First Community Older Adult Times wishes you a Happy New Year! 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. |
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Happy New Year! I hope you are all healthy and staying safe, wherever you are right now. So far, this year has brought on a lot of different emotions from all that has happened in our country, and in the world. But I remain to have hope and faith that we will get through the storm and be together soon.
I learned the meaning of the word "January" comes from Middle English (before the year 1000) and is derived from the Latin noun Jānus.
Jānus is from ancient Roman culture, known as a "god of doorways, beginnings, and the rising and setting of the sun.....meaning doorway, archway, arcade." ( dictionary.com) I think this is very fitting for the new year. A doorway to a beginning. A new beginning, with moments of peace, joy, hope, and light.
I wish each of you hope this month, and I continue to be thankful and blessed to have you in my life!
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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Daily Devotional
Prayer at the Pit by Mary Luti
When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe… and they took him and threw him into a pit. - Genesis 37:23-24 (NRSV)
What Joseph’s brothers did to him was unspeakably cruel, but if you know the backstory, you might be tempted to think he deserved it. He was an insufferable kid, preening and vainglorious.
Still, it’s appalling that they left him for dead down there. No matter his personal flaws or his family’s dysfunction, he didn’t deserve the pit. Nobody does.
If you read your Bible, you know that Joseph’s story ends well. He becomes an Egyptian potentate, forgives his brothers, and lives happily ever after. What you may not know, because it’s not in the Bible, is that in his old age, Joseph returns to the pit.
According to an ancient Jewish commentary, Joseph stands quietly at the edge, peering down, remembering. Then he lifts his voice and prays: “Blessed is God, who made a miracle for me in this place!”
What does he remember most from the worst moment of his life? Not the damage and loss, but God’s creative love. Not the cruelty and hate, but the life God brought out of it, right there.
No one deserves the pit. But if you’re in one, Joseph wants you to know God’s there, too. And because that’s true, its awfulness may become the stuff of better days. You probably won’t become an Egyptian potentate, but you’ll have your own miracle. You’ll breathe again, love again, forgive and be forgiven.
You might not believe it now. But some day, when you revisit your pit, you will. Without forgetting the grief, you’ll remember the Presence. Without ignoring the pain, you’ll discern the love. Without denying the grief, you’ll declare the gift. You’ll lift your voice and pray:
Prayer
“Blessed is God, who made a miracle for me in this place!”
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Taking Responsibility
By Reverend Jim Long
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Most people welcomed the New Year, saying good-bye to a year dominated by pandemic and political strife. We are more hopeful with the coming of the vaccine for Covid-19. And we are embarking on a new administration in government. Nevertheless, the transition has been difficult, and in some cases very violent. As I write, we remain very much in the middle of this transition, and there is much to occupy the mind and spirit of each of us. The words “distress” and “dis-ease” come to mind.
As older adults, we may feel this more keenly, perhaps because we feel we have less control or are more conscious of our own mortality. Yes, we have the wisdom and experience of years, but we also know in the words of the late Scott Peck in The Road Less Traveled that “Life is difficult.” We know that problems are not easily solved. It takes courage, fortitude and commitment. Most of all, Peck reminds us, it involves taking responsibility for that for which we are responsible. This requires discernment and self-awareness. There are times we take responsibility for things for which we are not responsible. And often, we deny responsibility for that which we are responsible. As we get older, I think some of our defenses begin to fall away, and we are better able to know the difference.
As we enter this New Year with our hope and our fear and anxiety, help us honestly to “turn to God” and seek God’s guidance on our journey of faith in community together. Let us take responsibility out of love for ourselves and others. For “what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8b)
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Caught Up and Embraced by an Unknown Power
By Reverend David Hett, Dean of The Burkhart Center
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This is a strange start to Epiphany, a season of “manifestation,” when a new Light is said to come into the world.
But rather than Light, we seem to be getting a lot of darkness, including that of the events at our nation’s Capitol on the Day of Epiphany, January 6. Personally, a friend from my 20-year-long spiritual retreat group, tragically drowned this weekend in a swimming pool in southern California. How can all this happen in the “season of Light?”
But look again at a definition of Epiphany from Matthew Fox:
The name epiphany which in Greek means manifestation, appearance or showing (thus Julian of Norwich’s book title, Showings). We all have epiphanies or manifestations of the divine in our lives, we all undergo moments of opening to the divine.
These manifestations can occur even in the most trying of times.
In my January 3 sermon, I tried to recognize the reality that just because we turned a page of the calendar into a new year, did not mean the effects of 2020 were over. There is still a ways to go in the pandemic; the nation is still divided and in turmoil; and tragedies and deaths still arise.
It’s clear that our isolation is not over, and some of us face more isolated lives than others, but even families living together feel the strain of winter-weather-forced-confinement.
Here’s where the wisdom of a little known contemporary century spiritual sage, Karlfried Graf Dürckheim, has become important for me. In this passage from his small, powerful volume, The Way of Transformation, he defines the true meaning—and possibility—of epiphany, of a manifestation of the divine in our lives, even in times of injustice or isolation:
Here, at the point where our impregnable belief in the sense and justice of the world has been shattered, there will dawn for the first time a new, fructifying faith in life and its significance.
UCC minister Peter Laarman says of the current state of disruption in the United States, “One way I cope with all of this is to pray for a deeper faith—for myself and for others. I pray every day for fearlessness and for the courage to fight on. [Despite all the evidence to the contrary], I remain hopeful. And here’s where my remaining hope is anchored: there are times of great moral crisis that do sometimes produce changed consciousness and positive political will on a wide scale, and this could very well be one of those times.”
Dürckheim continues, moving into the issue of isolation, as though, 13 years ago, he predicted this pandemic:
Or something similar may happen when some blow of fate plunges us into utter desolation. We are intended to live in dialogue with others: we cannot fulfill our life in isolation. We need a partner and strive to find shelter in human communion and love. When it happens that life withholds this, or deprives us of it, we are driven to an extremity in which we feel we must perish. If, now, we can bring ourselves to submit and accept our situation, we have the chance to break through the tension and rigidity with which our enforced loneliness threatens us. If we can now yield trustfully to our inner truth, we may experience the sensation of being caught up and embraced by an unknown power which, at the same time, makes us receptive and open to the whole of life. Although we are forsaken by the world, something from beyond the world makes us feel at one with everything and somehow under the wing of love.
I have been graced to have some experiences of this divine manifestation; I trust we all have. Although our critical minds will come up with doubts that such an experience took place, I know these are experiences of the deeper reality Jesus called “the kingdom (presence) of God in our midst.”
We must hold to these moments of grace. As Dürckheim concludes,
Such experiences may become the turning point of our life. They are the means by which our inner essence can speak to us. When our world-ego and its proficiency fail us…it is then that the inner voices become audible. It may happen that at the moment when the whole framework of our life is suddenly shattered—the framework which was intended to provide our ego with comfort, meaning and security—the chance of something new may appear.
And here’s the epiphanic “kicker” he describes so eloquently:
If we are now able to accept that which, with our “I” alone, we cannot accept, we may quite unexpectedly experience the sensation of being borne up by Divine Being and filled with a new significance and sense of being comforted far beyond the comprehension of our normal consciousness.
Over time, and repeated experiences of grace, I have learned to trust Divine Being far more than my normal consciousness: my ordinary doubtful, critical mind. In good times, and bad, we have the opportunity to simply take a deep breath and relax into this Beingness that is always our Ground and Source.
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Older Adult Council
A Note from Incoming Co-chairs Bruce and Ellen Crouthamel
Hello everyone. We are Ellen and Bruce Crouthamel and will be the co-chairs for the Older Adult Council in 2021. We became members of FCC in the early 1990’s. We have been involved with the Friends of the Homeless, the church garage sale, the church shrimp boil that supports Back Bay Missions, Heart to Heart, the Share and Learn Gardens, and the Older Adult Council. Additionally, Bruce has been a member and chairperson of the Mission Council and a deacon of the church. We are looking forward to the fellowship the Older Adult Council provides and to help be the voice for our church’s older adults.
As the new year begins, we pray that God walks with you each day. Don’t doubt or talk of defeat, but look at all your strengths and be open enough to believe in the abundant good that has been planned for you. Take the time to appreciate the people who love you and care about you. Finally, we hope that in the coming year you find balance and a sense of peace and contentment in your life.
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Congregational Care Council
A Note from Member Jane Briggs
Hello! Brad and I have been active members of First Community Church for the past several years. We enjoy the choral and bell music as well as the church services and outreach ministries. Since the pandemic, we have made it a point to connect with the church offerings through social media, watching typically the 9 am service via Facebook, and even lighting our own candles during Advent! And, let's face it, there is nothing stranger than having orange juice and an English muffin for Holy Communion with Jim Long, right? (Hopefully, God won't mind.)
Other church activities in which we have participated and hope to again in 2021 include:
- Members of the Congregational Care Council, ushering services, serving communion, and writing notes to church families
- Senior Adult Ministries - writing emails and sending cards to senior adults--currently 8 of them in my "pod" as I like to call them!
- Heart-to-Heart donations and other church ministries as needed
- In the past Jane has participated in the Whitechapel Ringers and Brad was on the Stewardship Board
Currently, I am employed full-time as a faculty member at The Ohio State University in Workforce Development and Education. And during this pandemic, I have been converting all of my courses into virtual (online) learning courses (which actually takes a huge amount of time)! Any spare time is taken up with caring for my mother, Janice Hershberger, who lives at Otterbein St. Marys, in an independent living apartment about three hours away from Columbus. She has rheumatoid arthritis, and I need to spend time helping her with laundry, shopping, and other household tasks, especially in the cold Ohio winters! She has ridden in a car three times since February 2020 and has been permitted to sit outside in the sun this past summer about 4 times. Our seniors need the vaccine as soon as possible as do all of our healthcare providers! They are the true heroes of 2020!
My husband Brad is now retired from his technology coordinator role with a local school district and also from a position with Schoedinger's Funeral Home. He was recently elected as a Vice-President of the Region 4 Wally Byam Airstream Club (Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia) and has been renovating our Airstream during the pandemic. He is doing some traveling for the organization, though making sure he is following social distance protocols and helping others to also keep to the protocols so all can be safe moving forward.
Our best to all of the FCC Seniors. As the New Years approaches, let us toast to 2021, pray for peace and health around the world, support justice for all human beings, and love for our neighbors near and far!
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Origins of Older Adult Ministry
By Jackie Cherry, Church Historian
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My understanding of the birth of this new ministry is that it arose from discussions during meetings of the clergy staff in 1973 that included Senior Minister Bob Raines and Dr. Arthur Sanders and probably also included suggestions about recognizing long time members of our church family which culminated in Heritage Sunday. Of course, it was necessary to find the resources to cover the costs of salary and funding for an entire new ministry as well as the right person to undertake this task. Nancy Heath agreed to take on the job once First Community Village resident, Elisabeth Guthrie, promised to fund her salary for the first three years.
Nancy initially recruited ten older adults, some single, some couples, who became her sounding board, a committee to discuss ideas for ways that this new ministry could best serve its constituents. This Senior Forum met once a month to establish the framework that initially comprised the social structure
that was designed to keep our older members busy and engaged. The Retired Men's Luncheon Group gathered once a month for a meal and talk from an interesting speaker. They elected their own officers who met with the caterer and also selected speakers. Their treasurer was also to collect dues and the costs for their meals. It soon became evident, however, that the men were not that interested in details such as name tags and collecting money so Nancy found Edith Howell who was happy to take on these tasks and allow the treasurer to just read the report that was prepared for him. A different Women's Guild Group volunteered each month to decorate and set the tables, serve the food and clean up afterward. This became a very popular activity with sometimes more than a hundred men in attendance.
The other very popular group was Sixty Plus whose members met monthly for a potluck dinner and speaker. within the first four years its membership had grown to 137 due to efforts to make their monthly events friendly, varied and interesting. Occasionally our senior high youth members met with them for programs or a healthy exchange of ideas.
In addition to these organized activities Nancy made personal visits to homes, hospitals, nursing facilities and Guild meetings and was also available for office visits. People also began asking her to participate in services of memory. She soon realized that it would be very helpful if she could have some assistance with all the paperwork that her busy schedule required. This was when I entered the scene. In May 1974 my daughter who was graduating from high school received a call inquiring whether she would be interested in becoming Nancy's secretary. I explained that she would be entering Capital University in the fall, but that I was interested. The next day I interviewed for the position and within half an hour was typing a stencil for the next Sixty Plus meeting and First Community Church became my second home. In fact, I've had an office there ever since except that now it's in Lincoln Road Chapel.
To be continued.........
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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. 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.
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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.
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ElderWisdom Book Group: Contact Lorelei Lotozo . Meets 4th Thursday of the month via Zoom.
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Weekly Bible Study: Contact Rev. Jim Long. Meets Wednesday evenings at 7 pm via conference call.
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The recipe for January is from Ann Knodt. She shares, "This butterscotch refrigerator cookie recipe was a family favorite. In memory of my mother, Ginny Armstrong, I named them for her. Happy Holidays!"
Butterscotch Cookies
2 cups light brown sugar, firmly packed
½ cup margarine
½ cup butter
2 eggs
3 cups pre-sifted, all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ to 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts (optional)
Cream together the brown sugar, margarine and butter. Beat in the 2 eggs and mix well. Add the flour, baking powder, soda, salt, vanilla and nuts (optional). Mix well.
Shape in 4 rolls and chill. Slice and bake about 8 minutes in a 375 degree oven until light golden brown.
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Pop-Up Pantry: Southpoint Christmas Project
By Member Janice Rook
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The Pop-Up Pantry at Heart to Heart Food Pantry started in July of this year to expand outreach to families within their local community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through partnerships with local human service agencies, the Pop-Up Pantry team has delivered food each week to a total of 745 families at various sites around Columbus.
To bring Christmas cheer to the families at one of these sites, the Pop-Up Pantry conducted a toy and gift drive for the children of families at Southpoint Apartments. Southpoint is a supported housing complex for those with disabling mental illness, chemical dependence or chronic homelessness. At the start of the drive, families identified "wish lists" of toys and gifts for their children.
The Pop-Up Pantry team partnered with Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School as well as with Women’s Guild Groups D and RSZ, church members and friends to fulfill the Christmas wishes for these children. To maintain safety during this time of rapid growth of COVID-19 infections, online shopping for toys and gifts was encouraged. A drive through drop off for gifts was also conducted.
In just two weeks from the start of the drive, 100% of the “wish lists” of gifts had been fulfilled! 228 toys and gifts for 74 children were delivered by the Pop-Up Pantry team to the families at Southpoint. Gifts included several bikes, laptop and tablet computers, games, dolls, clothes and toys.
Pop-Up Pantry team members who worked tirelessly to coordinate this initiative were Carla Edlefson, Kathleen Hatcher, Rose Kandel, Kitty Rohrer, Janice Rook, Melody Smiley and Mark Tucker. We are grateful for the assistance of Sarah Oberlin and Amy Miller who coordinated the drive at Wickliffe.
We are blessed by the outpouring of generosity from the students, their families and staff at Wickliffe along with our church family and friends in providing Southpoint families and their children with a much needed Christmas this year!
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One Final Thought
Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation
Week One : A Time of Unveiling
Unveiling Christianity
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Another way to look at “unveiling” is as a sort of “recognition event,” where something we thought we knew reveals itself to be radically different than our long-held assumptions. Our friend and CAC teacher Reverend Cynthia Bourgeault explores how this is a gospel phenomenon, one that takes place repeatedly, especially for Jesus. When people are attuned and awake, reality is often “unveiled” for them. Cynthia suggests that this might be a necessary step for all Christians in the twenty-first century. We’ve become so used to the “story” of our faith that a veil has been pulled over our eyes and we no longer experience its power to change our lives. She writes:
Perhaps the most deadening aspect of our Christianity . . . is that we live it with twenty-twenty hindsight. We know the story. We know how the plot comes out. We know who the winners are. . . . The Bible contains the complete and divinely authorized biography of Jesus and furnishes the complete guide to what [we] should do to become his disciple. Everything needed for [our] personal salvation is right there. . . .
We’re living in an era right now which some would call a major paradigm shift, where there’s an opportunity as perhaps there hasn’t been before to really open up the core questions again and ask, “What is it that we mean by ‘Christianity’? What is this filter [or veil] that we’re looking through? Who is this Master that we profess and confess in our life as we call ourselves Christian?” . . .
When we approach the [Jesus] story with the attitude, “I’ve heard that already, I know what that means,” we fall asleep rather than allowing ourselves to be shocked awake. . . . For all such spiritual sleepwalking bypasses that crucial first step, that moment when the heart has to find its way not though external conditioning but through a raw immediacy of presence. Only there—in “the cave of the heart,” as the mystics are fond of calling it—does a person come in contact with his or her own direct knowingness. And only out of this direct knowingness is sovereignty born, one’s own inner authority.
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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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