 2007. We were then blessed with the
ministry of Pastor Beth Yoder as Associate Pastor from 2007 to 2011. It was then in 2011 that Pastor Joy responded to the
invitation to share in pastoral ministry here at SMH and will now continue to give wonderful leadership with Spirit led wisdom
and compassion.
This decision does not come easily or is made lightly. I have been so blessed to share in your lives and the life of this wonderful
community at SMH for these nine years. It was a joy to learn, to know and work with so many dedicated staff. While pastoral
ministry here at SMH has its own special role and purpose, I always experienced myself as only one part of a much larger team
caring for the needs of residents. Coming to “work” each day was like no other work. Instead, each day was like being invited
into your homes, to eat with you at your table, to share in your daily activities, to share your sorrows and your joys, and to be by
your bedside as you faced the end of life, And in the midst of all of this, to share together the spiritual blessings of our faith and
trust in the love and grace of Jesus Christ.
Every change in our lives involves some loss and letting go of things that we have enjoyed. But at the same time, I look forward
with anticipation because I see this change in my life’s journey as God’s timing and gift. Although I have called this transition
“retirement”, I have learned from so many of you that the Lord continues to guide us in this season of life to new areas of service
and new gifts to learn and share. I have learned from you that it is a time for discovering what new purpose God has for our lives.
I have learned from you that God will continue to be with us in this new season of life, even though we do not know what
tomorrow will bring.
There is no way to adequately say thank you to everyone who has been part of my life and work here at SMH. But I am so grateful
to God for these years with you and will always pray for God’s continued wisdom and blessing for the ongoing mission of
Souderton Mennonite Homes as part of the Living Branches communities.
Pastor Mark Derstine
FELLOWSHIP OFFERING INFORMATION
September Offering Summary:
Penn View/Christopher Dock- $821.54 to each and Harvest Home Offering - $408.50
November Offering Recipient:
MCC Material Resource Center
REPORTS
FITNESS & WELLNESS ACTIVITIES
“A Breath of Fresh Air”
SHUFFLEBOARD
THURSDAY EVENING PROGRAMS IN THE SVA
More than 100 years ago, conservationist John Muir wrote
this excerpt, “….that wilderness is a necessity; and that
mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as
fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of
life”. Known as ‘forest bathing’, and used as standard
preventative medicine in Japan, walking in nature has many
health benefits that are now being proven by science. While
many of us are quite familiar with the improved muscle
stamina, cardiovascular endurance and improvements in
blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels experienced
with a regular walking program, one study showed that a
walk in “green” environments at lunchtime led to a better
sleep the following night. And, over a period of eight weeks,
a lunchtime walk outside in nature contributed to people
having significantly lower levels of blood pressure and
perceived stress.
Monday, November 3rd – Fitness Center Hallway – 6:30 p.m.
Everyone welcome. Join your neighbors and friends for a
friendly game of shuffleboard – learn to play, challenge a friend,
or come to watch! Always a good time.
November 6: No program due to Holiday Bazaar set-up.
Similar to fatigue our muscles and body can experience,
our brains also get tired and the stresses and strains of
constant noise and dozens of things competing for our
attention at any one time contribute to what’s called “brain
fatigue”. It was through the utilization of lightweight brainscanning devices that science proved a walk through busy,
built-up areas induced frustration and irritation while green
and parkland sections led to the brain becoming calmer and
more meditative. Because urban environments are mentally
demanding places and require the brain to be constantly
engaged, there is little time or room for reflection or
meditation; whereas, nature invokes what science describes
as a “soft fascination”, allowing your brain to relax and roam
and give creativity a boost. One professor from the school of
psychology from the University of Surrey states that,
“walking has been shown to improve our ability to shift
between modes of thought and to improve our attention,
memory and recovery from mental fatigue” all of which are
important for thinking creatively and combatting depression.
So while a walk has many benefits, taking the time to get
outside and grab a breath of fresh air can reap even more
benefits than just a pretty scene.
Live Well!
Marci Christian
Fitness Center Coordinator
TAI CHI
November 13: Merle & Floss Hunsberger regular
contributors to our Thursday evening programs will bring
a program of song.
Wednesdays & Fridays – Tai Chi in the Family Room
9:00 -10:00 a.m. or 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Improve balance, increase
stamina and improve range of motion. Can be done seated or
standing – new members always welcome!
November 20: The Mennonite Central Committee Material
Resource Center team will bring us an update on the good
things that continue to happen at the Harleysville center
and around the world with all the donations.
WELLNESS SOCIAL
November 27: No Program. Thanksgiving Service at
Tuesday, November 4th at 2:30 p.m. in the Café. “You say Potato,
I say Po-taahh-to”. Join Marci, along with your friends and
neighbors in the Café as we look forward to the holidays and
discover how to pick the perfect potato while sharing some
laughs and snacks.
10:00 a.m.
LADIES BILLARDS
Thursdays – Ladies Billiards – 10:30 a.m. in the 1st Floor Sports
Lounge – Never played??? Interested in learning the
fundamentals of billiards???? Now is the time Ladies! Grab a
friend and head to the newly renovated Sports Lounge on the 1st
Floor to share some laughs while learning and practicing the
basics of the game of billiards (pool).
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Story Core is alive and well! The Story Core project
continues across the Living Branches campuses.
There are currently several individuals working with
volunteers to tell their life stories. For those who are
interested in writing their own story, our next small
writing group will convene in February 2015 on the
Dock Woods campus. If you would like to learn more
about the Story Core program for telling life stories,
please contact Lynne Allebach at (215-723-9881) ext.
42289 or by email at
lynne.allebach@livingbranches.org.
FUND DEVELOPMENT
CELEBRATING PHILANTHROPY AND GENEROSITY AT
LIVING BRANCHES
I’ve been hearing a lot in the past few years about how
retirement communities are trying to build “cultures of
philanthropy and generosity” at their facilities. Evidently it is
something that is a foreign concept in other organizations. I
am happy to report that philanthropy and generosity are alive
and well at Living Branches and have been for many years. In
the almost four years that I have been the Director of Fund
Development, I have done quite a bit of research on the
donation records of our constituents, both past and present,
and I am humbled by the generosity that I have read about
and witnessed in person.
Many of you have heard the stories about some of our biggest
donors: the Longacre family, Bergey’s, Inc., the
Hatfield/Clemens families, the Rosenbergers, and Univest
Bank. But there are many other donors who have made
significant contributions to Living Branches. They were not
“wealthy” by most standards, but they worked hard, planned
and invested well, and lived modestly, leaving very generous
gifts to Living Branches and other not-for-profit organizations
in their estate plans.
As we begin our Annual Year-End Appeal, I encourage you to
keep the needs of our benevolent care ministry in your
current giving plans and your longer-term plans. You don’t
need to be Warren Buffet or Bill Gates to make an impact on
the lives of our residents; every gift is needed and
appreciated. If you need more information about updating
your will or estate plan, please call my office: Ext. 44115.
And be sure to look for the year-end letter coming later this
month through in-house mail. As Thanksgiving approaches
and we enter a time of the year designated to remembering to
give thanks, I’d like to extend gratitude to the Living Branches
family. It is your faithful generosity that provides for those
needing financial assistance. Every gift makes a difference.
-Keith Heavener, Director of Fund Development