St. Luke Living Center
In the days leading to Easter, St. Luke Living Center was blessed in many ways including a performance by the adult bell choir of Eastmoor United Methodist Church of Marion on the first day of spring. They brought their equipment and entertained residents with the music of bells following the Sunday noon meal. The group was led by Brenda Soyez.
Valley United Methodist Church and pastor Faye Wagner provided the afternoon service on Palm Sunday. Special music by the voice of the Flint Hills Women’s Barbershop added joy to the day.
To begin the hymn sing hour March 31, Shirley Bowers played an arrangement of “The Old Rugged Cross” on the piano before the group sang.
Dennis Burch, a lay speaker from Lincolnville United Methodist Church, shared his message in full voice to a full chapel of residents for the Good Friday morning chapel service.
The afternoon activity was the culmination of several weeks’ preparation. Because of the generosity of St. Luke staff members, friends, families, and residents, there were many bags of small sweets to fill dozens of plastic eggs. With help from some “older children,” including Jenna Helmer, McKenzie Eden, and Lindsay and Brianna Kline, the time had come to hide the colored ovals throughout the halls, large dining room, and courtyard.
The center had invited children — kindergarten and younger — to the annual egg hunt. The staff is always astonished at the number of children and how quickly they find all the eggs. Thanks to mothers, fathers, and children.
There was more preparation April 3 when Robyn Kukuk and her bakers mixed up and baked 30 cupcakes, which they decorated with lavender frosting and Easter signposts. The dietary department served them with a Sunday meal.
On Easter morning, young carolers from Marion Christian Church Sunday school classes passed through the halls, singing songs of celebration. The group was led by Margie Tajchman.
Pat Smith from Holy Family Parish led a rosary at 10 a.m. April 4 in the chapel.
The pleasant weather inspired many residents to attend Sunday services in their home churches, to eat dinner out with families, or to invite family members to eat dinner at the center.
And one cannot overlook the recognizable fragrance of the Easter lilies throughout the halls and rooms.
Post-Easter sightings are the large, happy-looking, lily pad green frogs hanging on walls and doors down each hallway. Thanks to Marion High School FCCLA for these delightful creatures.