Enjoy a fall favorite from the kitchen of our very own Richard Applegate, Trinity Woods Director of Dining Services. This roasted butternut squash and apple soup is one of Chef Richard’s seasonal favorites—perfect for a fall day!

Ingredients

• 1 medium butternut squash- peeled, seeded and cubed in 1-inch pieces

• 1 large Granny Smith Apple- peeled, cored and chopped

• 1 medium yellow onion- diced

• 3 cloves garlic- minced

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

• 1 tablespoon fresh sage- finally chopped

• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 3 cups low sodium chicken broth

• ½ cup heavy whipping cream (or full fat coconut milk)

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Toasted pumpkin seeds for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400*

2. Toss squash, apple, and onion with half of the olive oil. Lightly season with salt and pepper. Spread out on a baking sheet and roast for 30 minutes until the squash is tender.

3. Heat remaining olive oil in a Dutch oven or soup pot add garlic, chopped sage, and nutmeg sauté for about a minute until aromatic.

4. Add the roasted squash, onion and apple to the pot. Pour in broth and bring to a hard simmer for 10 minutes.

5. Turn off the heat and blend until smooth, whisk in cream and turn heat back on low for 4 minutes, salt and pepper to taste.

6. Top bowl of soup with toasted pumpkin seeds.

By Weldon Tisdale, Chaplain

As September arrives, the warmth of summer gradually gives way to cooler days, familiar routines return, and the changing season invites us to reflect on God’s faithfulness. Each new season offers an opportunity to grow not only in what we do, but also in how we love, serve, and care for one another.

At Trinity Woods, we are blessed to share more than a place to live and work. We share a community where friendships grow, lives intersect, and opportunities to extend God’s love are present each day. Often, it is through simple acts that Christ’s love becomes visible: a warm greeting in the hallway, an invitation to share a meal, a thoughtful phone call, a helping hand, or a quiet word of encouragement.

Scripture reminds us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). Hospitality is more than opening a door or offering a seat at the table. It is opening our hearts. It is making room for another person’s story, joys, concerns, hopes, and needs. It is offering the assurance, “You are welcome here. You are seen. You are valued.”

Charity is also an expression of God’s love at work within us. We may give through financial resources, but we also give through our time, compassion, encouragement, and presence. Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is simply to sit beside someone, listen attentively, or remind a neighbor that they are not alone.

These acts of love nurture our spiritual wellness and strengthen our entire community. When we practice kindness, generosity, and hospitality, we deepen our connection with one another and become more aware of God’s presence in our midst. In giving, we often discover that we are also receiving; receiving joy, purpose, gratitude, friendship, and grace.

The Apostle Paul writes, “Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Corinthians 16:14). May these words guide us throughout September and beyond.

Together, may we continue building a community where charity is generously shared, hospitality is warmly offered, spirituality is deeply nurtured, wellness is holistically embraced, and kindness is faithfully lived. In all that we do, may the love of Christ beseen, felt, and experienced through us as we each cultivate “The Ministry of a Welcoming Heart.”

By Lupina Fry, Wellness Nurse

While preparing for the 2026 Trinity Woods Health & Wellness Fair and working with the invited organizations, I realized that Trinity Woods, the Tulsa community, and Oklahoma are blessed to have so many valuable resources available to provide help and support. Folks just need to know what help they need and who to ask.

One of the best ways to track what may be lacking is by viewing daily life through the lens of wellness. By using the seven dimensions of wellness, a person can turn an overwhelming search for help into an organized, targeted checklist.

Focusing on PHYSICAL WELLNESS can help manage chronic illness, mobility challenges, and safety with activities of daily living. Resources like Medicare.gov can help you find home health services or medical equipment. Oklahoma Senior Games offers ways to stay physically active.

Assessing EMOTIONAL WELLNESS involves one’s ability to handle life changes and mental health issues such as a new diagnosis, grief, or depression. Resources like The Grief Center, the Mental Health Association of Oklahoma, and the Alzheimer’s Association can provide help.

SOCIAL WELLNESS involves maintaining a strong support group to combat isolation, which significantly impacts health. Resources include our Life Enrichment Coordinators at Trinity Woods, Life Senior Centers, and the local AARP Foundation, which runs programs that connect seniors with companion volunteers.

INTELLECTUAL WELLNESS encourages lifelong learning and curiosity, keeping the mind sharp. Tulsa City County libraries offer free access to large-print books, audiobooks, and computer classes. OU and OSU offer Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Zoom courses tailored to adults over 50.

SPIRITUAL WELLNESS centers on finding purpose, peace, and connection to something larger than oneself. Local churches often have senior ministries, and don’t forget practices such as prayer, meditation, yoga, and tai chi. Trinity Woods offers on- campus services and guidance from the Spiritual Life Council.

VOCATIONAL WELLNESS for seniors evolves from paid work into personal fulfillment through hobbies, mentoring, or volunteering. AmeriCorps Seniors is a government program matching older adults with volunteer opportunities. Several vendors at the Health & Wellness Fair, such as Reading Partners, will be seeking volunteers.

Finally, ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS focuses on one’s home and living environment, assessing modifications, home cleanup, and decluttering. Family Nest Estate Solutions will be at this year’s Fair to offer guidance and support.

By Bonnie Polak, VP Philanthropy and Community Engagement

At Trinity Woods, being a good neighbor is part of who we are.

What makes someone feel at home? Sometimes, it’s as simple as seeing a familiar face, being invited to join for dinner or knowing someone will notice when you need a helping hand.

At Trinity Woods, hospitality isn’t reserved for special occasions or welcoming new residents. It happens every day, in countless small ways, through a culture of neighbors caring for neighbors.

Our residents are at the heart of that culture. They check in on one another, offer rides or assistance, make introductions, save seats and invite others to participate. They celebrate birthdays and milestones, share meals and conversations, and show up for each other during difficult times. These gestures may seem small, but together they create something significant: a true sense of belonging.

That neighborly spirit also shapes the relationships between residents and Trinity Woods team members. Hospitality can be found in a team member remembering how someone takes their coffee, stopping for a conversation or noticing when a resident could use a little extra encouragement. And it goes both ways. Residents know our team members, ask about their families, celebrate their accomplishments and remind them that they are valued members of this community, too.

That is what makes hospitality at Trinity Woods special. It isn’t simply something we provide—it’s something we share. Every person who lives and works here has an opportunity to contribute to our neighborly culture. A smile, an invitation, a helping hand,
a few minutes spent listening: each is a simple act of hospitality that says, “You belong here.”

And perhaps that is the heart of being a good neighbor: making sure the people around us know they are seen, valued and never alone. At Trinity Woods, that’s more than hospitality. That’s community.