WIXLIB

MAHOVANewsDecember 2019A Holiday TraditionAt some point in childhood many kids don a blue shawl or fake beardand act out the nativity scene in front of doting parents andgrandparents. Whether performed by children or adults, set up as littlefigurines in a home, or installed as a life-size tableau in front of a church,these scenes are a staple of the Christmas holidays. But when didthis tradition begin?St. Francis of Assisi is credited with staging the first nativity scene in1223. The only historical account we have of Francis’ nativity scenecomes from The Life of St. Francis of Assisi by St. Bonaventure, aFranciscan monk who was born five years before Francis’ death.According to Bonaventure’s biography, St. Francis got permission fromPope Honorious III to set up a manger with hay and two live animals—an ox and an ass—in a cave in the Italian village of Grecio. He then invited the villagers to come gaze upon the scene while he preached about“the babe of Bethlehem.” (Francis was supposedly so overcome byemotion that he couldn’t say “Jesus.”) Bonaventure also claims that thehay used by Francis miraculously acquired the power to cure local cattlediseases and pestilences.The nativity scene’s popularity took off from there. Within a couple ofcenturies, nativity scenes had spread throughout Europe. We don’t knowif people actually played Mary and Joseph during Francis’ time, orwhether they just imagined those figures’ presence. We do know thatlater scenes began incorporating dioramas and live actors, and the cast ofcharacters gradually expanded beyond Mary, Joseph and sweet babyJesus, to sometimes include an entire village.Nativity buffs will know, however, that the familiar cast of charactersrelied upon today—the three wise men and the shepherds—isnot biblically accurate. Of the New Testament’s four gospels, onlyMatthew and Luke describe Jesus’ birth. Matthew mentions wise men,while Luke comments on shepherds. But nowhere in the Bible do shepherds and wise men appear together. What’s worse, no one mentionsdonkeys, oxen, cattle or other farmyard friends in conjunction with Jesus’birth. But what would a nativity scene be without those staples? Luckilyfor all the folks cast as King #2, or a random shepherd, some artisticinterpretation is permitted. The sense of joy and peace conveyed are thesame.Our own annual MAHOVA Christmas Pageant will be held Thursday,December, 2 at 7:00pm in the Chapel. A second show will beTuesday, December 17, at 3:00pm in the Multipurpose Room.In This Issue:Health RxProgram HighlightsDecember CalendarBook EndsBehind the ScenesA Christmas WishIn MemoriamBirthdaysWelcome New ResidentsWelcome New lageCouncilPaula SwanseyVicePaulaPresident- D WingSwanseyPresidentSteveBollingerSecretary- VillagePeg DavisVicePresident gerPaulaSecretarySwansey andAnn Spain–C andandD WingsMildredJohnsonAliceArt Gregory–Bond-BMagnoliaWing CourtTom Kaufman—C and D WingJim Herring– Magnolia CourtPeg Davis– VillagePage 1

HealthHere’s To Your Good Health!Eat Right to Stay WarmIf you can’t stand the cold, you may not have enough iron in your diet. Arecent study linked the body’s ability to regulate or maintain bodytemperature under cold conditions to daily iron consumption. The best way toensure proper iron levels through the winter is by eating more iron-rich foodssuch as lean red meat, fish, poultry, beets, beans and leafy green vegetables.Also, drink more orange juice; the vitamin C increases iron absorption.Iron supplements are not a sure remedy because they are not as readilyabsorbed by the body as the iron in foods. Moreover, the supplements canirritate the stomach and cause constipation.Have You Heard?The Anglo-Saxons called it ‘Winter monath’, or ‘Yule monath’ because of thecustom of burning the Yule log around this time. After many Anglo-Saxonsbecame Christians, they called it ‘Heligh monath’ or holy month becauseChristmas is celebrated in December.The birthstone for December is turquoise which symbolizes good fortune andsuccess. The flower is narcissus.Program HighlightsPage 2Resident Council MeetingMonday, December 29:30 AMDining RoomActivities Committee MeetingThursday, December 193:45 PMLibraryAdvisory Council MeetingTuesday, December 1710:00 AMPrivate Dining RoomFood Committee MeetingTuesday, December 171:00 PMPrivate Dining Room

Program HighlightsWednesday, December 410:00 AMReading Roomto 4:00 PMYard SaleTuesday, December 103:00 PMREBCommunion with Pastor LynnTuesday, December 105:00 PMDining RoomCandlelight DinnerThursday, December 1210:00 AMGalleryCoffee and Donuts fromCountry Style DonutsThursday, December 121:30 PMTV RoomTai Chi PresentationThursday, December 127:00 PMChapelChristmas PageantFriday, December 1312:00 PM to3:00 PMGalleryShopping for Jewelry with BonitaFriday, December 136:30 PMDining RoomMetropolitan Lodge No. 11Annual Christmas PartyTuesday, December 173:00 PMMultipurposeRoomChristmas PageantThursday, December 192:00 PMMultipurposeRoomClassic Movie MatineeSaturday, December 2110:00 AMYour RoomJob’s Daughters Carolingthroughout the HomeTuesday, December 241:00 PMTV RoomCard SocialThursday, December 262:30 PMTV RoomHot Apple Cider and CookiesTuesday, December 312:00 PMReading RoomChampagne SocialPage 3

EntertainmentMonday, December 22:00 PMTV RoomTheatrical performance by the Richmond Bifocals groupMonday, December 26:30 PMTV RoomGolden oldies vocal performance by Billy MitchellTuesday, December 32:30 PMTV RoomPerformance by Debra and Patrick– Golden oldiesThursday, December 52:30 PMTV RoomVocal and instrumental performance by Matthew O’DonnellFriday, December 62:00 PMTV RoomChristmas Music and oldies performance by Karen SmithMonday, December 92:30 PMTV RoomVocal performance by Amy LaddMonday, December 97:00 PMDining RoomChristmas Concert with the Million Dollar BandWednesday, December 183:30 PMTV RoomPerformance by Forever Young Choir from Fairmount Christian ChurchFriday, December 202:30 PMDining RoomGuitar and vocal performance by Susan Greenbaumat the Egg Nog SocialMonday, December 232:30 PMTV RoomVocal golden oldies performance by Kevin SalyerSaturday, December 282:30 PMTV RoomGolden oldies vocal and guitar performance by Tommy CustalowPage 4

MoviesChannel 5.16:00 PMFriday, December 6“The Case for Christ”Based on a true story and best-sellingnovel, one investigative journalistchases the biggest mystery of all time.Friday, December 20Romantic comedy about various relationships and thedelightful twists and turns that love causesMonday, December 23“National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”Comedy about the joys of Christmas andeverything that can go wrongFriday, December 27Determined to find his biologicalfather, an elf from the north polelands in New York City on a mission.Monday, December 30Inspired by scripture and embedded in history,follow the story of Jesus during his childhood.Page 5

Trips and OutingsDecember 4ShoppingSchedulePage 6White Oak VillageDecember 11WalmartDecember 18Dollar TreeMonday, December 211:15 AMLunch at Peking Chinese RestaurantTuesday, December 311:15 AMLunch at McDonald’sThursday, December 56:15 PMGlorious Christmas Nights Playat West End Assembly of GodSaturday, December 72:00 PMThe Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobeplay at Fairmount Christian ChurchMonday, December 91:00 PMShopping at GoodwillMonday, December 166:45 PMHenrico Concert Band performs at the Henrico Theatre.Tuesday, December174:45 PMDinner at Calabash Seafood RestaurantWednesday, December 1811:00 AMLunch and gambling at Rosie’s CasinoThursday, December 1910:30 AMShopping at Burlington and lunchThursday, December 195:00 PMTacky Light Christmas TourFriday, December 209:30 AMShopping at Short Pump Mall andlunch at the Cheesecake Factory

Book EndsBy Richard NeiswanderDECEMBER - CHRISTMASTo me this is the best time of the year. Even in Richmond with no snow, celebratingJesus’ birth is the greatest time of good will for all. When growing up I also enjoyed playing inthe snow but now - - - I now enjoy its beauty from my living room.AGENTS of the APOCALYPSEby Dr. David JeremiahDr. Jeremiah is senior pastor of a church in El Cajon, CA, and is seen on TV regularly. Inthis book he tells about the end of the world as described in the Bible in the book of Revelation.He uses an unusual method in that each chapter describes a group or individual active at or nearthe end. For each one he and Thomas Williams have written a story to help detail each thing tooccur.The book of Revelation is, at best, difficult to understand. It is, in my mind, the mostdifficult to understand of all the books in the Bible. All or nearly all of it is veiled either to hidethe message from the authorities [of Rome?] or non-Christians. When reading Revelation, it isnecessary for the reader to draw conclusions. This book has helped me understand the message.Hope it does the same for you.BOOK of USELESS INFORMATIONby Noel Botham and The Useless Information SocietyThis is a VERY interesting book! I apologize as I have had it covered up and no one elsecould read it. I didn’t realize I still had it. There are 13 chapters, each dealing with informationabout a separate subject. For example, the chapter on ‘History’s Mysteries’ starts with aVirginia law. It requires all bathtubs be kept out in the yard, not in the house. Also inCleveland, Ohio, it is illegal to catch a mouse without a hunting license! [Glad I lived outsidethe city limits!] And in Michigan it is illegal to put a skunk in your boss’s desk.Under ‘Holy Matters’ you will find that Las Vegas has more chapels per capita than anyother U.S. city. In “On the Menu” we find that peanuts are cholesterol-free and are aningredient in dynamite! Donuts originated in Holland. Vanilla is used to make chocolate.Beijing boasts the world’s largest Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.This book contains so many of these things you never wanted to know that I found ithumorous!I’m more confused than.a Chameleon in a bag of skittles!Page 7

In MemoriamForever in Our HeartsEd SwanseyVirginia YeattsAnniversariesDecember 5, 2004 Charles and Cathy HinkleDecember 19, 1975 Richard and Georgeen CardenDecember 19, 1975 John and Gloria EdelinDecember 21, 2005 William and Dolores ReinholdDecember 21, 1984 Gardner and Gypsy RollingsDecember 22, 1956 Chester and Marian WrightDecember 24, 1953 Thomas and Ann SpainNotificationsCandlelight DinnerTuesday, December 10Hor’dourve Hour4:00 PMReading Room andTV RoomDinner5:00 PMMain Dining RoomResidents OnlyPage 8

NotificationsWeight and Blood Pressure ChecksPlease bring your pendants with you.Wednesday, December 48:00 AM to 1:00 PMD Wing Recreation RoomMonthly Meeting with Meridian Lodge No. 284Meridian Lodge No. 284 Monthly Meeting will be held on the3rd Monday in December in the Multipurpose Room at 12:00 PM.Meeting is open to ALL Master Masons.Please come and join us!A Christmas WishIs there something you have been wanting but can’t seem to make it happen forwhatever reason? Perhaps it is a letter you would like to send to a friend or loved onebut could use help writing it. Is there someone you’d like to speak to by phone buthaven’t been able to find the number or connect for some reason? Do you need a pairof socks, a sweater, undergarments or pajamas that the Home can help youpurchase? While the Home can’t manage every wish, we will do our best. Please feelfree to share your wish by completing a form left by the Christmas Wish box in theActivity Foyer Area. The box will be placed following Resident Council on Monday,December 2 and picked up in the afternoon on Tuesday, December 10. Please knowthat someone may be getting back with you to obtain more details to better assist withyour special wish.Page 9