Clay Center Presbyterian Manor
MAY 2023
Editor’s Note: In a nod to our Presbyterian heritage, we regularly feature a column from a PMMA® chaplain in our newsletter. This month’s column comes from Rev. Richard Russell, chaplain at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor®.
Chaplain Richard Russell
God’s Nearness Velma Lang with her children, Douglas and Beverly.
Resident Velma Lang celebrates 102 years On March 15, resident Velma Lang turned 102 years young and is the oldest in her family, the oldest in her church and the oldest in Clay Center Presbyterian Manor! What’s her secret to living a long life? “She would say her faith, her family and I think her health,” said Beverly Lang, Velma’s daughter. Longevity also runs in the family. Velma’s sister passed away at 101 and a half, her father lived to 99 and her mother passed at 102 and a couple months. “My brother and I don’t think we’ll make it that long,” joked Beverly. Velma is one of five kids and was born and raised in the Lutheran church just five miles south of Clay Center on a farm. She and her first husband – who was killed in World War II – had a son, Douglas Fowles. When he was four, Velma met and married her second husband, and they had Beverly. The family of four lived about 14 miles north of Clay Center on a farm until 1965, when they then moved to town. Velma was a nurse’s aide
102 Years – continued on page 3
As I write this article, I am sitting by my wife’s bed in the local hospice house. She is nearing the end of her battle with cancer. She and I have spoken a lot recently about how God is very near to us. This made me think of a familiar old hymn, “Nearer My God to Thee.” In the first stanza, it says “Nearer my God to thee, nearer to thee, even though it be a cross, that raiseth me, still all my song shall be, nearer my God to thee, nearer my God thee.” We have certainly had a difficult cross to bear throughout these months. But God’s nearness has been the thing to help us through. He says in His word, as you draw nearer to me, I draw nearer to
Chaplain – continued on page 3
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