As we continue celebrating National Physical Therapy Month, meet Randi, PTA! She has been a therapist for 15 years having spent the last 2 with Epworth Villa.
We asked what do you love most about working with this population? “I love working with this population because I learn what is important to them in order to help my patients achieve their goals. It is amazing to see someone go from not being able to sit on the side of the bed alone to leaving here to go home just using a cane!”
Have you been helped by an amazing therapist? Tell us about it! To learn more about the rehab services at Epworth Villa, call us at 405-752-1200!
Yes please! Our culinary team is hard at work creating delightful dishes such as this Cheese Tortellini in pesto cream sauce. It is a vegetarian (VG) option on our Bistro menu. It is served with a small garden, spring, caesar or create your own salad…..and you should always follow it with dessert!
Keep checking back with us as we introduce you to more savory and sweet dishes that are being served up at Epworth Villa!
Resident, Bill Elliott will be presenting the topic of Bicycle Tourism next Tuesday at the “2020 Lt. Governor’s Virtual Travel & Tourism Summits”. It is Oct. 20 from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. We hope you will “zoom” in to learn all about Touring Oklahoma on your Bike. Info and register at https://mms.otia.info/members/evr/reg_event.php?orgcode=OTIA&evid=24118293
In addition, you will hear about the plans for the upcoming “Cycle 66” ride to celebrate the birthday of Route 66 ( 94 years young ).
Bill Elliott is a retired computer programmer and lifetime bicyclist. He is a past president of the Oklahoma Bicycle Society (OKC Bike Club) and current president of BikeOklahoma – Oklahoma’s bike advocacy organization. He participated on the committee that worked to add Oklahoma to the U.S. Bike Route 66. Bill attended the Oklahoma Route 66 Convention as an Edmond stakeholder. He also serves on the Edmond Cycle 66 board as volunteer chair for the inaugural bike ride on November 8, 2020.
Meet Travis Taylor, PT! He is the program manager for rehab services at Epworth Villa. Travis has been a therapist for 23 years and much of the team came to Epworth together in 2011 with some of the team members working together for 20+ years!
“I’ve worked in different therapy settings over the years, but always been drawn to caring for the geriatric population – it’s like reading a real-life history book, getting to hear and learn about their experiences, knowing that so many of them fought for the freedoms we get to enjoy today.”
Thank you, Travis for taking great care of our residents for 9 years (and counting!) If would like to learn more about the rehab services at Epworth Villa, call 405-752-1200!
I was raised in Iowa in a Mennonite community, graduated from a Mennonite High School, and I was loved and nurtured by a large Mennonite family. Though my brother and I are the only two siblings in our large family, I have 28 cousins. Most all my family lived in the vicinity. Some were preachers, all were craftsmen, and women, and all were raised to understand a giving heart. FYI – Even today, the Mennonite Central Community has a yearly state fundraiser for handmade crafts to provide funds for disaster relief. Oklahoma has been the beneficiary many times as Mennonites worked hand in hand with Methodists in disaster relief. I can remember as a child playing under the quilter rack as the hand stitches were methodically placed for the next yearly sale.
Fast forward to 2014, Max and I moved to Epworth Villa. He had been a physician at OKC Presbyterian Hospital, and I was a retired nurse. We found Epworth Villa provided everything we need. That is the way I see God – God provides everything we need.
Even in this difficult time of confinement – God provides everything I need. My apartment is one that from my balcony every morning I can see the roof of Brill Chapel. At night, I see the light glowing from the chapel windows. The view inspires me to say this prayer every morning: Holy Spirit – Think through me – Live through me – Love through me – Thank you Jesus – for this precious day of life. Help me to stay aware of your presence with me. AMEN
“Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning; for in Thee do I trust: Cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto Thee.” Psalm 143:8
When I moved here thirteen months ago, I was seeking help. I was physically ill and spiritually hungry. Brill Chapel was the “outward and visible sign of the inward visible Grace” I was seeking. It is a place where I could go and rest in the quiet; a place to gain strength to face difficult times. Besides the times I have gone there to be alone, I have enjoyed the wonderful programs there like Vespers, Concerts, and Bible Studies. In one of those concerts, the pianist, Gathan Graham, said he felt a need to play a certain song. It was “God Will Take Care of You” — a comforting message telling me I was in the right place.
Because my parents did not go to church, my upbringing was ecumenical — some relatives were Methodist; others Episcopalian. Sometimes I attended with friends and often a synagogue with my Jewish neighbors. I became Catholic 60 years ago. I continue to enjoy, as I was raised, to honor and respect all faiths. I love that there are speakers at Brill Chapel from different faiths. I join friends as we receive Communion from the Catholic Deacon in Brill Chapel weekly and I look forward to when we can again worship together when COVID restrictions are lifted.
By far, the biggest challenge this past year was the loss of my son, Danny. I loved going to vespers and hearing him being prayed for. I have shown him, and the rest of my family, the beautiful windows. After my son died last November 15th, we found a prayer in his kitchen that looked as though he prayed it daily. I want to share —- “The Third Step Prayer” (from the 12 Steps of Recovery.) God, I offer myself to Thee – To build with me and to do with me as Thou wilt. Relieve me of the bondage of self, that I may better do Thy will. Take away my difficulties, that victory over them may bear witness to those I would help of Thy Power, Thy Love, and Thy Way of Life.” May I do Thy will always.
I was blessed to share recovery with him. He told me in Brill Chapel that I had found the right place, and he was accurate . May God rest his precious soul. Go with God – Jane Lepak
When asked to write an article, I began to think of all the churches I have been involved in or visited. My first career was teaching history in the High School in Cleburne, Texas. Curtis pastored Lone Wolf Baptist Church while he worked on his Ph.D. at Seminary in Ft. Worth, TX. It was a rural church in a farming community. They had a “pounding” for us on our first Sunday after we married! That was a step back in history, I didn’t even know the term. What a blessing as we only had $5.00 left for groceries! I do remember hoping our next church would have a piano in tune and an indoor bathroom!!!
We have visited many beautiful churches throughout the states and other parts of the world: Notre Dame, Chartes, St Paul’s in London, St. Basils in Moscow and even the Haggia Sophia Mosque in Istanbul with our Muslim friends. We were to visit Stanly Rother’s church, St. James Cathedral in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala.
All these churches have wonderful memories and histories for me! All have brought forth their purpose to have a place to provide worship and service for me and others who live in their shadows. We each bring our histories with us and each of us have stories to tell. I think the beauty of Brill Chapel helps hold us for this time in our lives. These sacred times when we recall what God has done in our lives and will continue to do for us here. I think that Brill Chapel provides for us the very heartbeat of our community. The beauty of the stained-glass windows recalls the sacred history of our world and gives us a superbly artful place to reflect on the goodness of God in our personal history. What a special place it is! Magnificent cathedrals of the world are reflected right here.
Having grown up by the sea, I am drawn to THE ANCHOR CROSS the Christian Symbol of Hope and Steadfastness depicted as one of the forty-eight in the chapel. Hebrews 6:10. “We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul… P.S. this most recent chapter in my personal church history – Brill Chapel has an indoor bathroom, an in tune piano, and organ, beautiful stained glass windows, and people who live in HOPE. If you have not read the book on the history of Brill Chapel, please take time to do so in the holder outside the Chaplain’s Office.
In 2006, our last parent was soon to pass on. Our only child, son John, lived near Oklahoma City with his wife Jamie and their soon-to-be five children. We loved our home in San Diego but wanted to be closer to our family. So, the search began in OKC.
My husband, Bill had some teaching assignments here at our son’s Missionary Training Boot Camp and used his free time to visit the various senior retirement residential communities in the area. When he returned home and we discussed it, there was only one that met our 5-item “want” list. That was Epworth.
High on that list was a dedicated place for worship and a full-time chaplain. Brill Chapel and Epworth’s commitment to a full-time chaplain assured us of the spiritual care we would need at times. The beautiful Chapel with its stain glass windows encouraged meditation and inspiration. As we learned of the programs in the Chapel – Sunday School, Vespers, and other special programs— it became obvious that this was the place for us.
We moved in March, 2007. It was a God-directed move. We have been blessed to be a part of the Brill Chapel program ever since.
