First Community Older Adult Times wishes you a Happy Valentine's Day! 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 contact the editor. |
|
Happy Valentine's Day! Wherever you are on your journey, I wish you moments of peace and love this month.
February reminds me of an article by Paul Baumer, our former Minister of Missions and then Minister to the Staff. In 2018 he writes about the two "original Valentines," both lives having a rather sad ending. The first, he writes, was in 270 AD when the "Roman Emperor Claudius ruled that no young men could marry before serving in the army. Valentine performed marriages to help men escape army service. Claudius had him executed." The second Valentine was imprisoned after trying to help Christians escape the Roman prisons, where "he fell in love with the jailor's daughter, and sent her love notes, signing them, 'from your Valentine.'"
These stories, although depressing, did not scare people into darkness. Instead, they created something more powerful: love. And not just a day (although we recognize February 14 as Valentine's Day), but the whole month seems to celebrate being together, giving thanks and love to our family and friends, co-workers and neighbors. And even if we have to be together virtually now, I know that we will not take for granted the time when we can be together in person. A little love, and patience, will help get us through these times.
With love to you all, I continue to be thankful and blessed to have you in my life, and look forward to when we can be together, in person.
Robin Hood
Congregational Care Coordinator
|
|
Prayer Chain
Please let us know of any needed prayers. These prayers are confidential unless specified by you for a call from our clergy.
|
|
Parish Registry
Please see the most recent parish that includes member births, weddings, and deaths.
|
|
Daily Devotional
God Singing the Blues
by Kaji Douša
I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. - Psalm 104:33 (NRSV)
Saturday afternoons in my Spellman household were always filled with the blues. Tuned into WPFW: Nap Turner programmed DC’s airwaves to hear the blues together on his show: Don’t Forget the Blues.
Some will say that the blues are a way of life.
Or, as August Wilson wrote into Ma Rainey’s voice: “You don’t sing to feel better. You sing because that’s a way of understanding life. Blues help you get out of bed in the morning. You get up because you know you aren’t alone.”
Or, as my dad put it: “The blues is what you sing when your woman done left you and you can’t pay the rent.”
And what I really appreciate about the country’s seeming new interest in the blues, as inspired by the latest film release of the August Wilson play, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom Blues, is that right now is a great time to sit with the blues.
But here’s the thing:
There’s a misconception that the blues are all about sorrow. But that’s not true. The blues are about human experience. They explore the depth of human emotion. Rooted in the Black American experience in the Jim Crow South, the blues explores what it means to find joy and expression in the midst of … some stuff.
And in a time when misinformation – actually lies – run rampant, we need authenticity and truth more than ever.
We need to understand that we can feel more than one way about things.
We need to be okay with laughing one moment and crying the next.
God still does the new thing.
God still brings new life.
God still looks at the most vulnerable place on earth, and shows up there.
Prayer
God, you know the blues. Sing with us. You sure do treat us right. Amen
|
|
Citizens and People of Faith
by Reverend Jim Long
|
Many years ago, I worked in Washington, D.C. It was my first job out of law school. I had always loved Washington ever since my parents took our family there on vacation when I was in Junior High School. That kindled my love for American History. When friends came to town, I would guide them around the monuments and up to the Capitol Building. You could walk all around, and only were required to have passes if you wanted to enter the House or Senate Galleries.
As part of my work, I would take a cab up to Capitol Hill to watch hearings in the House and Senate Office Buildings. This was well before 9-11. There were no metal directors. You did not need an appointment to enter the buildings to see your Representative or Senator. I remember standing on the back of the Senate wing of the Capitol and seeing Senator Ted Kennedy run to his car and drive away without any security.
During my time in Washington, I saw two peaceful transfers of power from one party to the other. I saw President Carter take office from President Ford. I later saw President Reagan take office from President Carter. These were times of great division in the electorate as they are today. Of course, times have changed, but I never thought I would see what happened on January 6th. Not only was I outraged, but I was heartbroken.
However, I have come to realize that it is not about my feelings. It is about acting as person of faith and as a citizen. When we had the Faith and American Politics program at our church, we recognized that we become deeply “attached” to our views about politics and religion. When those views are threatened, we feel that it is “fight or flight.” Of course, we know that we are not to act upon feelings, particularly with violence. But when our attachments are so strong and distorted, we need to be self-aware enough to recognize it and “wake up” to reality. And whatever side we’re on, we have to understand that my truth is not necessarily the truth. May God bless us as we seek to go forward as a nation and a community of faith from this devastating event.
|
|
The Reenchantment of Everyday Life
by Reverend David Hett, Dean of The Burkhart Center
|
When that wonderful, humble mystic Huston Smith was a Spiritual Searcher at First Community a number of years ago, he spoke about the problem of “scientism,” that modern belief that only the physical-material world exists and therefore everything in life can be dealt with through science and technology from modern conveniences to physical health to controlling nature. Huston was not criticizing science itself, nor all it has and can bring to a more flourishing human life; he was just commenting on science becoming the only “god” we could rely upon and one that dealt with the only reality the world had to offer us—the physical.
What Huston Smith was pointing out was the absence of the recognition of a spiritual reality to life that is just as real as the material world, if not as obviously visible. This is the “problem” of “scientism,” that it disregards the transcendent or divine nature of reality.
The complete reliance on science and technology leaves out what William James, Marcus Borg, and others called the “More,” the spiritual nature of existence. Jesus, following his Jewish roots, called it the Kingdom of God “in your midst.”
I never believed in this spiritual reality when I was growing up, although of course I believed in “God” without question, just because that’s the way it was, and it was merely a mental construct that really had nothing to do with my life: just an old guy sitting on a throne somewhere beyond the stars. But without knowing it, I (like I believe everyone does) was having experiences of this transcendent reality; it’s just that we lose awareness of them as we develop cognitively and egoically. Watching infants and toddlers, they simply exist completely in this nondual/dual nature of reality, the physical and the spiritual merged, the amazement of spiritual beings suddenly being thrust into the human experience.
For this reason, spiritual teachers in many different ages call the awakening to the More, a “remembering.” It’s not like the spiritual nature of reality never existed before we have experience this reality through spiritual practices (or love or great suffering, as Richard Rohr says); it’s simply that we’ve forgotten, or ignored, it. Hence, modern day teachers like recent Spiritual Searcher Thomas Moore and cosmologist Richard Tarnas talk about the need for the “reenchantment of everyday life.” In the modern world, and for sophisticated intellects like ours, it is too easy to lose the sense of awe, wonder, and mystery. We take for granted the moment-by-moment miracle of life and existence itself, as philosophers will ask, “Why is there something rather than nothing?”
“Remembering” that childhood sense of awe is part of awakening to the divine reality of existence. Buddhist teacher, Chogyam Trungpa, says it this way:
It is possible for us to discover our own innocence and childlike beauty. Having discovered all our confusions and neuroses, we begin to realize that they are harmless or helpless. Then gradually we find the innocent-child quality in us. It does not mean that we are being reduced to a child. Rather, we discover the childlike quality in us. We become fresh, inquisitive, sparkling. We want to know more about the world, more about life.
Jesus said it more directly, perhaps, “Become like a child and you will know the kingdom of God.” I guess I don’t have to point out that this is possible regardless of physical age or limitations.
|
|
|
Older Adult Council
From member Barb Mirbach
My name is Barb Mirbach and I'm a member of the Older Adult Council of First Community Church. I grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, attended nursing school in Cleveland, and then moved to Columbus to attend Ohio State. Luckily, when I first arrived in Columbus, I happened to hear about the Cambridge Club which was held at FCC. The club had many activities but I specifically liked the dances which were held on Sunday evenings at the church. What a wonderful way it was to meet other singles! I met my husband there. After that we joined an alumnae group that was formed for people who had met at the club and then married. Another great group. My husband and I attended FCC, and other churches periodically, but always came back to First Community. Besides being a member of the Older Adult Council I am a member of Guild WW- two great groups and many wonderful people.
|
|
 |
Congregational Care Council
A Note from Member Patrick Carle
HOW MAY I BE OF SERVICE? SO MANY WAYS!
I have worked with older adults and their families for more than 30 years helping them to make thoughtful, well-informed decisions about their senior living, home care and hospice service needs. After all that time, it is my pleasure and privilege to finally be working as an independent consultant representing the interests of older adults who want the benefit of my expert support and guidance free of charge.
Five months ago, I transitioned from representing nursing homes, continuing care retirement communities; independent, assisted living and memory care rental communities, a home healthcare agency, and a hospice provider over those many years to become a Senior Living Advisor. Now, instead of working for a corporation, I am a consumer advocate providing free consultations to older adults and their families.
No longer am I educating older adults and their families on the idea that my community or service might be right for them. Instead, I take the time to learn objectively about their personal goals and based on their specific needs and budget I can provide them with the two or three best solutions from which they can choose. I introduce them to potential service providers, guide them through the vetting process and facilitate their discernment of each option’s benefits. In the end, the older adult in consultation with their trusted family or advisor can make his or her choice with confidence.
Over the years I have worked with thousands of older adults who simply lacked the information or resourcefulness how best to navigate the complex, sometimes confusing senior health care and residential service options. Whether it is understanding the difference between Medicaid and Medicare, what in-home services cost and what is covered by insurance, and the cost of senior living options depending on someone’s specific needs and budget, older adults and their families do not have to negotiate this process by themselves.
My spouse and I have been members of First Community Church for 20 years of which the first 15 were spent in Palm Beach County, FL then Nashville, TN and finally the Chicago area before returning to Columbus five years ago. We became involved with the Congregational Care Committee right away and had the opportunity to help with the 2016 Burkhart Luncheon. Through my contacts in the local senior living and health care industry, I was able to secure the first ever sponsors for the 2017 Burkhart Luncheon which helped to save the church thousands of dollars and many hours of work. It also enabled the church to provide our ladies a chef-prepared dining experience.
Sadly, due to the current pandemic, last year’s Burkhart Luncheon had to be cancelled. Rest assured many of us are brainstorming how we might be able to pull off the event this year even if it means something virtual in nature. Stay tuned for exciting updates as details are finalized.
|
|
|
|
Looking Back On the Older Adult Ministry
by Jackie Cherry, Church Historian
|
Nancy Heath seemed to have been particularly well suited to her role of looking after the needs of our older members. She genuinely was fond of those in her flock and respected them as individuals. In one annual report she wrote, “How do you write an annual report about love? That’s what my work is, a labor of love, with an abundance of affection flowing toward me in return. Each of ‘my people’ is a brother or sister of Christ and when I look upon them in this light, great and small miracles occur.”
After the first few years in her role of looking after the social needs of her constituents, Nancy enrolled at Riverside Methodist Hospital in their program for training chaplains. This sharpened her skills in counseling and focused on strategies to meet the personal needs of her flock. An advantage in her personal background was that she had grown up in her family’s business of operating the Ware Funeral Home in Chillicothe. Because of the amount of time she spent in meeting with families and dealing with death and dying, she studied the writings of Elizabeth Kubler Ross and decided to gather helpful information and create a booklet on funerals that families might use to guide them in decision making. I am grateful to Jim Long for sharing his copy and also a revised version for the church archives.
Nancy retired from her post in late 1989. As a congregation we can be thankful for her dedication in fashioning a unique new ministry to this special segment of our church family. A new chapter began in November 1989 when Julie Osborn became the new Director or Older Adult Ministry.
By then several changes in church governance had come about. New councils had been formed, one of which was the Older Adult Council which made the Senior Forum redundant. Soon the Men’s Luncheon and Sixty Plus dissolved as well and Julie was able to focus on spending more of her time in visiting with her constituents. Personal visits were treasured times for her. Heritage Sunday made November a very busy period on her calendar, but coordinating with the Congregational Care Council and Older Adult Council provided more hands to organize this very special Sunday observance. Julie loved her years of working with our older adults, but decided to retire on August 31, 2010, after thirty years on the staff of First Community Church.
The third Director of Older Adult Ministry was Missy Obergefell who succeeded Julie and served in that capacity for nearly ten years until this post was abolished in 2020. How lucky we were to find three women who were so kind, sympathetic and caring in their ministry to our older members. I was lucky enough to be a part of it for eleven years as Nancy’s secretary and then as a recipient of Missy’s caring concern when she entered my husband’s hospital room as he took his last breath. She even braved a cold January morning to do his committal service at an out of town cemetery and later participated in his service of memory. Our eternal gratitude to all three of these women who pioneered a new ministry and served our congregation with such dedication and faith for nearly 38 years.
|
|
Welcome to 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. You will find activities and readings below.
We would love to see your artwork! Just email or send in the completed coloring pages to Robin Hood at 1320 Cambridge Blvd, Columbus OH 43212, and we will be sure to include the drawings in the OAT.
|
|
|
-
Lenten Programs and Activities: Includes information on how to receive a Lenten Box, our virtual Pancake Celebration, and Ash Wednesday drive-through communion
-
Grief Group : Led by Rev. Jim Long and parishioner Janice Beaty. Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month at 7 pm in the Narthex at North.
-
ElderWisdom Book Group: Contact Lorelei Lotozo . Meets 4th Thursday of the month via Zoom.
-
Weekly Bible Study: Contact Rev. Jim Long. Meets Wednesday evenings at 7 pm via conference call.
|
|
|
Recipe of the Month
The recipe for February is from Debbi Wood. She says, "This is an easy and flavorful soup that is perfect for winter! It makes about 8 servings."
|
Rosemary Chicken Noodle Soup
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small white onion, diced
2-3 medium carrots, diced
2-3 stalks celery, diced
3-4 cloves garlic, diced
8 cups good-quality chicken stock (I like College Hill)
3-4 stalks fresh rosemary
6 ounces wide egg noodles
2-3 cups shredded cooked chicken (rotisserie chicken is great)
Salt and pepper to taste
Heat oil in a large stockpot over medium-high heat. Add onion and sauté for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add carrots and celery and sauté for another 3-4 minutes, until carrots are softened a bit. Add garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes. Add chicken stock and stir to combine. Gently add rosemary to the top and let it sit for about 5 minutes then take out. (I don’t like eating the rosemary needles so I let the flavor seep in and then remove it.) While you are letting the rosemary sit in the pot, add the noodles to another pot of boiling water for a couple of minutes to remove the flour. Then strain it a little and add it to the pot for another couple of minutes. Season with salt and pepper. I have eaten this a week after making it and it was delicious. ENJOY!
|
|
ElderWisdom
February book selection:
News of the World by Paulette Jiles
Thursday, February 25, 1 pm
Zoom Meeting
"In the aftermath of the Civil War, an aging itinerant news reader agrees to transport a young captive of the Kiowa back to her people in this exquisitely rendered, morally complex, multilayered novel of historical fiction from the author of Enemy Women that explores the boundaries of family, responsibility, honor, and trust." - goodreads.com
Our February meeting will be held via Zoom on February 25 at 1 pm. We hope you can join us in the new year! This book group enjoys discussing books, and fellowship. Please contact Lorelei Lanier Lotozo at (614) 209-7125 or Robin Hood, Congregational Care Coordinator, at rhood@FCchurch.com with questions or to add your name to our email list to receive the Zoom meeting invite. |
|
One Final Thought
Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation
Week Five: Unkowing
The Way of Unknowing
|
Descriptions of the “dark night of the soul” from the Spanish mystic John of the Cross (1542–1591) have become the marker by which many Christians measure their own experience of unknowing. He fits an entire life spent exploring God’s mystery into memorable poetry, and even dares to call unknowing “an ecstasy”! Here are several stanzas from his poem “Stanzas Concerning an Ecstasy Experienced in High Contemplation”:
1. I entered into unknowing
Yet when I saw myself there
Without knowing where I was
I understood great things;
I shall not say what I felt
For I remained in unknowing
Transcending all knowledge.
. . . .
4. He who truly arrives there
Cuts free from himself;
All that he knew before
Now seems worthless,
And his knowledge so soars
That he is left in unknowing
Transcending all knowledge.
. . . .
6. The knowledge in unknowing
Is so overwhelming
That wise men disputing
Can never overthrow it,
For their knowledge does not reach
To the understanding of not-
understanding,
Transcending all knowledge.
John’s poetry is exquisite in its humility—knowing that he does not know, can never know, and doesn’t even need to know! He goes so far as to call this dark night “a work of His mercy, / To leave one without understanding.” John’s teaching contains paradoxes that are difficult to absorb, but modern readers have the good fortune of many good translations, including that of Mirabai Starr. Like the other friends whose work I have shared this week, Mirabai knows the via negativa, the way of unknowing, personally and intimately, and describes what happens between the soul and God in the “dark night:”
The soul in the dark night cannot, by definition, understand what is happening to her. Accustomed to feeling and conceiving of the Beloved in her own way, she does not realize that the darkness is a blessing. She perceives God’s gentle touch as an unbearable burden. She feels miserable and unworthy, convinced that God has abandoned her, afraid she may herself be turning against him. In her despair, the soul does not recognize that God is teaching her in a secret way now, a way with which the faculties of sense and reason cannot interfere.
At the same time that the soul in the night of spirit becomes paralyzed in spiritual practice, her love-longing for God begins to intensify. In the stillness left behind by its broken-open senses and intellect, a quality of abundance starts to grow inside the emptied soul. It turns out that the Beloved is longing for union with the lover as fervently as she has been yearning for him. . . . God will whisper to the soul in the depth of darkness and guide it through the wilderness of the Unknown until it is annihilated in the flames of perfect love.
|
|
|
|
If you would like to make a gift to First Community, you can click the buttons below to make your pledge or to give. |
|
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.
|
|
First Community | FCchurch.com |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
