Royal Park Place | Life Style Newsletter | December 2024

Read our latest community newsletter to learn more about news and activities at Royal Park Place Retirement Living!

Life Style DECEMBER 2024 ROYAL PARK PLACE

Life at Royal Park Place A Message from Jeff

At the Table The Origin of the Candy Cane

The origin of candy canes is thought to have originated in Germany in 1670 by a choir master who sought to quiet children in church. He shaped candy sticks into hook shapes to give it religious symbolism. These represented shepherds’ hooks of the nativity, thus legitimizing the sweets as appropriate for use in church! White symbolized the purity of Christ, and red stood for the blood of Christ. Candy cane popularity spread, and they were given at events celebrating the nativity throughout Germany. By the early 19th century, the confections appeared in America, and by 1882, they were hung on Christmas trees.

Christmas…It’s All About the Presence!*

*In my defense, and in defense of my past English teachers or Sunday school teachers, I have chosen the above title, and spelling, intentionally! As children we are often told that, “Christmas is not about the presents!” However, as we approach another Christmas season, I want to remind you that Christmas really is about the presence…God’s presence with us, here on earth, as a person. John wrote, “And the Word became flesh and lived for a while among us” (John 1:14). With Christ’s birth we had God walking among us! But, just as miraculous is that was, with Christ’s death and resurrection, His Spirit continues to dwell with us. “Immanuel” is not just Jesus the baby. It’s not just God with us 2000 years ago. Immanuel is God with us now, and forever! I’m sure 2025 will hold its share of challenges and even pain, but we are not alone, the presence of God will be with us.

Comedy Corner From Tom Haveman

(The man who changes your lightbulbs) What do you call a snowman with a six-pack? An abdominal snowman, of course!

www.RoyalParkPlace.com (616) 772-2224 | rpp@provlife.com | 500 Parkside Drive | Zeeland, MI 49464

Life Enrichment Activities for December

Card Making with Karen Monday, December 2nd 1:00 p.m. — Queens Room Dinner Outing: Farmhouse Restaurant Tuesday, December 3rd 4:30 p.m. Bus departure Music with Tarnished Brass Wednesday, December 4th 6:30 p.m.— Kings Room Love offering appreciated Wii Bowling Tournament Thursday, December 5th 3:00 p.m. — Kings Room Bus Outing: Handel’s Messiah Community Reformed Church Thursday, December 5th 6:15 p.m. Bus departure Wii Bowling Tournament Friday, December 6th 3:00 p.m. — Kings Room Faith Reformed Church Carolers Sunday, December 8th 5:30 p.m. — Main Lobby

Merry Christmas RPP with the Schubert Choir Monday, December 9th 7:00 p.m. — Kings Room

Holland Foot & Ankle Wednesday, December 18th 8:00 a.m.-12 p.m. — Hair Salon

Hymn Sing with Tim Vreeman

Bus Outing: Evergreen Chorale Christmas Concert

Thursday, December 19th 6:30 p.m. — Kings Room

Tuesday, December 10th 6:00 p.m. Bus departure

Craft Corner with Meghan Friday, December 20th 2:00 p.m. — Café Happy Birthday RPP: with Bruce Santore —Kings Room— Monday, December 23rd Love offering appreciated 6:30 p.m. — Dining Room Old Years Eve Potluck Monday, December 30th 5:00 p.m. — Dining Room Billiard Tournament Tuesday, December 31st 2:00 p.m.—

Bus Outing: Christmas Drive Thru Light Display at Everett’s Gardens Thursday, December 12th 6:00 p.m. Bus departure The Stories Behind our Beloved Christmas Songs with Nancy B.

Friday, December 13th 3:30 p.m. — Kings Room

Hamilton High School Women’s Chorale Caroling Sunday, December 15th 1:00 p.m. — Hallways Christmas Program with Imagination Station Tuesday, December 17th 10:00 a.m. — Kings Room

Chaplain’s Corner

through the darkness, eventually arriving at our cabins. When morning arrived, the van drivers surveyed the situation and discovered that there was another road leading to the cabins that ended right by the cabin doors. This road was unmarked and, therefore, couldn’t be seen in the darkness and snow of the night before. You can easily guess where the vans were parked at the end of the retreat when all the bags and suitcases had to be reloaded for the trip home. What a difference the daylight can make! In this Advent season, we await the arrival of the light of the world, Jesus. His arrival was prophesied in Isaiah 9:2, which says: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” John 1:4–5 verify that this light of the world is Jesus. “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” As we journey through Advent toward Christmas, remember to walk in the light! Blessings this Advent and Christmas!

When my son Adam (who is now 23!) was in fourth grade, I helped chaperone a group of fourth- through sixth grade students on a weekend retreat to a camp a few hours away. Our group of sixty students and leaders arrived at the camp well after dark, during the first heavy snowfall of the winter season. Our vans were guided to the base of a fairly steep gravel hill, which was blocked at its base by a locked gate. We were informed our sleeping quarters were at the top of this significant incline. By the light of a very dim flashlight, we unloaded our bags from the trailer. Each student and chaperone carried a large garbage bag with their sleeping bag and pillow in it, along with a duffel bag containing their clothes. Up the hill, through the mud and snow, we trudged

—Chaplain Cindy

Sunday Evening Worship

A special thanks to so many of you who

COME JOIN US FOR Sunday Evening Worship

responded to our request for food for Harvest Stand Ministries last month! At our evening worship on November 10, Kimberlee Grose was here to lead us in a prayer of thanks. After

worship we were able to load ten crates filled with food into her Harvest Stand truck. This will go a long way in blessing many hungry families. As was mentioned last month, we have another opportunity this month to share with Parkview Home. They are in need of twin sized blankets, to bless their residents for Christmas. Many of you enjoy doing something extra for others in need, and are financially able to do so. If this is something you would like to do, please bring a new twin sized blanket to worship on December 8 or 15. Or you may give it to Ellie Aubel (apartment 243) or Lloyd Huls (# 275). Thanking you in advance for making this a merrier Christmas for these adults with developmental disabilities as they celebrate Christ’s birth.

Pastors for November, 2024: y December 1 : Russell Johnson Pianist: Judy Timmer y December 8: Art Van Wolde Pianist: Julie Disselkoen y December 15: Doug Fauble Pianist: Ellen Klynstra y December 22: Tom Pettinga Pianist: Arlene Van Woerkom y December 29: Rich McCarrell Pianist: Norma Boerson

Royal Park Place Announcements Macatawa Banking

Macatawa full-service banking will be the first and third Wednesday monthly in the front left office. • Wednesday, Dec. 4th: 9:00-11:00 a.m. • Wednesday, Dec. 8th: 2:00-4:00 p.m.

Choir Practice with Thelma 3:00 p.m. in the Kings Room: • Thursday, December 12th • Thursday, December 19th

The Royal Park family extends its heartfelt birthday greetings to all of our residents celebrating in December.

Knit and Chat with Amy Thursday, December 19th 7:00 p.m. in the Sunroom The third Thursday monthly at 7:00 p.m. in the sunroom by the Atrium upstairs. Fitness Center Note: Sara Doezema will be off December 25 – 27 and also January 1. She will not be in the Fitness Center on those days.

Christmas Program with Imagination Station Tuesday, December 17th 10:00 a.m. — Kings Room The kids will be performing their Christmas songs for us! Come dressed in your favorite Christmas wear!

Alterations by Marva If you need any alternations, call RPP’s own Marva Van Dyke: )616) 901-5557.

Christmas Crossword Puzzle

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