Evergreen Outreach-Aug 19, 2010

By Pat Rhodes

Monday was one of the most pleasant days we have had in several weeks. The high temperature for the day was only 86 degrees, a cold wave compared to what we have had here lately.
Evergreen Outreach has been meeting at Fayette County Long Term Care this summer, and will continue to do so for the rest of this month while renovations to First United Methodist Church's Wesley Hall are completed.
Carl and I arrived just as the guests were entering the dining room. Sandy Dothager was already at the piano, playing all of the old favorites. She began, as always, with “Victory in Jesus,” followed by “I Saw the Light,” “Mexican Hat Dance,” “This Old House,” “When the Saints Go Marching In” and, my favorite, “Amazing Grace.” Sandy has been blessed with the gift of music, and we are so thankful she is willing to share it with us.
Kendra Craig provided the refreshments for Monday’s party. The yummy frosted sugar cookies were cut out and decorated like roosters. As the guests arrived from FAYCO and Vandalia Rehab, the volunteers made sure each received a treat and drink.
Phyllis Rames welcomed everyone with a couple of jokes, and then read a list of funny things from church bulletins. Next she recognized the birthday folks for the week. I am sorry to report that I did not get the birthday list from Phyllis, so I am not able to tell you who they are.
Carl Rhodes, minister at Northside Christian Church, brought the message from John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Rhodes said: "When we think of peace, we tend to think in human terms, especially those of us who grew up in the 1960s, thinking peace means the absence of war – or the absence of conflict. However, when Jesus made this statement to his disciples, it was not to imply that there would be no conflict in their life. After all, Jesus also told them there would always be war: 'You will hear of wars and rumors of wars…' (Matthew 24:6).
"Upon closer inspection of the verse in John, we note that Jesus specifically said, '…MY peace I give you.' Jesus promises his peace! His peace gives comfort, even in times of conflict. That’s why Jesus ended the verse with the words, 'Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.'
"As I 'walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me' (Psalms 23:4). He gives us PEACE!"
Mrs. Pockets was the entertainment on Monday, and she also had a few jokes to tell. Our guests seemed to like her knock-knock jokes the best. Since it is almost time for school to start, she brought her sign language flash cards. Each guest received a letter of the alphabet to learn and demonstrate when she called out their letter. We all enjoyed trying to make the signs, but I know that I will need a little more practice.
Next, Mrs. Pockets sang an ABC song that her dad used to sing to her when she was a little girl. She saved the best for last with the “Rainbow Ribbon Dance.” Guests were given colorful ribbons to wave to the music. Laughter filled the room on Monday for our gathering, which tells me that everyone had a great time.
There were two tables of folks playing pinochle in the activity room across the hall. At the first table, Shirley Locke and Beulah Brown didn't win any, while Joyce Mueller and Jeanne Schlicht won one. At the second table, John Hunsley and Richard Kruenegel won one, while Wolf Schlicht and Rosamond Hubler won two.
Sandy, once again, went to the piano and played “You Are My Sunshine” as the guests were leaving.