Ruth Hoffman and Velma Light
By Wilma Musser, resident

In keeping with the 30th anniversary of moving to Mt. Allen Drive, we are featuring a person who moved here from Paxton Street by a family member who is presently residing at the Village.

Ruth Hoffman was one of the Messiah Home residents who was excited about moving to the new location where it had been renamed Messiah Village. From a large chart showing the floor and location of each room, she was able to select the one she wanted in sheltered care. Ruth chose one on the second floor near the dining room. She looked forward to having new furniture and was especially thrilled with the new bedroom suite her children had helped her to buy.

Velma Light, a current resident, remembers how she and her first husband, Musser Martin, along with several of her siblings brought her mother, Ruth, here on the sunny day of May 18, 1978. The family, who had come to support her, first took her personal belongings to her new room and then went to a nearby restaurant to eat before returning.

Velma remembers that the staff had been given lessons in the old Home chapel, training them how to help the residents make the transition. Ruth, a friendly lady, made many new friends and adjusted easily. It helped that Velma was employed at the Home as a registered nurse and continued to work here so she got to see her mother frequently.

Ruth was one of 14 children born to Conrad and Ada Sue Hess of Lancaster County. As a young girl, she attended market and went to a sewing school. She later married John Hoffman, a banker in Maytown and had a family of five children. Ruth’s training in sewing proved to be the key to her happiness here at the Village for her sewing machine was her most prized possession. She spent much time making dolls from plastic detergent bottles and sewing bonnets and old fashioned dresses for them. People liked them and bought them, and this gave Ruth both pleasure and spending money.

After some good years, Ruth began falling and had a series of mini strokes. She spent her last days in nursing care. After nearly 13 years at the Village, she passed away on February 4, 1991 at the age of 95. Her services were held in the present Village Chapel.

Musser Martin, Velma’s husband, was a faithful member of the Board of Trustees and was very much involved in choosing the location and planning the buildings. Musser died in 1981 and did not live to see the new cottage that he and Velma had planned for their retirement. She later married Alvin Light, and they moved into the cottage. Velma continues to live here in Nittany since Alvin’s death.

Employee Spotlight

Paula graduated from Susquehanna Township High School in Harrisburg. She received her Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Therapy from Temple University in Philadelphia, a Masters in Business Administration from Penn State in Middletown and a Geriatric Certification from the Geriatric Rehabilitation Education and Training Institute in Washington, DC.

Paula has worked in many areas of healthcare including trauma and burns, hospitals, and outpatients, but her love continues to be geriatrics. She has been solely in geriatrics for the past 10 years and is looking forward to many more years here at Messiah Village.

She has been married to Pierre for 18 years and has 3 children (Lawrence 15, Victoria 11, and Alyssa 3). She loves to read, garden, and sew (when she has the time). She spends a lot of time in her children’s activities these days instead. She is very active in her church and serves as an inductive bible study teacher.

When you see Paula, please welcome her to the Village!

John's Journal
By Dr. John Rabenstein, Chairman, 9th Annual Appeal

On June 30, the 9th Annual Appeal moved into the history books. Where has the time gone? I have had a great time as chairman of this endeavor because of the connections I made both here at the Village and in the larger community.

Speaking of connections, I’m reminded of Columbia, Connecticut (where we lived before moving here) and its annual Fourth of July parade. It was the biggest event of the year with people coming from near and far to see the spectacle! It was a time to make and remake connections; young people met school friends home from college, neighbors who moved away came back searching for old friends, and people from neighboring towns stopped in to socialize with residents.

One year, I saw a member of a visiting fife and drum corp from a rather distant town. I recognized her from one of my classes; we reminisced and she went on her way. The next year she was there again and introduced me to a “special friend.” A year later and that special friend was now her husband. At our final meeting, I had the pleasure of meeting her newborn child. How pleasant to remember those connections!

Here at Messiah Village, we are a ministry that enhances lives. Our mission statement is full of connections important to each of us. Over the next several months, you will hear more about connections. Please pray for the activities coming your way.

Thanks for the memories!

Lightning Strikes and Sparks a Tree of Life
By Anita Manhollan

The remains of an old sycamore tree became one of the main focuses of Nittany's recent Mystery Ride.  What made it so?  You cannot only enjoy the story that follows but also enjoy seeing what remains if you have the opportunity to be near the corner of Lisburn and Arcona Roads.  Setting in the yard between the house and barn of Mr. Paul Miller's Upper Allen Township home is a sculpture that has evolved from that old sycamore tree which on so many occasions was damaged by lightning.  After the last strike, however, the tree surgeon declared that the tree which had provided such a wonderful shady spot for picnics was not repairable and, from that decision, an idea was born.  Having great reserve about getting rid of the tree, Mr. Miller called for a York County sculptor to come and see if what he would like to have done would be possible.  The picture used for the sculpture was of Mr. Miller in his full aviator garb from the war years including the parachute and its straps along with the goggles and uniform.  There is so much detail to the sculpture that cannot even be seen from the road, including the stitches and buckles on the pouch that held the parachute.  Not only did the residents see the statue and talk with Mr. Miller but since he is a history buff of Upper Allen Township, we asked him to be our tour guide for the rest of the ride and share his knowledge of the history of the McCormick family and the Upper Allen area.  There isn't much of the township that he doesn't know or remember and much of this has been written in his book called "The Happy Yellow Breeches"!

Don't miss the opportunity to see this landmark if you are in the area.  It gave the Nittany residents an afternoon to remember.

Singing Men Close Exciting Spring Season
By Sharon Engle, Vice President of Gift Development

On the road since early April, the Singing Men closed their busy spring season with a jubilant concert here at home. On the very warm evening of Sunday, June 8, the men ministered to a Chapel filled with residents and friends, singing many of their best-loved songs. The program also featured organ selections by Lois Paine and a beautiful rendition of “This World is Not My Home” sung by the quartet of Dave Brubaker, Harold Miller, Gerald Wingert, and Nelson Wingert. We are grateful for the evening’s offering of $309, which will support the Endowment Fund for Benevolent Care. Before the closing program, the Singing Men had raised nearly $770 from concerts at various churches. Not only do these men provide a wonderful music ministry, they serve their neighbors through returning their offerings to the Endowment Fund. Many thanks to these men for sharing their time and talent!

P.S. If you’d like to hear the Singing Men all year-round, keep an eye out for a special Singing Men recording coming soon! A professionally-produced CD will be available later this summer!

The Golden Rule
By Rev. Terry Rose, Director of Pastoral Ministries

Most everyone has heard of “The Golden Rule.”  Jesus said, “So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…”  Jesus spoke these words after He spent days preaching the Sermon on the Mount, which calls Christ-followers to live moral and ethical lives.  It is meant to be the standard of Christian living. 

“So, in everything,” refers to all that Jesus had been teaching.  He desires full commitment from those who follow Him.  Living the golden rule is not easy, but Jesus promised that everyone who asks receives; everyone who seeks finds; and everyone who knocks will find an open door.  Moreover, Jesus assures that the Father in heaven will give good gifts to all His children who ask Him. 

Jesus desires His followers to live righteous lives “in everything we do.”  A few examples:  Instead of judging others, we should treat them the way we want to be treated.  We should not be hypocritical, saying one thing and then doing another.  Does being a follower of Christ seem difficult at times?  Yes, it does.  After Jesus preaches this golden rule, He says this will not be easy.  The way of a disciple is narrow, because it is the way of persecution and opposition.  We cannot follow Christ in our own strength.  We must study God’s Word so we know right from wrong.  We must seek God and ask Him for guidance.  He is faithful to equip His followers with His good gifts, so that they may be able to live moral and ethical lives.  If Christians practice “The Golden Rule” in every area of their lives, they will win others to Christ and glorify God, which is a Christ-follower’s ultimate goal.