Read our community newsletter to discover the latest news and activities at Village Woods Retirement and Assisted Living!
SEPTEMBER 2023
VILLAGE WOODS
Life at Village Woods Chaplain's Corner The Bottom Line I grew up in Hollywood, Florida, completely committed to atheism and mechanistic evolution. God was not
But I could not deny what had and was taking place inside me. I was changing in dramatic ways. Since then, I have read about all the famous atheists, both scientists and philosophers, in detail. What I discovered was that most of these highly intelligent men and women chose atheism, not because of intellectual arguments or data. Rather, they chose an atheistic worldview based on emotions and a preferred lifestyle. Well-
needed. My parent’s strong atheism obviously contributed a great deal to my worldview. But in my teen years, like many others, I began to question…everything. Having a science major, I began to be aware of the deficiencies in evolution. At the same time, I was becoming more aware of what I would later learn is one of atheist’s most difficult problems: the fine- tuning issue . Scientists have now learned there are about 122 variables for life to both originate and be sustained. If the tiniest fraction of any of these variables were off, there would be no life on earth. The world (and universe) all works in perfect sync within these variables (along with the math behind them). So, I began a search for truth, regardless of where it took me. It took me 3 years later to an unexpected powerful conversion experience to Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior. Trust me, at the time this was all too strange. But it was a reality (truth) I could not deny. My parents went ballistic and became immensely oppositional.
known atheist Aldous Huxley said, “I wanted to believe the Darwinian idea. I chose to believe it not because I think there was enormous evidence for it, nor because it had
the full authority to give interpretation to my origins, but I chose to believe it because it…freed me to my own erotic passions.” Mortimer Adler, a famous atheist, taught philosophy at the University of Chicago. Adler was co-editor of the 55-volume series entitled The Great Books of the Western World and was the sole author of 52 additional books. For most of his life, he was a self-described pagan. Then, to the shock of his colleagues, he became a Christian at the age of 82. Adler lived to be 98 years old, and
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as he reflected on his life, he acknowledged that at times he had been intrigued by the Christian faith. As he examined his heart, Adler realized that he ultimately did not want to change his lifestyle. He did not want to live the Christian
the famous playwright and actor in an interview in Newsweek magazine said, “I still lie awake at night terrified of the void.” He is speaking of the difficulty he has reconciling his strident atheism with all that he observes in the real world. Allen admits, “I make movies not to make any type of grand statement but simply to take my mind off the existential horror of being alive.” As depressing as this sounds, it is the natural outworking of his godless view of life. Of course, most people are
life; instead, he wanted to be free to live the way that he wanted. He said, “The decision to become a Christian lie in the state of one’s heart (will), not in the state of one’s mind.” It dawned on Adler late in life that his atheism was not intellectually driven; it came down to how he wanted to live his life. When it gets right down to it, so many people are not on a truth and wisdom quest but rather on a search for pleasure and happiness . Almost all atheist scientists, philosophers, and intellectuals have admitted to this same truth. They chose atheism as a worldview, not because they thoroughly investigated the claims and support for Christianity, but because they wanted to live however they wanted and they didn’t want any obstacles to tell them otherwise. Adler was just one of many famous atheists who later in their lives committed their lives to Christ, although this has not been widely publicized. Many who clung to an atheistic existential worldview faced their elderly years and approaching death with a great deal of dread and some with terror. Even the famous Charles Darwin, who originated humanistic evolution, acknowledged his fear of dying. Woody Allen,
not atheists. They hold to some form of religion. I’ve have had over a thousand
conversations with them through the decades. What I find is that
most are not wholly devout, nor do they go to great extremes to practice their faith daily. Their religion is more like a thin layer of ice instead of an iceberg. It hasn’t dramatically changed the way they live. They live the same way unbelievers do. I tell people you can be religious and still be an atheist because you live just like
them—as if God doesn’t really exist—unless you find yourself or a loved one in an emergency in life.
Jesus spoke in detail that He was looking for lovers, not acquaintances, for people who passionately made Him the center of their everyday lives. Religion is like getting an inoculation for a serious disease, where you experience merely mild symptoms, not the real thing. That’s why I hate religion now
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even more than I did when I was an atheist. It misleads people into thinking they have a real and meaningful relationship with God when they don’t. Karl Marx, a devout atheist and the founder of communism, declared that religion was the “opiate” of people. It was merely a drug trip and thus useless to address the real issues of human life. Jesus put it like this when He said, “If you try to save your life (by your own human means, including religion), you will lose it. But if you lose your life for my sake (totally giving your life to Jesus as the central love of your life) you will find it.” As we elderly people approach the end of life in this world, I hope we think deeply about our eternal destiny. After all, life in this world is brief, but eternity lasts forever. It’s never too late to completely commit yourself to Jesus and begin to grow in a personal relationship with Him. And people who have—both atheists and the religious— discover a life of love, joy, and peace you can’t find in this world.
Bible Study Monday Mornings 10:00 a.m. on the 4th Floor
Join Chaplain Mark each week as they study the word of God and how to apply it to daily life.
Chapel Services Friday Mornings
10:00 a.m. in the East Dining Room Join Chaplain Mark for a morning of worship and message from God’s word.
Sunday Church Services Residents are invited to tune in to Channel 4 on their apartment TV each Sunday at 10:00am and 7:00pm for an hour of worship. The rotation of church services includes First Reformed Church of South Holland, Bethel Christian Reformed Church of Lansing, and Peace Lutheran of Beecher. For Catholic Mass, tune in to Channel 7 at 9:30am or Channel 32 at 11:00am each Sunday morning.
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Life Enrichment Activities for September Please do not arrive more than 15 minutes before a scheduled event – this time is needed for setup. All activities are subject to change. Activities with a single (*) are available to Village Woods residents only. Activities with a double (**) indicate that bus seats are available to Village Woods residents first. Resident minimums must be met for the bus to go out. Watch the weekly Grapevine for changes.
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Volleyball with PPSJ* 1:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall Saturday with Cyndi* 2:15 p.m. in the Blue Lobby
20 Resident Meeting*
3:15 p.m. in the Banquet Hall
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21 Walmart Outing**
1:00 p.m. Bus Departure *Sign-up required. 22 Resident Birthday Celebration* 1:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall 22 Live Entertainment: Ray Forlenza 2:15 p.m. in the Banquet Hall 23 First Day of Fall! 23 Saturday with Cyndi* 2:15 p.m. in the Blue Lobby 24 Coffee and Conversation with Raquel* 2:15 p.m. in the Banquet Hall 26 Coupon Redemption*
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Labor Day
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Live Entertainment: Paul Horgash 2:15 p.m. in the Banquet Hall
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Kohls Outing** 1:00 p.m. Bus Departure *Sign-up required.
9 Saturday with Cyndi* 2:15 p.m. in the Blue Lobby 10 National Assisted Living Week! 10 Coffee and Conversation with Raquel* 2:15 p.m. in the Banquet Hall 12 Library Outing** 1:00 p.m. Bus Departure *Sign-up required. 14 Assisted Living Week Celebration* 1:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall 15 Live Cooking Demo* 1:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall 16 Saturday with Cyndi* 2:15 p.m. in the Blue Lobby 19 Wii Bowling Outing to PPSJ* 12:30 p.m. Bus Departure *Sign-up required.
• 1:00 p.m. Redemption cart on 2nd & 3rd Floors • 2:15 p.m. in the Banquet Hall
28 Crete Creative Art Class*
10:00 a.m. in the Banquet Hall *Sign-up required.
28 Jewel Osco Outing** 1:00 p.m. Bus Departure *Sign-up required. 29 Oktoberfest Happy Hour* 2:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall 30 Saturday with Cyndi* 2:15 p.m. in the Blue Lobby
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Life Enrichment Activities Brain Games Join Life Enrichment
Coupon Redemption* Green coupons, received through participation in activities, can be used by
each week for a variety of Brain Games. Come
residents to purchase hygiene and household items, greeting cards, bagged candy, snack foods, and much more at the monthly redemption. Watch your weekly Grapevine for additional specifics. Crete Creative Art Class* Be sure to sign up to attend Crete Creative’s art class. This class does not require any previous
challenge your brain with games such as spelling bee, trivia, word mining, and much more. Please note: the weekly games entitled “Brain Game Challenger” will be more challenging.
Catholic Communion Tuesday Mornings 10:30 a.m. on the 4th Floor Join Jeanette from St. Liborius Church for Catholic Communion.
art experience and is free for all residents. You must RSVP, by the given deadline, to attend; this allows our volunteers adequate time to prepare. Watch your weekly Grapevine for additional specifics.
Coffee & Conversation* 2:15 p.m. in the Banquet Hall Residents are invited to
Healthy Hands* Join Life Enrichment weekly for Healthy Hands. This class focuses on fine motor skills and is an excellent way to
join our beloved volunteer Raquel a few Sunday afternoons a month for light refreshments and a time of fellowship. All residents are welcome to attend. Watch your weekly Grapevine for dates!
work on dexterity and assist those with arthritis. Watch your weekly Grapevine for the day of the week, time, and location.
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Manicures* Manicures will be
Games Feel free to use the assortment of games located in the Game Room TV cabinet. The cabinet has been labeled “Game Cabinet” for your convenience. We ask that when you are finished, you put all pieces back in the game’s box and return the box to the provided cabinet. If you need assistance, please call, or stop by the Life Enrichment Department.
held a few times per month. This is open to all residents. Supplies
are provided by Life Enrichment. If nails need to be cut, Life Enrichment will try their best to arrange this with nursing. Dates, times, and locations will be provided in the weekly Grapevines.
Men’s Club Friday Afternoons 1:00 p.m. on the 3rd Floor
Hymn Sing Monday Afternoons 1:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall Join Chaplain Mark for an afternoon of worship through a time of singing hymns and prayer. Knitting and Crocheting Club Saturday Mornings 10:00am in the Game Room
All male residents are welcome to join Chaplain Mark for Men’s Club. Come for some time of fellowship with other male residents. Resident Meeting* Monthly in the Banquet Hall Residents are encouraged to attend the monthly meeting. Come share compliments, questions, and concerns. The monthly date and time will be included in the Grapevine.
Rosary* Thursday Evenings 6:30 p.m. in the Game Room Join Life Enrichment in welcoming Michael back for Thursday evening rosary. All residents are welcome to attend!
Bring your knitting and crocheting projects to the Game Room every Saturday to join fellow residents for a time of fellowship, while working on your current project!
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Saturdays with Cyndi* Saturday Afternoons 2:15 p.m. in the Blue Lobby
Wii Bowling Open Bowl is available in the Game Room Monday through Friday 9:00am to 4:00pm and Sundays from 8:00am to 2:30pm. Open Bowl is the perfect time to get a group of friends together to practice or try Wii Bowling out for the first time! Tournament with PPSJ 12:30 p.m. Bus Departure Each month the Wii Bowling team heads to Park Place of St. John for a Wii Bowling Tournament. The tournament consists of four games followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments. An RSVP is required for this outing. Residents on the Wii Bowling team will be given priority. If a resident not on the team would like to attend the outing, your name will be added to the waitlist, and you will be informed if there is seat availability. Please contact Life Enrichment at extension #1132.
Join Cyndi for a time of fellowship and games! Enjoy games and a time of fellowship with other residents.
Therapy Dog Visits A few Tuesdays a Month 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. in the Main Lobby and on the 3rd Floor
Life Enrichment is pleased to continue to offer visits from local therapy dogs and their handlers each month. The 9:30 a.m. visit with take place in the Main Lobby; the 10:00 a.m. visit will be held on 3rd Floor. Come enjoy some snuggles and loving from our furry friends! Dates will be included in the weekly Grapevine.
Volleyball with Park Place of St. John* In the Banquet Hall All residents are invited
to participate in our volleyball tournament with our friends from Park Place of St. John. The tournament will be followed by a time of fellowship and refreshments. Additional information will be in the weekly Grapevine.
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Bus Outings Life Enrichment offers a large variety of outings each month. Please note the following guidelines apply for outings:
Library Outing Join Life Enrichment for an outing to Crete Public Library to check out books, DVDs, and magazines on the Village Woods’ library card. When residents are finished with their library materials, they should be returned to the Life Enrichment office. Watch the weekly Grapevine for specifics. To attend this outing, you must RSVP to extension #1132.
y Residents interested in attending an outing must contact Life Enrichment at extension #1132 to RSVP. Please note: the Village Woods’ nursing team will screen residents to ensure the desired outing is appropriate for each resident. y Outing signups are taken on a first-come, first-served basis. If the outing is full, names will be added to the waiting list. If there is a cancellation, residents will be notified in the order they are on the waiting list. y Life Enrichment cannot guarantee that stores will have motorized scooters available; as a result, residents must be capable of navigating the store without a scooter to ensure their safety. y Most outings require a minimum of 3 residents. If the outing minimum is greater than 3 residents, this will be noted. Outings are subject to change or cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.
Store Outings Kohls Department Store y Thursday, September 7 at 1:00pm Walmart y Thursday, September 21 at 1:00pm Jewel Osco y Thursday, September 28 at 1:00pm
RSVP to Life Enrichment at extension #1132 no later than 24 hours before the scheduled store outing.
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In addition to the vast variety of weekly activities, Life Enrichment will be offering the following specialties during the month of September: Special September Activities
Live Cooking Demo* Friday, September 15
Live Entertainment Tuesday, September 5 and Friday, September 22 2:15 p.m. in the Banquet Hall This month’s live
1:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall Join our Director of Dining, Tom
Corley, for this month’s live cooking demo. Come enjoy a live cooking demonstration and some tasty samples. All are welcome to attend!
entertainment will feature Paul Horgash and Ray Forlenza. Watch your weekly Grapevine for more information.
Assisted Living Week Celebration* Thursday, September 14 Banquet Hall In honor of National Assisted
Oktoberfest Happy Hour* Friday, September 29 2:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall
In honor of Okotoberfest, head to the Banquet Hall for bingo. Following bingo, residents are invited to stay for some refreshments!
Living Week, all residents are welcome to join Life Enrichment to celebrate our Assisted Living residents! The celebration will take place in the Banquet Hall at 1:30 p.m.
www.VillageWoods.com (708) 672-6111 | vw@provlife.com | 2681 Route 394 | Crete, IL 60417
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www.VillageWoods.com (708) 672-6111 | vw@provlife.com | 2681 Route 394 | Crete, IL 60417
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Card Making
www.VillageWoods.com (708) 672-6111 | vw@provlife.com | 2681 Route 394 | Crete, IL 60417
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National Creamsicle Day
www.VillageWoods.com (708) 672-6111 | vw@provlife.com | 2681 Route 394 | Crete, IL 60417
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National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day
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