Welcome to our first ever First Community Older Adult Times! We are excited to keep you informed and connected with what is happening at First Community specifically for Older Adults. With all that is going on in the world right now, we want to bring church to you in any way we can. |
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This has been a very different year, and a much harder one for many. I hope that you have had time to reflect and peaceful moments in this holy season. I will continue to send you prayers and blessings. Please know that we are here for you, and that you are loved.
You will find current programs and gatherings included in this newsletter. Click on the link or email of the contact you wish to connect with for groups you are interested in joining. If you or someone you know would like a hard copy of the FC Older Adult Times, please let me know.
Many Christmas blessings to you this month. I am thankful and blessed to know you!
Peace and love,
Robin Hood
Congregational Care Coordinator
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Prayer Chain
Please let us know of any needed prayers. These prayers are confidential unless specified by you for a call from our clergy.
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Parish Registry
Please see the most recent parish that includes member births, weddings, and deaths.
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Reflection and Prayer
By Reverend James Long
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Advent is a time of waiting. We wait for the joy and celebration of Christmas, when God came to us in the Christ child. This brought light into a dark world. We seek God's presence. We sing O Come, O Come Emmanuelle - God with us.
This Christmas we are waiting out a pandemic and the arrival of a vaccine. We are more isolated than usual from one another, and we miss those Christmas traditions that have been suspended, including in-person worship.
And yet, I have found older adults to have more perspective and resiliency in this time. The wisdom and experience of age allow us to remember other times and difficult challenges that we have overcome. And our faith allows us to look for the inbreaking of God's love into the world no matter the circumstances.
Long ago, the psalmist wrote: "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord! (Psalm 27:14) And so we wait with hope and gratitude for the light we have in the darkness.
Let us pray:
Loving and Gracious God -
Bring us your light and love in the darkness of this time. Renew us and guide us in the way that we should go. Let us be strong and of good courage as we love and serve one another. And deepen our awareness of your presence and the hope we have in Jesus Christ; in whose name we pray. Amen.
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The Mysticism and Mystery of Advent
By Reverend David Hett
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At our Spiritual Searcher meeting this week, Chair Jayne Kaylor asked us to each share an Advent/Christmas memory.
I’d already been thinking about the profound magic of waking up on Christmas morning as a little boy to come down the stairs and finding all the gifts that Santa had left for me and my brothers. But the magic began earlier, of course, with the anticipation of prior weeks, and of Christmas Eve night, going to bed with “visions of sugar plums dancing” in my head. This year, I’ve been thinking about how those early experiences brought a sense of the mystical at a very young age: the recognition that there is an alternative reality present in the world that can drop in as a completely unexpected but wonderful experience of grace.
As I grew a bit older, on those days in Advent leading up to Christmas, I would actually lie under our decorated tree looking up into the pine branches and colored lights with Christmas music playing from a station out of Joliet, Illinois, sponsored by some Italian restaurant. Sometimes, around 5 or 6 pm, they would also play an episode of The Shadow, as in “only the Shadow knows,” and I’d be mesmerized by a radio drama, since I was already a child of television by that time.
However, much of the time, as I lay under the tree, I would also enter into that mystical, mysterious reality that came about at that time of year, for several years in my youth. I think I even followed that practice into my early teenage years, which, of course, I could never tell my friends at school.
All of that is just to say how I’m sure for many of us, the season of Christmas introduced us to this alternate reality that is close to us, but also much of the time far away. It is what Jesus, through his Jewish lens, called “the kingdom of God.” This “realm” that is present within us—and around us—even when we are not aware of its presence.
For me, this is the mysticism and mystery of Advent even today, as a reminder to put myself “in the way” of practices and events (like a beautiful late fall sunset) that open my heart and soul to the possibility of those unexpected moments of grace, and know that I, and all whom I love, live and are held in this loving realm of the Divine every moment.
What are your favorite memories of Christmases past?
Peace and Blessings this Christmas,
David
PS: A Prayer for Advent/Christmas by the wonderful 20th century spiritual teacher, Henri J.M. Nouwen:
Lord Jesus,
Master of both the light and the darkness, send your Holy Spirit upon our preparations for Christmas.
We who have so much to do and seek quiet spaces to hear your voice each day,
We who are anxious over many things look forward to your coming among us.
We who are blessed in so many ways long for the complete joy of your kingdom.
We whose hearts are heavy seek the joy of your presence.
We are your people, walking in darkness, yet seeking the light.
To you we say, "Come Lord Jesus!'
Amen.
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Older Adult Council
A Note from Co-chairs Karyl and David Hanhilammi
The Older Adult Ministry has long been an integral part of the programming of First Community. The Older Adult Council is a group of seniors that support this ministry in a variety of ways. The Council advocates for programming, education, and recognition of older adults. We host the Heritage Sunday recognition of 40-year members, and host gatherings at retirement communities where our members reside. Council meetings have guest speakers, updates from our Governing Board liaison, church staff reports from Rev Jim Long, and discussions of topics related to older adults. An important part of our meetings is sharing celebrations and concerns about our congregation so we can send notes and cards and provide support to church members. We hope to restart outreach to the retirement communities where many of our older adults live once the COVID-19 regulations permit.
We truly enjoy the fellowship of this Council. It is an important voice for older adults at First Community.
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Congregational Care Council
A Note from Chair Paul Saltz
Greetings and Merry Christmas from the Congregational Care Council! Many of you probably remember our group when it was called the Board of Women and later known as the Service Board. My first term was under the name Service Board. I am now proud to serve as Chair of our small but mighty group. The new name seems fitting given all the challenges that 2020 has brought everyone and the adjustments that have been made, as we continue to serve in new ways amid the pandemic.
As you know, the Sweethearts Luncheon was cancelled this year due to concerns over viral spread. We all pray for the time when we can bring everyone together again, face to face. As services have moved to the internet to promote physical distancing, there hasn't been a need to provide coffee service after worship or baking cookies for Celebrations of Life and other special events. We haven't been able to make hospital visits either with greater precautions in place. In the meantime, we have been sending cards to members and friends of First Community Church on the one year anniversary of the death of a loved one. We are also happy to send a note to anyone who just needs an uplifting word from our church family. Just reach out to Robin and she will let us know.
The Council hasn't been able to meet face to face, so we have been using Facebook Messenger and email to stay in touch and delegate to-do items. This time has been hard on everyone, but I get great joy staying in touch with those who I love serving alongside. While we must remain physically distant for the time being, know that your church family is here for you. We love and care about you, and we are happy to connect and help in any way that we are able. Let us all pray that this Christmas brings the birth of Christ's light and love into our hearts, wherever we are. And may that light and love carry us through till we can greet each other with smiles and hugs once more!
Merry Christmas!
Paul Saltz
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Revisiting Christmases Past
By Jackie Cherry, Church Historian
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As we begin to plan for a Christmas season like no other we have ever experienced, let’s glance back at how our church has celebrated Christmas in the past. During the early years of our history when we worshipped in Lincoln Road Chapel, our families centered their efforts on White Christmas, the Sunday before Christmas when children brought “white gifts for the King:” toys, clothes or food items wrapped in white paper that were distributed to the needy by the Relief Committee. In 1917 a special offering was taken for buying sugar to make candy for the soldiers who were stationed at Camp Chase near Chillicothe. And always during those years everyone was urged to put a lighted candle in their window on Christmas Eve so that carolers could stop by to sing a carol or two. By 1919 they decided to sing only for shut-ins and the following year after spreading cheer throughout the Tri-Villages, they boarded the streetcar and rode downtown to serenade the YMCA, YWCA and several hotels.
Beginning in 1924 and for the next several years, the choir presented the cantata, “Bethlehem” on the last Sunday before Christmas. One year when the baritone soloist was unable to sing, Rev. Wiest took his place. The very last service in the Lincoln Road church was the White Christmas of 1925. Moving to the new church ushered in the new tradition of Christmas Eve services and allowed 1,500 people seated in the sanctuary and gym to see and hear the cantata.
Dr. Roy Burkhart initiated the tradition of presenting red roses to all church Sweethearts, ladies who admitted to being 65 and requested to be Sweethearts. They originally were delivered by the ministerial staff, but as the Sweetheart List grew, help was requested from the Board of Deacons as well. Taking the Sweethearts a rose was a symbol of affection and Christmas greetings from the church.
The Christmas Craft Shop is a tradition begun in 1953 by Jo Nichols, Minister to Children and mother of Charlie Nichols. In 1960 Dr. Otis Maxfield invited our congregation as well as those of Trinity Methodist and Boulevard Presbyterian to meet at the UA stadium for caroling then to adjourn to our church for refreshments. A thousand people attended the open house when it was moved to First Community Village in 1963.
Menotti’s opera, “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” was presented as a worship service by our choir and soloists in 1965 and was repeated for five more years during Advent. Rev. John Cairns introduced the Cookie Tree to the hundreds of children from neighboring nurseries and day care centers who came to our church to munch on cookies baked by ladies of the Women’s Guild as they listened to the Christmas story narrated by John. They could also choose something from the Sock and Mitten Tree that had been donated by children of our church.
The choirs of Lowell Riley and Ron Jenkins have made recordings of Christmas music and also appeared in concert at downtown theaters. In 1974, Ron initiated the first of 46 annual Christmas concerts in our sanctuary featuring our choir with members of the Columbus Symphony.
Since 1996, Youth Choir Director, Sally Beske has written and directed original musicals for her vocal and bell choirs that are eagerly anticipated each year by our entire congregation. In 2008, volunteers representing Heart to Heart and the church began providing gifts and food baskets for families in need. So, what will happen during Advent and Christmas in 2020?
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In August, we began a program called Creative Connection. This program is intended to be an extra outreach to our members who are not able to get out as much as others, who might be homebound, not able to be online, or who need extra love and attention through these different times. We are merging Creative Connection into the newsletter, where you will find activities to do at home below.
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Below is a beautiful collage by one of our own members, Pam Cowles. We would love to see your artwork! Just send in the completed coloring pages to Robin Hood at 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus OH 43212
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Grief Group : Contact Rev. Jim Long Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7 pm in the Narthex at North
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ElderWisdom Book Group: Contact Lorelei Lotozo . Meets 4th Tuesday of the month via Zoom.
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Weekly Bible Study: Contact Rev. Jim Long. Meets Wednesday evenings at 7 pm in room 101, North.
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The recipe for December comes from Dave and Sandra Hammond. If you have a recipe that you want to share, let us know! |
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The red rose has been a symbol of caring and blessings at First Community Church for over 70 years. The First Rose of Advent began with Dr. Roy Burkhart. This Christmas tradition, a symbol of the congregation’s love, continues for women 70 and older in our church family. Every year, members of the Program Staff and Diaconate (past and present), deliver roses to our “Sweethearts” during the season of Advent. We also have a luncheon for all our Sweethearts in the spring.
Anyone age 70 or older can be a Sweetheart, but you need to let us know! If you would like to be a Sweetheart, please contact Robin Hood, Congregational Care Coordinator, at (614) 488-0681 ext. 235
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Are you good at writing notes?
We are looking for First Community members and friends to write thank-you notes for Columbus healthcare workers, our “healthcare heroes.” Doctors, nurses, and staff are on the frontlines of the pandemic, and words of gratitude and encouragement can make the hardest days a little brighter. Notes should be written to people of any faith background serving in any position (“Dear Healthcare Hero” works!). Drop off notes at First Community North (3777 Dublin Rd.) in the box outside the Rose Wing entrance, or mail to FCC Attn: Healthcare Heroes, 3777 Dublin Rd, Columbus OH 43221. Thank you!
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One Final Thought
Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation
Week 49
Giving Birth to Christ: Christ Is Born in Creation
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Humanity too is God’s creation. But humanity alone is called to co-operate with God in the creation. (Hildegard of Bingen)
For of his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. (John 1:16)
The Greek word for “fullness” in this gospel passage is pleroma, which Paul also uses in his writings to describe a historical unfolding (see Ephesians 1:23, 3:19; Colossians 2:9–10). It is an early hint of what we now call evolutionary development, the idea that history, humanity and, yes, even God are somehow growing and coming to a divine fullness. What hope and meaning this gives to all life!
In his letter to the church in Rome, Paul writes: “From the beginning until now, the entire creation, as we know, has been groaning in one great act of giving birth” (Romans 8:22). Creation did not happen at once by a flick of the divine hand, and it is not slowly winding down toward Armageddon or tragic Apocalypse. Creation is in fact a life-generating process that’s still happening and winding up! We now know the universe is still expanding—and at an ever-faster rate, which means that we are a part of creating God’s future.
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Wishing you peace and blessings this Christmas season. |
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Do you have thoughts or comments about the FC Older Adult Times? Please email or write Robin Hood, Congregational Care Coordinator and editor, at 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus, OH 43212.
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First Community | FCchurch.com |
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