November-December 2008
Volume 1, Issue 6
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES
Thank you for your won-
drous feats
For open speech and quiet
streets
For worship as we choose to
pray
For preservation of our way
For homes and jobs and
baseball games
For many colors many
names
You saved our lives and
we're still free
From shining sea to shining
sea
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you - go in peace
Lyrics by Sam Bierstock,
MD, Music by John Mel-
nick
Music & Lyrics Copyright
2005 – all rights reserved
One-time reproduction
rights granted for this publi-
cation
Please visit
www.beforeyougo.us to
hear “Before You Go” and
see associated visuals for
veterans of WWII and Ko-
rea, and for our veterans of
the Vietnam War, and to
purchase CDs and DVDs
BEFORE YOU GO
Quietly, you've all turned
gray
You did your job - you
saved our way
Our life and freedom you
preserved
We've thanked you less than
you've deserved
You never boasted, bragged,
or asked
For adulation for your past
You did the job you knew
was right
And quietly, you cry at
night.
For bodies maimed and
comrades lost
For sights beyond our fur-
thest thoughts
For what you've lived and
felt and seen
For what the cost of free-
dom means
You leave us blessed with
every breath
That cost you arms and legs
and death
You won the worst and
greatest war
We owe you more, we owe
you more
Thank you for your won-
drous feats
For open speech and quiet
streets
For worship as we choose to
pray
For preservation of our way
Before you go, we need to
show
That in your silence we still
know
What you accomplished and
what you did
For who we are and how we
live
So go with love from wives
and sons
And daughters - for a job
well done
From kids who've never
seen a tank
We give you thanks, we
give you thanks
Philippians 1:3,4
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In my prayers for all of you, I always pray with
joy.”
Dec. 7, 1941 — “A Day
that will live in Infamy!”
PEARL HARBOR DAY
Inside this issue:
IMPORTANCE OF THE HUMAN SOUL
2
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
3
SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TRIP
3
Contact Informa-tion and Mission Statement TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATIONS
4
HOLIDAY WISHES AND WELCOME HOME, RYAN!
4
SILVER CORD CONNECTION
“Remember your Creator...before the Silver Cord is severed...and the dust returns to the ground it came from…” Ecclesiastes 12
Page 2 SILVER CORD CONNECTION
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE HUMAN SOUL
Paula Frakes, a colleague in the Senior Adult industry, wrote the following thoughts:
“For all of us, our bodies age and get older but, the one thing that never ages or gets old is the human soul! The soul is
always seeking to be filled…...the only thing that can truly fill it is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. The hunger
for the true love of Jesus expressed to us never goes away. This is the one aspect of every human being that can always
be touched…...even through the veil of Alzheimers and other age-related health issues! These can affect the human
body and mind but, not the soul! I have personally witnessed this many times over in my 15 years of working with older
adults in various Senior Living environments here, in the Twin Cities. We should never forget this nor the souls that
live in the aging bodies that are growing in numbers each and every day in our country and around the world! This is
something very important to remember; especially for those of us that are a part of the Christian Church worldwide!!”
************************************************
CRABBY OLD MAN (Author Anonymous)
What do you see nurses? What do you see?
What are you thinking…...when you’re looking at me?
A crabby old man…...not very wise,
Uncertain of habit…...with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food…...and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice…… ‘I do wish you’d try!’
Who seems not to notice…...the things that you do.
And forever is losing…...A sock or a shoe?
Who, resisting or not…...lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding…...The long day to fill?
Is that what you’re thinking; Is that what you see?
Then, open your eyes, nurse…...You’re not looking at me.
I’ll tell you who I am…...As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding…...As I eat at your will.
I’m a small child of Ten…...with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters…...who love one another.
A young boy of Sixteen…...with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now…...a lover he’ll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty…...my heart gives a leap.
Remembering the vows…...that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now…...I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide…...A secure happy home.
A many of Thirty…...my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other…...with ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons…...have grown and are gone,
But my woman’s beside me…...to see I don’t mourn.
At Fifty, once more…...Babies play ‘round my knee.
Again, we know children…...My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me…...My wife is now dead.
I look at the future…...I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing…...young of their own.
And I think of the years…...And the love that I’ve known.
I’m now an old man…...and nature is cruel.
‘Tis jest to make old age…...look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles…...grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone…...where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass…...a young guy still dwells.
And, now and again…...my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys…...I remember the pain.
And, I’m loving and living…...life over again.
I think of the years, all too few…...gone too fast.
And, accept the stark fact…...that nothing can last.
So, open your eyes, people…...open and see.
Not a crabby old man. Look closer…...see…...ME!!
REMEMBER THIS POEM WHEN YOU NEXT MEET AN OLDER PERSON WHO YOU MIGHT BRUSH ASIDE WITHOUT LOOKING AT THE YOUNG SOUL WITHIN…...WE WILL ALL, ONE DAY, BE THERE, TOO!
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
UPCOMING SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TRIP
1) First, and foremost,
PRAY!
2) DONATE:
A) Recycle used cell phones or ink car-tridges with SILVER CORD MINISTRIES. B) Purchase sermon tapes or CDs for
Seniors.
You can either drop them off in a Bag, labeled SCM, at 15363 Trillium Circle; Eden Prairie, MN, or call to
arrange a pick-up time.
C) Tax-deductible Financial Gifts can be
given. See back page.
3) Please pass this newsletter on to any-one you think might be interested in hearing
NEEDED:
1) A personal relation-
ship with Jesus Christ.
2) A willing heart.
3) Some with knowledge of
computers.
4) Some with Bible
knowledge.
5) Some with expertise in ministering to Seniors and able to train others in this
area.
6) Some creative people for our Senior
Days.
7) ALL WITH THE DESIRE TO SHARE
THE GOSPEL AND
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES IS SPONSORING A SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TRIP
TO KENYA! Have you ever had a desire to take God’s Word to the lost and forgotten in another country? Here is your
chance!
August, 2009 we are taking a group to Webuye, Kenya to visit and partner in ministry with Pastor
Samuel Wafula.
We are planning a 10-14 day trip. This will involve ministering to Elderly in a couple of group settings, for a couple of All-Day Gatherings. This will involve going to individual homes where the Elderly are living, to minister to and encourage them. This will involve Training, Teaching, and Fellowship times with Pastor Samuel and his
fellow-workers.
The dates in August are yet to be
determined.
Page 3
CHRIST’S LOVE WITH THOSE WHO ARE LONELY AND IN NEED
OF THE SAVIOR!
INFORMATION
MEETING:
Saturday, December
6th, 3 p.m.
Location TBD
RSVP REQUIRED [email protected]
or call 612-532-0308
Volume 1, Issue 6
4) JOIN OUR E-MAIL PRAYER TEAM! This Newsletter will now be sent out once a
quarter. Our E-MAIL PRAYER TEAM
letter will be sent out once a month. (There
might be times that a time-sensitive E-Mail
might be sent, also.) If you would like to
join our E-MAIL PRAYER TEAM, please
send us an E-Mail to let us know.
5) Consider Volunteering! Call or E-Mail
for specifics. (612-532-0308)
THANK YOU FOR YOUR RESPONSE TO OUR FUNDRAISER! We added new partners to our monthly donors, we have new inquiries regarding volunteering, we received about $1300 in one-time gifts, and many new people heard about what God is doing through this ministry!
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES exists to care for the spiritual needs of Homebound Seniors, to train others in the ministry to Homebound Seniors, and to create and send teams to aid ministries in other countries to care for the spiritual needs of their own Homebound
Seniors.
SERVICES AVAILABLE: Visiting with Homebound Seniors; Visiting Hospitalized Seniors; Anoint the Sick with Oil; Offer Holy Commun-ion; Offer Senior-Specific Spiritual Resources; Offer End-of-Life Deci-sion Counseling; Counsel/Encourage Families and Caregivers; Con-duct Bible Studies; Officiate Worship Services in Senior Facilities; Offi-ciate Funerals; Speak on the Importance of this Ministry to your
Church Group or other Small Group.
SILVER CORD
MINISTRIES
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES 15363 Trillium Circle
Eden Prairie, MN 55344-1884
Phone: 612-532-0308 Fax: 800-417-0934
E-mail: [email protected]
Serving the Spiritual Needs of the
Senior Adult Community
We’re on the web!
silvercordministries.com
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES WISHES ALL AMERICANS A VERY HAPPY
THANKSGIVING!
MAY THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS — OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST — BLESS YOU
ALL, THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON!
SILVER CORD MINISTRIES WOULD BE REMISS IF WE DID NOT EXTEND A SINCERE “THANK YOU” AND WELCOME HOME FROM IRAQ TO SPECIALIST RYAN MARKS! Ryan is the son of Executive Director, Judy Marks, and Board Chair, Tim Marks. May we all remember the sacrifice our soldiers (past and present) have made, so we can enjoy the
freedoms we now have!
TO GIVE A TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION
Name_____________________________________________
Address___________________________________________
E-Mail____________________________________________
Make Checks Payable to: Silver Cord Ministries, 15363 Trillium
Circle, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
You may, also, donate SECURELY on our website:
www.silvercordministries.com.