A MONTHLY
PUBLICATION OF
RESIDENTS AND
ADMINISTRATION
Celebrating 100 Years • 1915 - 2015
September 2015
ART BOOK GIFTS TO
PILGRIM PLACE LIBRARY
Two volumes of the seven world-famous
St. John’s Bible, Handwritten and Illuminated by
Donald Jackson, have been donated to the Pilgrim
Place Library in honor of Tom and Donna Ambrogi.
The oversize, full-color volumes, Psalms (Volume 4)
and Gospels & Acts (Volume 6), along with The Art
of the Saint John’s Bible: The Complete Reader’s
Guide by Susan Sink, are available for general
circulation.
In honor of the gifts, and because of the central
involvement in the publication of the Bible by
resident David Lull, the Library Committee is
sponsoring a reception on Thursday, October 8, at
11:00 a.m. in Porter Hall with Professor Lull. Tom
and Donna Ambrogi, friends of the donor who
wishes to remain anonymous, also will be present.
Lull directed the Bible Translation Unit of the
National Council of Churches in New York City
between 1996-1999 when Don Jackson, Senior
Illuminator to the Queen of England’s Crown Office,
asked permission to use the New Revised Standard
Version Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE) of the Bible
text for his project for St. John’s
Abbey and University in
Minnesota. Jackson and a
team of master calligraphers and
artists primarily based in
Monmouth, Wales, created one of the first
completely handwritten
and illuminated Bibles
since the invention of
the printing press 500
years ago.
David Lull visited the Monmouth Scriptorium in
Wales when the first samples of the oversize vellum
pages of text using a calligraphy font designed by
Jackson were ready for inspection. He said his main
task was to help solve problems related to handling
the marginal translation notes and the “white space”
separating paragraphs and the beginning of biblical
books in a manner consistent with NRSV
requirements and the style of medieval bookmaking.
Between viewings, he said he saw several abbeys and
castles in Wales.
Lull taught at Yale and was Executive Director of
The Society of Biblical Literature before joining the
NCC staff. He taught New Testament at Wartburg
Theological Seminary following his years in New
York. His Ph.D. in New Testament was from
Claremont Graduate University. He is a 5th
generation Methodist minister from his New York
family.
-Jean Lesher
A true conservationist is a man who knows that the world is not
given by his fathers, but borrowed from his children.”
“
-JOHN JAMES AUDUBON
Page 2
SECOND WIND
Anxiety has a bad reputation. Sure, it is
dysfunctional a lot of the time, but without some
anxiety, we might not be ready for what lies around
the corner! Our second 100 years begins in just four
months. We know there will be changes and we are
quite naturally nervous about that. The trick is to find
a way to let that anxiety get us ready for the new
rather than disable it. It has been proposed that we
have a prayer service in order to open us to the
empowering of the Spirit during this time. One of our
vespers this fall will be such an event. Maybe one of
the gifts of anxiety is that it leads us to prayer!
It also leads us to dialog. We have had a lot of that
this year, first in the small group gatherings we had,
and the subsequent forums. The dialog has continued
with the advisory groups which have and still are
considering the questions and proposals we generated.
This process will culminate in a report at our January
Town Meeting. The report from the questions raised
about our health services can now be found in the
library. Others will be available as they come to us.
The three moderators have been in dialog with the
senior staff about the responsibilities of the three
parts of our governance: staff, Board, and residents.
We have recognized the limits of the three-legged
stool model and realize it is more like three circles
which are distinct, but also intersect.
One part of our community dialog which awaits
some attention is the concern, frequently expressed in
the small groups, that our values should lead us to a
simpler lifestyle. It is more than just anxiety about
increases in our monthly fees, but a deep desire that
the vocation of retirement reflect the values we have
long embraced. We are looking for ways to engage
this issue.
In the meantime, let us celebrate our significant
past by our participation in the Centennial events
planned for this fall and open ourselves to the bright
future before us by our support of the work being
done by the search committee. May our anxiety about
the cost of living be matched by a serious look at
what we would be willing to give up and what we
really need to adequately serve this community. I am
sure that 100 years ago, there was a lot of anxiety in
Claremont as they looked to the marshy land on
which we sit as the place for a new community. Their
anxiety did not overwhelm them.
Grace and Peace…
-Bob Wallace, Moderator
THE LEGACY LEAGUE IS EXPANDING
The Centennial Campaign has given momentum
to the Legacy League with the addition of each new
member who identifies themselves. It was reported at
the budget forum in early August that the Campaign
has received nearly $2,100,000 in pledges toward the
Endowment with 46 Legacy League planned gifts.
Since then, three additional pledges have been
received!
Equally exciting is the fact that a significant
percentage of the Endowment value has been pledged
by non-resident friends of Pilgrim Place. Like you,
they believe in our mission and wish to be good
stewards of their resources.
We have heard wonderful stories during the
Centennial Campaign, many of them echo gratitude to
those who were compelled to create the endowment.
Sacrificial gifts were given to make the future financial
health of Pilgrim Place secure and “paying it forward” is
a beautiful way to express appreciation to those
generous pioneers.
When you are ready to join the Legacy League
please share the good news of your will or planned
gift with us.
-Joyce Yarborough,
Vice President of Advancement
RESIDENT ANNUAL FUND UPDATE
(as of August 18, 2015)
2015 Annual Giving Goal:
$175,000
Donations received to date:
Pledge balance to date:
Total donations received &
pledge balance:
77,857
34,825
Amount needed to meet goal:
2015 100% Participation Goal
278 Independent Residents
61% have contributed
63 Assisted Living Residents
63% have contributed
Total of 341 Residents
61% have contributed
112,682
62,318
Pilgrim Place News / September 2015
RESIDENT ANNUAL FUND...
WHY WE GIVE
Over the past ten years, Janet and I have given to
charitable organizations between 13% and 18% of our
taxable income. The largest percentage of these gifts
are our church pledges. The second largest are our
gifts to Pilgrim Place, mostly through the Resident
Annual Fund (RAF), and renovation expenses on our
homes.
There are two influences that lead us to
concentrate on the Resident Annual Fund for our
charitable gifts...
1. W. H. and Mildred Vandevender always made
the first allocation of the month’s income to God,
most of that to their church. Janet made that central
to her understanding of how we use our resources.
She has worked to move me to finally experience the
joy of giving money away. I finally got it.
2. To us, socialism sounds a lot like the early
Christian communities where “from time to time those
who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from
the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed
to anyone who had need.” (Acts 4:34-35) We experience
Pilgrim Place as practicing something similar. When
we entered in 1999, our entrance fee was based on a
percentage of our accumulated assets that was a form
of “from each according to their means.” We regret that
becoming a CCRC required the entrance fee to be
calculated differently—on the size of the selected
home. The RAF is a way for those with more
resources to make it possible to keep rents lower for
those with less so they, too, may enjoy retirement life
in this spiritually-rich community. The RAF and the
Resident Health and Support Program (RHSP)
further express the value, “to each according to their need.”
Giving to the RAF is one way of affirming this
community and for expressing our connection to each
of you, to embrace the notion that your welfare is
important to us, that it enriches and affirms our
common life and destiny. And we are happier because
we see our life together in this way.
-Paul Kittlaus
Page 3
ANDIRON TALK WITH
DALE LINDSAY MORGAN
“A Moveable Feast, or
Finding Your Sunrises”
Wednesday, September 2, 11:00 a.m., Decker Hall
Born in Berkeley, California,
Dale Morgan moved with her
family to Colorado, Texas, and
Michigan. She earned a B.A.
from the University of Michigan
and an M.A. from the University
of Minnesota, majoring in
speech. She married, moved to Florida, then back to
California where, following divorce, she raised her son
Andrew. Serving as a full-time director of Christian
Education in a Presbyterian Church, she returned to
school, commuted to Claremont, and earned M.Div.
and D.Min. degrees from the Claremont School of
Theology.
Following ordination, Dale was first called to
Claremont United Church of Christ as an associate
pastor when David Held was the senior pastor. She
then served 20 years as pastor of Saint Andrew’s
Presbyterian Church in Santa Barbara. During her
ministry, she was elected to the General Assembly
Council of the Presbyterian Church and the Board of
Trustees of San Francisco Theological Seminary. She
also taught continuing education courses in various
seminaries, published curriculum for youth and adults,
and wrote a monthly column for the Presbyterian
national magazine.
Moving between marriage, motherhood, and
ministry presented a life-long series of “letting goes” for
Dale—as it has for many of us residents. Dale says,
“As we retired to Pilgrim Place, we all shared the bittersweet
‘letting go’ of our life’s work, perhaps even of our self-identity.”
Dale’s Andiron presentation will describe how she
came to celebrate letting go. Everyone is invited.
-Fern Jo Kaukonen
Women Church, a circle liturgy led by women, will meet on Sunday, September 27, at
10:00 a.m. in the Napier Center Common Room. Diane Ward and Theresa Yugar will
lead. All women are invited and welcomed. If possible, please RSVP to Peg Linnehan at
[email protected], or 909-626-9140.
-Virginia Bergfalk
Page 4
MUSIC: THE UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE
In collaboration with Claremont’s Folk Music
Center, and in conjunction with the Symposium
“Singing the Just Word: Celebrating a Century” being held
on the Pilgrim Place campus, the Petterson Museum
of Intercultural Art will install a new exhibit of
international folk music instruments. It opens
September 18, and is entitled “Music: The Universal
Language.” Various display cabinets featuring both
unusual and common musical instruments will
illustrate how music can be used to worship, heal,
communicate, inspire, and much more. Historic and
contemporary folk instruments made from a wide
range of materials and from many countries will be
included.
In a new interactive feature, visitors will be
encouraged to share their thoughts on the role of
music in their lives by completing the sentence “Music
can...” The exhibit will open with special hours on
Friday, September 18, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and
on Saturday, September 19, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
We will resume our regular hours of 2:00-4:00 p.m.,
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday starting on Friday,
September 25. The exhibit will run through the end of
November 2015.
-Carol Gil, Museum Curator
BLOOD DRIVE
Our upcoming blood drive is scheduled for
Tuesday, September 22, from 7:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. in Decker Hall. Scheduling will take place
at the beginning of September; please call Ruth Auld
at 625-7228 to make an appointment.
Our local hospitals are always in need
of whole blood, and they and the
American Red Cross are most
appreciative of all who are able to
donate this important “gift of life.” Thank
you for your gift and your willingness to
share in this important endeavor.
-Ruth L. Auld, Coordinator
DID YOU KNOW…
In 2014, the Resident Health and Support
Program (RHSP) provided $403,000 in
assistance to 32 couples and individuals.
This is a fine example of our mutual
support for each other and our nature as
an intentional community!
ORGAN CONCERT
Eloise Dale will give her
annual organ concert on Sunday,
September 27, 3:30 p.m., at the
Claremont United Church of
Christ. She will play the works of
French, German, and American
composers. Everyone is welcome!
PLATONIC COFFEE TO DISCUSS THE
POPE’S ENCYCLICAL
We will meet on Wednesday, September 30, at
10:00 a.m. in the Porter Hall Conference Room to
discuss “Laudato Si,” the Pope’s Encyclical on the
integrity of creation. Rosemary Reuther will start us
off by reading her short summary of the document,
and then we will move on to dialogue about the work
itself. Summaries of the Pope’s Encyclical are readily
available online, including the Vatican’s own hard
copies of which Ed Yonan and Ken Stephens will
share in advance with those who cannot access them
on the computer. We will also use Mary Hunt’s
feminist critique sent to us by Joanna Dewey, and Ed
and Ken will also make hard copies of that available.
This is a big subject for us, and it will be good session.
-Ken Stephens
RESIDENT FORUM ON ADMISSIONS
Wednesday, September 30, 11:00 a.m., Decker Hall
Presented by the Admissions Advisory Group
Pilgrim Place News / September 2015
FAIR TRADE AND
THE SLEEPING GIANT
Our 1988 visit to a sugar cane
plantation in the Dominican
Republic exposed the cruelties of
the global economy. Hundreds of
Haitians were in the fields cutting
cane, lured to leave their
homeland with the promise of a better life. As
temperatures hovered in the 100s, they worked 14
hours a day, 7 days a week, were housed in concrete
barracks, and earned less than $1 a day. Men on
horseback, carrying rifles, served as “supervisors.”
The Fair Trade movement is bringing relief to
these and millions of others throughout the world
who work as modern-day slaves. As part of the
contract, the Fair Trade business model incorporates
equitable pay, decent living and working conditions,
and gender equality. In addition, strict environmental
standards have earned endorsements from Green
America and the Sierra Club. Fair Trade is capitalism
with a conscience. And it’s the fastest growing
segment of the retail economy.
A Fair Trade logo on a product signals that third
party inspectors attest that Fair Trade principles have
been followed. This independent verification is a
unique strength of the movement, and more than
3,000 items are now Fair Trade certified. Coffee, tea,
chocolate, sugar, soap, wine, and more are available in
Claremont.
With consumer spending in the U.S. reaching
several trillion dollars per year, U.S. shoppers have an
outsized voice in the global economy. Napier Medal
recipient Paul Rice labels U.S. consumers “the sleeping
giant,” able to awaken, to vote with their dollars, and
to compel businesses to uphold practices that treat
people and the planet with respect.
Recognizing that the Scripture’s call to do justice
is translated into action with Fair Trade, many
religious organizations have declared their support.
But the message has not made its way into the pews
with any urgency. Few members of these
communities have changed their buying habits to look
for and purchase Fair Trade products.
Page 5
Fair Trade Congregations is an initiative that
addresses this disconnect. Congregations are uniting
to share resources, provide ongoing education, and
set an example, hoping to influence their
communities to shop with a conscience. Four local
congregations have already joined the endeavor. They
are part of an interfaith effort to awaken the sleeping
giant and create a world where no one has to live like
the Haitian cane cutters.
-Joe Michon
PILGRIM PLACE WEAVERS
When I arrived at Pilgrim Place, I had no
expectation that I would one day say that I am a
weaver, and while I am certainly still a student, by
now I am able to make a variety of items on several
different looms. Many of us who weave were not
weavers when we arrived. So what makes this activity
such a great experience? Stunning colors, design
variety, concrete products, careful instruction, good
conversation, and contributions to the Resident
Health and Support Program (RHSP) by selling what
we make.
The Pilgrim Place Weavers Guild is in a time of
transition. Two of our long-time teachers and some of
our long-time weavers are retiring. We hope some of
you will see this as an opportunity to expand your
creativity, and that you will join us!
The sixteen-person Guild meets on Friday
mornings, 9:00-11:00 a.m. Volunteer teachers who
are experienced weavers from the community meet
with us to guide our projects, teach us new
techniques, challenge and encourage us. We weave for
the Festival, which means we weave for the delight of
creating, for the joy of the camaraderie that we share,
and to support the RHSP. Many of us weave at other
times in addition to the Friday time.
Would you be interested in joining us? At this
time, we have two looms on which you could create
placemats, towels, shawls, or nearly anything! My
hope would be that we can identify new weavers to
begin this fall or by the first of the year. If you are
curious about weaving, please give me a call. We can
tour the Guild room. I can let you know how we
function, including how the Guild provides looms,
yarn and other supplies, as well as how we provide a
small stipend for our teachers. We’d welcome your
company as well as your creativity.
-Janet K. Vandevender
Page 6
ALL YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW…
All you ever wanted to know ABOUT HEALTH
CARE SERVICES at Pilgrim Place can be found in a
white notebook on the main table in the Library in
Porter Hall. The Health Services Advisory Group,
working with Sue Fairley, has responded to the many
issues raised by the plenaries and the small groups
that met in Spring 2015.
If you have questions about levels of care, the
Residential Plus program, rehab services, or palliative
care, there are up-to-date statistics, descriptions, as
well as phone and fax numbers for our health care
staff. The training and duties of staff members along
with their phone extensions are in an easy to access
format. From the Clinical Nutrition Manager (ext.
5587) to the Social Worker (ext. 5583), you will be
able to find who and what you need.
Section 3 of the notebook clearly lays out the
services and differences between hospice and
palliative care. You will be pleased to see for yourself
in Section 5 how we have been rated by the
Medicare.gov/NursingHomeCompare website; our
Health Services Center is the only facility in our area
with an overall five-star rating.
Have you missed one of the forums on health
care issues at Pilgrim Place? Are you interested in
presentations Sue has made about our programs at
aging conferences? If so, copies of the Power Point
presentation slides are included in plastic sleeves in
our notebook. For example, there is an excellent
presentation on “Palliative Care across the Continuum: A
New Model for Enhanced Living” that was given at the
2015 Annual Conference and Exposition which
clearly explains (complete with color photos) our
palliative care program which is available to all
residents without additional cost. If you or a spouse
or close friend are dealing with complex medical
issues and/or severe or chronic pain, we urge you to
take a look at this presentation. Twenty-six residents
are currently taking advantage of this program, and
thirty residents have participated since the program
was instituted in 2014.
I (Linda) visited the clinic recently and, while
waiting, was enticed to listen in as a group of six or
eight Pitzer Lodge residents were intently watching
a DVD of an elderly man describing his life as a
homeless man in the 1940s. My turn to see the nurse
came too soon! You can learn more about life
enhancement at Pitzer Lodge in the notebook.
The members of the Health Services Advisory
Group encourage you to spend some time finding
answers in our notebook in the library for questions
you or your neighbors raised last spring. We are
always willing to respond to any questions or issues
you have. Be well!
-Linda Vogel & Eleanor Loeliger, Co-Chairs
Health Services Advisory Group
SACRAMENT
Facing serious disease
and aging is sacrament
experiencing body and soul care
in new dimensions
Mothering oneself
receiving caregivers’ touch
tender in the tending
Fathering oneself
in daily disciplines of medication
calendar family friend contacts
Searching out sacred space
between stars and starlings
between moon and mirroring lake
between spring summer night and day
hearing voices of birds and insects
Space where one knows one’s place
a marveling creature
dependent and interdependent
not so much striving
but still thriving within limits
Recognizing the gap
between control and cure
content with the possible
Practicing deliberately
unfretted time and prayer
company of friends
presence of embracing Creator
Taking the daily gift
as present enough
-Pat Patterson
Page 6 Place News / September 2015
Pilgrim
Page 7
SAFETY TIPS FOR POWER SCOOTER & WHEELCHAIR USE
An increasing number of individuals are turning
to power wheelchairs or scooters for greater
independence and quality of life. These machines may
offer chair-bound people, or people with limited
mobility, the freedom to move from one location to
another without needing to wait for someone to help,
and without the sore muscles and hands that often
accompany manual wheelchair use. However, just like
driving a car or any other motorized vehicle, there are
some basic safety rules that need to be followed to keep yourself and those around
you safe. Pilgrim Place may ask you to participate in a driving assessment to ensure the safety of you and
others around you.
Always read and follow the manufacturer’s directions regarding chair operation. A scooter or power
chair can be heavy and cumbersome, making it prone to tip in certain circumstances. Be sure to keep
hands, arms, feet, and legs within the perimeter of the chair at all times. This will help to keep the chair
steady.
If you ride outside and want to get on a sidewalk, look for curb cuts or a driveway to do so. Never
try to maneuver over a curb unless your chair is specifically designed to scale curbs and steps. While on a
sidewalk, watch out for curb cuts or driveways, or uneven surfaces that could cause your scooter or chair
to tip. You should avoid riding in the rain in an electric wheelchair. It could cause the chair to behave
erratically for a variety of reasons, and traction can be an issue.
While indoors, be sure to follow basic traffic rules in busy places. Look both ways at an intersection
of hallways to be sure no one is coming. Announce yourself at closed doors or blind corners to avoid
collision. Some people, including those with vision or motor skills problems, may not be able to use a
scooter or power wheelchair safely. Safety is dependent on the alertness and quick reaction of the user in
order to recognize dangerous situations.
If you are having problems with mobility with your scooter indoors or out, contact your
Therapy Specialists Coordinator at 909-603-7097 for a personal mobility assessment.
-Sue Fairley, Vice President of Health Services
CHANGES IN SIGHTS & SOUNDS LEADERSHIP
The current Sights and Sounds Chair, Jim Dwyer, will be absent from campus from September 16 to
the end of 2015. In his absence, Beryl Moore will continue responsibility for scheduling, Gene Boutilier
and Chris Blackburn will be the contact persons for issues needing to be addressed, and Bob Traer will
preside over meetings and provide minutes until Jim’s return—and, of course, your faithful behind-thescenes “worker bees” will continue to provide sights and sounds as usual for prayers and announcements
at lunch, vespers, and various other meetings in Decker Hall and Napier Center, as well as less obvious
venues. (Jim and Helen will be in Boston providing assistance, as able, to their granddaughter, Erica,
now 3-years-old, and her parents who are both engaged in medical residencies in Boston-area hospitals.
Jim will reappear briefly for Festival.)
-Jim Dwyer
Page 8
A JOURNEY FOR EVERYONE: Part 3
Over the last two months we have
been exploring the world of MCI, or
Mild Cognitive Impairment. It is a
change in one’s cognition serious
enough to be noticed by the
individuals experiencing them or to
other people, but the changes are not
severe enough to interfere with daily
life or independent functioning. It is
NOT dementia. MCI can remain MCI,
or it can progress into a dementia or
Alzheimer’s disease.
“The Group” (residents who are diagnosed with
MCI and their supporters) has given me plenty to
write about regarding the purpose of these monthly
articles. Over the last two months, many
conversations have been initiated, fears addressed,
perceptions changed, communication improved, and
there has been more awareness regarding cognitive
impairment. But we still have a ways to go.
The question of the day: “If roles were reversed for one
day, what help would you put in place to make that day work
for you?” Our group came up with some excellent
ideas. Limit choices, it is often helpful and not so
much a burden. Be clear in what you ask, seek
feedback, and live more consciously in the present.
Sense of personal worth is important. Awareness may
be altered, so check with spouse’s perspective as it
may be misperceived by us (person with MCI). Make
lists, calendar your day, check things together such as
email, finances, etc. Try not to react negatively, be
more patient. Work together without frustration,
keeping your sense of humor. Occasionally ask
questions—“Shall I tell you or write it out?” Identify—
make a list of tasks that have become more
challenging. Prioritize—determine if the task is
necessary, would it help me reach my goal? Am I able
to write checks out or should I just sign them?
Strategize—find a solution that works best for me.
For example, if I am having trouble cooking dinner,
use a crockpot that shortens the process.
I would want my care partner to express openly
and unreservedly acceptance of and love for who I
am. Please show concern and help to keep me safe.
Be encouraging and help me laugh more.
Laughter goes a long way in helping one
feel this isn’t the end of life. Finally, MCI
does not define us!
I hope this has helped you to step into
the role of a person with MCI, or a
partner of one. If we could look at MCI in
a different light, maybe some of the
stigma we often feel or perceive from
others would diminish. MCI is a diagnosis
like congestive heart failure, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease, etc. We
learn to live with and manage these diagnoses. The
“perk” about knowing your diagnosis, if you want to
call it such, is being able to plan and live life to the
fullest within your own personal limits.
A funny thing happened to me this lifetime. I
didn’t plan on having three bouts of cancer by the age
of 51—who would? I certainly didn’t expect to have
chemically induced cognitive impairment, but I did
and still have the remnants that often make life very
interesting. What does this have to do with anything?
Knowing my chances for cancer are high, and
knowing I have some cognitive impairment help me
look at life a little bit more intentionally (where did I
hear that word used before?) I work with my memory
issues just like The Group. You plan and live life to the
fullest within your own personal limits. You see it’s
not about the memory issues, it’s about how you deal
with it that sets you apart and makes others take note
of their own values and beliefs.
If you are having memory issues, please seek out
medical help just as you would if it were your heart or
lungs. After all, the brain is the boss, and everyone
should take care of their boss.
-Sharon Berry, Director of Wellness & Clinical Services
QUESTION OF THE DAY: What
would you like the community to know
about people with memory impairment?
Pilgrim Place News / September 2015
DISCUSSIONS ON THE ENCYCLICAL:
BUILDING AN ECOLOGICAL
CIVILIZATION
As a follow-up to the June session on the
Encyclical, “Laudato Si: On Care for our Common Home,”
and a prelude to Pope Francis addressing the U.S.
Congress, the Environmental Concerns Committee is
sponsoring two discussions.
Monday, September 7, 11:00 a.m., Napier
Common Room: A look from the bottom up at
the economics of the Encyclical, led by Sally
Timmel. This session will be
using some of Paulo Freire’s
participatory methods of
exploring how the economy
shapes our lives and values.
We will look at three different
elements raised in the
Encyclical, “On Care for our
Common Home.” As this will be
held on Labor Day, we will
discuss three key issues:
•
•
•
The effects of the rise of the technological age on
labor
Free markets: Who benefits?
How does the Consumerist culture creep up on us
at Pilgrim Place?
Friday, September 11, 11:00 a.m., Napier Common Room: A gospel of creation resists current
views of nature and ecology, led by Bob Traer.
The Encyclical relies on scientific research to explain
our environmental crisis, but blames the methodology
of science and technology for the crisis. Affirming
creation requires a new view of nature and ecology.
Scientists may welcome the Encyclical’s affirmation of
the environmental crisis, but few will accept its
invitation to dialogue about our culture’s view of
nature and ecology. If we accept this invitation, what
might this dialogue mean for our life at Pilgrim Place?
Thursday, September 24, 9:00 a.m., Decker
Hall: A chance to listen and watch the address by
Pope Francis to the U.S. Congress for those of us
wishing to see it together.
-Sally Timmel
Page 9
UPDATE FROM THE RESIDENT
SAFETY COUNCIL
“Natural Gas” is a mixture of flammable gases,
one of which has a disgustingly sulfurous odor. It is
added to the gas as a safety measure: If you smell it,
you know there’s a dangerous leak of unburned
natural gas ready to ignite. If you smell it in your
house, leave the house at once. Do not light a match
or candle. Do not turn on or off any appliance or
equipment. Do not turn on or off any lights as these
actions could cause a spark. Instead, immediately call
911 and Buildings and Grounds from a safe place.
It’s not always possible to smell the odor of
leaking gas. It may be masked by another stronger
smell, such as a cooking odor. Also, some people
might have a diminished sense of smell due to a
medical condition. You can still know if something is
wrong if you are feeling lightheaded, ill, dizzy, or
nauseous, and the symptoms go away in the fresh air.
You (or your pets) could be feeling the effects of a gas
leak or carbon monoxide poisoning. Our residences
are equipped with carbon monoxide detectors to help
us become aware of unburned gas.
Make sure your appliances always burn with a
clean blue flame. If the flame is yellow, orange, or
sooty, report the situation immediately to Buildings
and Grounds.
An earthquake tremor should activate the “ball
valve” just outside your house and automatically shut
down your gas supply, but be prepared anyway to
detect gas leaks following an earthquake.
-Ken Frank, Resident Safety Council Chair
WANTED...
Someone(s) with a quiet, listening soul who
seeks an enriching, one-on-one experience being a
presence to someone who needs attention and
support.
There is particular need, at present, in the
short-term rehab neighborhood for those recovering from falls, surgery, or hospital stays.
Position requires 2-4 hours a week. Please contact
Pat Light, Spiritual Care Coordinator, at 621-5406
for further information.
Page 10
NEWS FROM SEARCH COMMITTEE
For the past five months, the Search Committee
has been meeting regularly, reviewing resumes of
potential candidates and interviewing candidates. Our
consulting firm, Mennonite Health Services (MHS),
continues to vet candidates and to give all relative
information about the candidates to the committee
for our consideration and further exploration. We are
winding down our interviews. We have found that
there are some remarkable people who are candidates
for this position. By the end of August, the field will
have been narrowed.
The diversity of the candidate pool has been
broad, representing leaders from Continuing Care
Retirement Communities (CCRCs), health care, nonprofits, higher education, and religious organizations.
We have reviewed over 33 resumes—11 of these have
been women. By Skype and in person, we have had
17 interviews, and of these, 6 are women. Among
those we interviewed, we found racial diversity,
including 3 individuals of color. We can also report
that the LGBT community was represented by at least
one candidate who offered that information. Of the
candidates that we have interviewed, 5 have come
from beyond California. The Committee identified a
variety of religious experience among the candidates
who all gave expression to their beliefs and values.
Our questions to the candidates have been
comprehensive and consistent. Committee members
have been open and honest in discussing their
appraisal of candidates. As a committee, we have been
insightful and thorough.
Information about who has applied for the CEO
position is confidential. The committee cannot
answer questions about applicants, nor can we discuss
compensation. We will continue to respect the privacy
of each individual.
We expect to hold site visits on campus with 2-3
final candidates sometime in early October. These
visits will include an opportunity for the candidates to
meet staff, residents, and Board members. It
continues to be our plan to have the newly-selected
CEO in place on or before January 1, 2016.
The Committee has been energized and
enthusiastic about the opportunities that are
presented by the candidates. We continue in our
commitment in seeking an individual, male or female,
that is the best fit for Pilgrim Place.
-Janet Evans
As I See It
A supplement for Pilgrim Place NEWS
for expression of mind and heart offered
for common thought
During the last several years, one of the major
subjects at noon table, in small group discussions, at
Town Meetings, and in written statements (emails,
“As I See it”) has been that of our “intentional
community.” Each resident has her/his own idea of
what is or isn’t an intentional community. Simple
lifestyle? Less expensive meals with less variety?
Greater cultural, racial, religious background and
diversity? Greater opportunities to enrich ourselves
intellectually and spiritually? Freedom to relax and
engage in long-delayed or new hobbies and pursuits—
travel, crafts, volunteer projects? There is another
question which we need to consider: Housing.
What part does housing play in our attempts to
describe and develop an intentional community? We
all require and have shelter at Pilgrim Place—some
stand-alone cottages of various vintages and sizes (800
to 1800 square feet, many having been recently
retrofitted/upgraded, and all undergoing regular tenyear renovations), apartments, single and double room
sizes in the assisted living facilities. In all cases, the
cost of maintenance, renovations, basic amenities, and
accessibility increase year by year.
In addition, some of us, depending upon our prePilgrim Place residency, place of service, and
economic attainment, are grateful for and satisfied to
accept and live in whatever housing is available, while
others may feel the need for and desire larger housing
with its accompanying comforts and amenities. All of
this has costs to both the individuals and the
institution, and becomes especially true when rooms
are added, and floor plans dramatically changed in
existing structures, thus having the effect of seriously
impacting housing costs of future residents.
The cost of housing needs to be included in any
serious discussion of Pilgrim Place becoming an
intentional community.
-Howard I. Towne
Pilgrim Place News / September 2015
TAIZÉ
An Ecumenical Community with Humble
Beginnings 75 Years Later
As I write this, ecumenical leaders from around
the world are arriving for the “Gathering for a New
Solidarity” in Taizé in the 75th year of this ecumenical
monastic community.
In my 23 years as a United Methodist pastor in
Europe, I encountered Community of Taizé
aficionados in each of my German-speaking and
English-speaking congregations and contexts. Started
by a young Swiss Reformed (Presbyterian) layman, the
location of Taizé was chosen because of its proximity
to the frontline between Nazi-controlled Vichy
France, and the remaining free portions of France.
Roger Schütz, aka Frère Roger, provided temporary
refuge to fleeing Jewish and agnostic refugees in an
old farmhouse he bought for this purpose. Later he
invited his sister, Genevieve, to provide a primitive
home for orphans there. From there he also
ministered to Germans held in prisoner of war camps.
From those beginnings the emphasis was on
peace, reconciliation, and God’s unconditional love.
In the earliest days, Brother Roger prayed alone in the
woods to avoid causing an affront to his Jewish
guests, according to the order’s website. It was later
that Taizé focused on openness to youth culture and
began to draw huge crowds with its message of peace.
As a very young man himself whose work was beyond
institutions—if not directly anti-institutional—Roger’s
affinity to late 20th century youth was natural.
Since Brother Roger had no ecclesial affiliation at
Taizé, there were no confessional restrictions on
those who could come to participate by individual
free choice. Without traditional constraints, the
liturgical content of Taizé worship could be molded
by Brother Roger from the clay of many traditions.
Once brothers from Catholic backgrounds joined his
self-instituted monastic order, it became truly
ecumenical. Taizé prayers, psalm settings, chants and
hymns have found their way into major
denominational hymnals in most major languages and
countries.
Although I cannot personally claim that Taizé is
“my style,” I am grateful for the richness and variety
which the use of the occasional chant or hymn can
bring to my own worship tradition and the resonance
this elicits from the “youth”—both of today and of the
1950’s and the intervening decades! And the
message is one we can all try to embrace. Judging by
Page 11
my experience in Europe, any number of interconfessional (Catholic-Protestant) marriages have
taken place because of common experiences at Taizé!
The “Gathering for a New Solidarity” is drawing
incredible ecumenical participation. A list of the
leadership by confessional grouping for the August 16
session would more than fill a page. View the
complete list online at:
http://www.taize.fr/en_article19326.html
-Jim Dwyer
•
Here is a sample.
Interconfessional Christian Organizations, including WCC, CEC/
KEK, Global Christian Forum.
Roman Catholic Church, including Cardinal Koch, representing Pope
Francis; the Council of European Bishops’ Conferences (CCEE),
the Bishops’ Conference of Latin America (CELAM); the
Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC), as well as the
following bishops: Archbishop of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of
Congo; Patriarch of Lisbon, President of the Portuguese Bishops’
Conference; Archbishop Pontier of Marseille, President of the French
Bishops’ Conference; the Archabbot of Pannonhalma, Hungary,
among others.
Eastern Orthodox Churches, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate
(Constantinople), the Patriarchate of Moscow, the Patriarchate of
Serbia, and the Church of Greece.
Oriental Orthodox Churches, including the Armenian Apostolic
Church; the Jacobite Church; and the Malankara Orthodox Syrian
Church.
The Old Catholic Church
Protestant and Evangelical Churches, including the Community of
Protestant Churches in Europe (Leuenberg); the Protestant
Federation of France; the Protestant Federation of Switzerland.
Anglican Communion: the Archbishop of York, a Primate in the
Anglican Communion; and the Bishop of the Lusitanian Church,
Portugal
Lutheran Churches: the Evangelical Church of Germany (EKD);
the Church of Sweden.
Reformed Churches: the Protestant Church of Geneva, United and
Uniting Churches: the Protestant Church of the Netherlands; the
United Protestant Church of France.
Methodist Churches: The United Methodist Church of the USA
[sic]
Baptist Churches: the Baptist World Alliance
The Salvation Army
Adventist Churches: the Union of Adventist Churches in France,
Belgium and Luxembourg.
Pentecostal Churches, various pastors
Page 12
The Journey Forward Centennial Campaign—one brick at a time!
In case you haven’t heard, we have reached $4,183,000 in our capital
campaign. Our goal is $4,250,000; we are very close to reaching it! We
are now beginning the very public part of the campaign reaching out to
Pilgrim kin, friends, volunteers, and staff. Early this fall you will hear
about our brick campaign: “Honoring the Journey Forward One Brick at
a Time.”
The bricks/pavers will be used to replace the path
leading up to Porter Hall, part of redesigning the lawn area
into a drought-tolerant landscape. You will have the
opportunity to purchase a brick/paver and have your name
or the name of a loved one engraved into the paver. Bricks/
pavers are two sizes: 4” x 8” and 12” x 12”—see the
illustration above.
A letter explaining the details will arrive soon with a
form that guides you as you think about the wording on
your brick/paver. In the meantime, you may contact Joyce
Yarborough at 399-5511 if you have questions, or just drop
by her office in the Administration Building.
AUTUMN RELIGIONS SERIES: “JAINISM”
Ms. Pallavi Kirit Gala from the Jain Center of Southern California will be with us on Thursday,
September 3, at 11:00 a.m. in Decker Hall. She was originally scheduled to come in 2014. She will lecture
on “The Jain Way of Life.” Ms. Gala earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology and Chemistry,
doing graduate research in Biophysics and Biochemistry. She has worked as a Clinical Microbiologist and
Tumor Biologist.
Jainism is one of the most ancient religions in India. Their central theme of Ahimsa, “non-injury,” has
saturated the conscience of all Indian religions. Ahimsa is the backbone of Buddhist ethics as “Thou shalt not
kill 殺生戒.”It has also become the slogan of all medical professions as “Do no harm.” Often Ahimsa is
translated exactly as the biblical prohibition “Thou shalt not kill.” But that prohibition for Abrahamic religions
is restricted to killing human beings. Ahimsa for Indian religions includes all living beings. This creates
pressured ethics as we animals cannot live without eating living beings—animals or vegetables. They are
harbingers of the 19th century movement for the sacredness of life (Albert Schweitzer).
My father owned a slaughterhouse in Hilo, Hawaii. I grew up killing chickens, pigs, and cattle. I shot
cattle in their foreheads with a .22 rifle. What did Pallavi Gala say to me about my bad karma when she
spoke at our Methodist church?
-Dickson Kazuo Yagi
Pilgrim Place News / September 2015
Page 13
PILGRIM COLLEGE
CLAREMONT ON THE SAME PAGE
This fall, Pilgrim College is
pleased to offer three courses.
First, in September, Alison
Stendahl is presenting a followup to her popular World
Affairs presentation last spring
on Turkey and the Middle
East. Her love for Turkey
where she spent 34 years (and returned for a month
last May), is evident. For three Mondays she will offer
a course, “Turkey, Then and Now.” Looking at the
broad geographical area from the point of view of the
Turks, she will address such questions as: Who were
the Turks? Why were they so successful for so long in
the Ottoman Empire (which covered much of the
Middle East, Eastern Europe and North Africa)?
What was/is their relation to Islam? How did they
emerge as a nation state in 1923? What on earth is
going on in Turkey today?
The three sessions will be roughly chronological:
Session 1 up into the 1800’s; Session 2, the decline
and then breakup of the Empire through the First
World War and its aftermath; Session 3 on modern
Turkey and its neighbors today. The sessions will be
held in Decker Hall at 11:00 a.m. on Mondays,
September 14, 21, and 28. Come to one of them, or
come to all; put the dates on your calendar now. There
will be lots of pictures and maps.
Second, in October, on four Monday mornings at
9:00 a.m., Dennis MacDonald will offer “John: The
Dionysian Gospel.” He instructs us to “forget
everything you thought you knew about the Gospel of John,”
and he will offer more teasers in the October NEWS.
Third, we are once again scheduling “Using
Personal Computers for Living.” Pilgrim College,
in cooperation with the Sights and Sounds Committee
and facilitated by Don Braue, will offer three sessions
on the use of computers, including introduction to
computing, email, PowerPoint, and enrichment
through computers. These sessions will include
information on Macs, iPads, PCs, and tablets. His
sessions will be on Fridays, October 2, 9, and 16, in
Decker Hall, 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
We are beginning to plan for some interesting
courses in 2016. -Joanna Dewey, Dean of Pilgrim College
Beginning in 2007, with the selection of Cannery
Row by John Steinbeck, the Friends of the Claremont
Library have sponsored an annual citywide reading
program. This year’s selection is Wonder by R. J.
Palacio. As this selection is explained on the Friends’
website:
“Originally a novel written for young adults, WONDER
transcends age boundaries. Auggie Pullman was born with a
facial deformity that makes him different from his peers and an
object of stares and whispers. This is the story of one boy’s
courage and resilience confronting his difference and celebrating
his humanity in the difficult corridors of Middle School.
Auggie’s spirit uplifts, entertains, and informs us of our basic
need to be accepted and loved. You will laugh, cry, and be
moved by this modern classic.”
It is indeed an illuminating story beginning from
Auggie Pullman’s point of view, and then continuing
to that of some of his classmates, his sister, her
boyfriend, and others who go from avoiding, bullying,
and then supporting Auggie. Or as one reviewer
explains, these different perspectives come together in
a portrait of one community’s struggle with empathy,
compassion, and acceptance. Watch for the
announcement of special fall events regarding Wonder.
We need to all be grateful to the Friends of the
Claremont Library for the five gift copies they have
given our Library.
-Elsie Freudenberger
RESIDENT’S FUN FUND
What do a class reunion, dinner with old friends, a
concert in the park, a musical at Bridges Auditorium,
a Pilgrim Tour, a hobby class, a Napier Awards Dinner,
a baseball game, an anniversary dinner, a church
event, and a friend’s birthday all have in common?
For those who could not normally afford it, these are
some of the special outings that the Fun Fund can
provide for. Donated by a friend of Pilgrim Place
beyond our gates, the Fun Fund is a special fund
available especially for this purpose. Please contact
Jennifer Tomes at 399-5501, email at jtomes@
pilgrimplace.org, or write a confidential note with
your request. As Randy Pausch said, “Never, ever
underestimate the importance of having fun.”
Page 14

PILGRIM PLACE LIBRARY NEW BOOKS
September 2015
Nonfiction
• Two Spirits, One Heart by Marsha Takeo Aizumi and Aiden Takeo Aizumi. Peony Press, 2012. A mother, her transgender
son, and their journey to love and acceptance.
• Telling Times: Writing and Living, 1954-2008 by Nadine Gordimer. Norton, 2010. 1991 Nobel Prize winner comprehensive
collection of non-fiction works.
• The History of White People by Nell Irvin Painter. Norton, 2010. A Black author documents the historical foundations of
the term “race.”
• The Opposite of Fate: A Book of Musings by Amy Tan. Putnam, 2013. Stories from Tan’s life which inspired her bestselling
novels.
• Moon Under Her Feet: Women of the Apocalypse by Kim S. Vidal. Cleveland: Pilgrim Press, 2001. An aid to Bible study by a
United Methodist Clergy.
Fiction
• The Patriot Threat by Steve Berry. Minotaur Books, 2015. Mix of history and suspense is 90% fact and 10% exciting
speculation.
• The Garden of Evening Mists by Tan Twan Eng. Weinstein Books, 2012. A Malaysian novel from British Occupation to
Japanese Occupation to Communist threat.
• Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. Harper, 2015. Same characters from To Kill a Mockingbird—only 30 years later.
• The President’s Shadow by Brad Meltzer. Grand Central, 2015. Twists and turns, multiple narrative perspectives, and
divided loyalties—a page turner.

Circling the Sun by Paula McLain. Ballantine Books, 2015. Love and adventure in colonial Africa.
Mystery
• The Girl Next Door by Ruth Rendell. Scribner, 2014. A crime novel that is different from the typical mystery.
• Killer: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman. Ballantine Books, 2014. There is a contract out on Alex’s life.
• Motive: An Alex Delaware Novel by Jonathan Kellerman. Ballantine Books, 2015. An L.A. noir portrayal of the darkest
impulses of human nature.
• Rose Gold: An Easy Rawlins Mystery by Walter Mosley. Doubleday, 2014. Easy Rawlins is hired to track down Rosemary
Goldsmith.
Large Print
• Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. Harper, 2015. The book for which everyone has been waiting.
Pilgrim Place Authors
• It All Began with a Wet Dishrag by John Keester. 2015.
Claremont on the Same Page 2015

Wonder by R. J. Palacio. A rare gem of a novel about a 10-year-old boy with a facial difference.

Pilgrim Place News / September 2015
Page 15

PILGRIM PLACE LIBRARY NEW BOOKS (contd.)
September 2015
Audiobooks:
Mystery
• 5th Horseman by James Patterson. Time Warner Audiobooks, 2006. Women’s Murder Club: “Patterson knows where our
deepest fears are buried.”
• True Detective by Jonathan Kellerman. Random House Audio, 2009. Sunny on the surface, but shadowy beneath—a dark
core and a dangerous edge.
Fiction
• Forgotten Affairs of Youth by Alexander McCall Smith. Recorded Books, 2011. An Isabel Dalhousie novel.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. Blackstone Audiobooks, 1989. Historical novel of manners, upbringing, and morality.
-DarEll Weist
MCTOBERFEST
Will there be a McToberfest in the Napier
Center Common Room on Wednesday,
September 30, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.?
Only your hair-dresser knows for sure. Keep
alert for more malarkey yet to come—and
remember—all Centennial and no perennial
makes for thirsty girls and boys!
-Ward McAfee
Happy September Birthdays!!
Donald Braue
Anne Wire
Judy Fiske
Mavis Streyffeler
Laura Fukada
Sue Likens
George Aki
Linda Michon
Donna Danielson
Dick Moore
Cheryl Brown
Mary Hill
4
4
9
9
10
10
11
11
12
15
16
16
Charlene Tschirhart
John Washington
Ward McAfee
Howard Fuller
Elizabeth Clarke
Teresa Wilson
Audrey Sorrento
Jean Minus
Andrew Foster
Rupert Nelson
Jane Harmes
16
19
20
21
23
23
25
26
29
29
30
INTERNAL MOVES
James Robinson
From: 627 Leyden Lane, #9
To: 721 Harrison Avenue
•
Sheryn Scott
From: 540 W. 8th Street
To: 621 Mayflower Road, #204
Reminder—campus speed limit is 15 mph!
C
Wednesday, September 2
11:00 a.m. Andiron Talk, featuring Dale Morgan on
“A Moveable Feast, or Finding Your Sunrises” 
Thursday, September 3
11:00 a.m. Autumn Religions Series: “Jainism” 
7:00 p.m.
Vespers: “The Light You Cannot See”
Leader: Judy Chatfield
Music: Don Chatfield, Yasuko Shorrock,
Ann Gray
Sunday, September 6
10:30 a.m. HSC Worship: “Labor Day: To Serve &
to be Served;” Leader: Gene Boutilier
Music: David Lutz
Monday, September 7 - Labor Day
Offices Closed
11:00 a.m. Discussion on Encyclical, “Laudato Si” 
Wednesday, September 9
2:30 p.m.
Pilgrim Tours: Beach Party at Doheny
State Beach in Dana Point
7:00 p.m.
Emily Dickinson Conversation
Thursday, September 10
7:00 p.m.
Vespers: “Seeking Balance: Solitude &
Community;” Leader: Barbara Troxell
Music: Ann Gray
Friday, September 11
11:00 a.m. Discussion on Encyclical, “Laudato Si” 
Saturday, September 12
10:30 a.m. Memorial Service for Eleonore Powell at
Claremont UCC
Sunday, September 13
10:30 a.m. HSC Worship: “Who Do Men Say that
I Am?” Leader: Henry Hayden
Music: Eloise Dale, BonnaSue
Monday, September 14, 21, & 28
11:00 a.m. Pilgrim College: “Turkey, then & now” 
Thursday, September 17
7:00 p.m.
Vespers: “Service with a Smile”
Leader: Jane Harmes; Music: TBD
Friday, September 18
1:00 p.m.
Petterson Museum Exhibit: “Music: the
Universal Language” 
5:00 p.m.
Progressive Music & Folk Festival
Saturday, September 19
9:00 a.m.
Progressive Music & Folk Festival
9:00 a.m.
Petterson Museum Exhibit: “Music: the
Universal Language” 
Sunday, September 20
10:30 a.m. HSC Worship: “Welcome Home”
Leader: Joan Stock
Music Yasuko Shorrock
Tuesday, September 22
1:30 p.m.
October NEWS Deadline
7:00 a.m.
Blood Drive 
Thursday, September 24
9:00 a.m.
Video on Pope Francis’s Encyclical,
“Laudato Si” 
7:00 p.m.
Vespers: “There’s a Place for Us—Hold My
Hand;” Leader: Howard Fuller
Music: Ken Dale, BonnaSue, Ann Gray
Sunday, September 27
10:00 a.m. Women Church 
10:30 a.m. HSC Worship: “The Precepts of the Lord
Give Joy to the Heart”
Leader: Mary Gindhart
Music: Miriam Olson, Audrey Sorrento
3:30 p.m.
Organ Concert by Eloise Dale at
Claremont UCC 
Wednesday, September 30
10:00 a.m. Platonic Coffee: Discussion on Pope’s
Encyclical 
11:00 a.m. Admissions Resident Forum 
4:00 p.m.
McToberfest 
 Denotes NEWS article
 SEPTEMBER EVENTS COORDINATOR 
Gene Boutilier: 912-9999
 SEPTEMBER GUEST ROOMS 
Donna Klein: 625-5495 • Jeanne Halverson: 445-9144
(Reservations must be made by a resident or staff member)
•
All newsletter articles may be submitted to
Karen Laponis at [email protected]
Deadline for October newsletter is
Tuesday, September 22, 1:30 p.m.