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Aging Facts and Figures in the U.S. -- 2009 Report
Some facts & figures about older adults in the U.S.
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Seminary Course: Aging from a Theological Perspective, August 17-20, 2010
Older Adult Ministry Certification course work will be offered August 17-20, 2010, at Widewater Retreat and Ministry Center, Liberty Center, Ohio, through Wesley Theological Seminary.
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finding the Way
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How to Conduct an Older Adult Survey
Determine the people you want to survey. Who are your older adults?
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Congregational Older Adult Survey Forms
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Who Will Shape Our Future?
Older adults can play an important role in helping to shape the future of the United Methodist Church. They do so by their presence, prayers, leadership, gifts, service, and witness.
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Lay Pastoral Care Giving
Lay Pastoral Care Giving provides a step-by-step program whereby laity are selected, trained, commissioned, and supervised by the pastor to assist in providing certain kinds of pastoral care.
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Committee News
Susanne Paul, President of Global Action on Aging and a consultant to the UM Committee on Older Adult Ministries, was invited by the UN's Department for Economic and Social Affairs to participate in sessions exploring the state of older persons' rights.
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Older Adult Ministry Council of California-Nevada Conference Receives Special Recognition
The Older Adult Ministry Council of the California-Nevada Conference received special recognition by the National Interfaith Coalition on Aging (NICA) Wingspread Program for its "Best Practice Guide" and the "Coming Alive as You Age" workshops.
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In Memoriam: Herb Bowman
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Slowing Down As a Way of Healing the Earth for Ourselves and All the Children
I believe that by living our lives fully and by slowing down and savoring the blessings we have, we will help heal the earth with our good energy in body, mind, and spirit. This will also help ensure that the earth will still be in good shape for future generations.
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Walking with Grace: Tools for Implementing and Launching a Congregational Respite Program
Walking with Grace is a manual that will aid churches and faith-based communities in the process of starting a Congregational Respite Program.
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Welcoming Christ to Christmas: Alternative Worship at a Nursing Home
One of the loneliest places on earth at Christmas is a nursing home or a skilled nursing facility.
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R.A.P. (Retired Active People)
Older adults in the community now have a safe and caring place. They feel respected by their peers.
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Intergenerational and Caregiving Ministries
Intergenerational or multi-generational ministry within the community of faith is a blessing, not a curse. A church filled with young and old is a gift and a treasure for all generations. Unfortunately, intergenerational ministry is seldom planned in many of our congregations. For that reason, we may need to be quite intentional about creating opportunities that value and respect the gifts of all generations, young and old alike.
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Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Exploitation: Believe It! Report It! (free brochure)
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Jurisdictional Representatives to the United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries
The Colleges of Bishops have named the following persons to the United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries for 2009-2012.
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Examples of Previous Grant Award Ministries
These are just glimpses of how grant funding is helping in various ways to further ministry by, with, and for older adults. There are other examples of intentional and creative ministry happening as a result of leaders listening and responding to the needs of older adults, and visioning and planning appropriate programs. We hope by sharing a few examples you will be inspired and encouraged to continue (or begin) in ministry by, with, and for older adults.
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Silver Link Ministry: Connecting with the Frail
Silver Link Ministries at Church of the Resurrection is a Congregational Care ministry that reaches out to the frail -- the homebound, those in care homes, persons with dementia or on hospice -- with worship and care.
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Top 10 Reasons to Encourage Older Adult Ministry
Over the next 16 years, the number of people over 50 will grow by 74 percent, while the people under 50 will grow by only one percent. The church must pay attention!
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Lazy Daze Older Adult Retreat -- Pacific Northwest Conference
In aging, we can experience gratitude and hope in ways not possible when we are younger.
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Opportunities for Growth in Older Adult Ministries
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Mini-Retreat Model for Older Adults: A Time for Reflection
Older adults from several California churches and other communities have been discovering the wonders of a time of contemplative prayer and reflection which we call "Walk the Walk: Breathe a Prayer."
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Walk the Walk: Breathe a Prayer
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Older Adult Recognition Day
Spirituality is key to a vital old age. In fact, aging is often referred to as a spiritual journey. As older adults develop faith maturity and grow in Christian faith, they often exhibit certain characteristics. They place an emphasis on connecting with others, finding meaning and purpose in life, and holding personal power to influence outcomes. When older adults perceive aging as a spiritual journey, they raise the priority of enhancing their relationships with God, loved ones, faith communities, and communities of residence.
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Caregivers and Aging
Most of us in the helping profession choose our profession with a sense of calling, a desire to serve others, to fulfill the Great Commission. Given that sense of calling, we at times find ourselves caught in the stark contradiction between our hearts and the reality of life.
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Certification in Older Adult Ministries
Comprehensive Ministry with Older Adults Course
November 11-14, 2008, Nashville, TN
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Elders as Earth Advocates and Partners with Youth
God's world is in trouble. We live with the growing reality of global warming, melting of the ice cap, fires, floods, droughts, and scarcity. What are some earth-healing activities in which seniors and younger persons might take part?
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Senior New Ways: Coming Fully Alive as You Age
Nationally acclaimed program for boomers and older adults -- packaged and ready to go!
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The Older Adult As a Disciple
The church is called to fulfill two commands by our Lord Jesus Christ toward older adults -- love them and make disciples. Part of loving older adults is assisting them in their growth as disciples of Jesus Christ. The primary questions that the church has to answer are these: How do we love older adults? How do we make disciples of older adults?
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Generational Anchor Points That Help Define or Shape a Generation
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When an Older Adult Moves to a New Location
Knowing that change can cause anxiety and pain, one older adult's Sunday school class developed a ritual to help her deal with moving to a new home.
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Leaving Your Legacy
People wrongly assume that the most important issue among families is money and wealth transfer, but it's not. Non-financial items that people leave behind -- such as values, morals, ethics, and their faith story -- are more important today than the financial aspects of inheritance.
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Establishment of Conference Director of Older Adult Ministry
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CCRCs -- A Sequel
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Older-Adult Ministry Leaders Hear Call to Expand Table
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Spotlight: Healing Place Ministries
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Resources
For further reading about intentional ministry by, with, and for older adults.
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Living with Purpose in a Worn-Out Body
Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults
Living With Purpose in a Worn-Out Body is an exploration of the inner life shared by many people in nursing homes and retirement centers.
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In Memoriam: Shirley Roe Painter
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Certification in Older Adult Ministries
If you are involved in the Certification Program at Wesley Theological Seminary, or are interested in taking a seminary course in older adult ministries, or are participating in the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry's Certification Program in Older Adult Ministries, you may be interested in the fall course being offered by Wesley Theological Seminary.
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Center Sage (Fall 2007)
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From Faith to Practice: Sage Corps
If people are living longer and healthier than previous generations, what purpose does living longer have for individuals and for our world?
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A Day of Wondering and More
I wondered if those who don't remember God and can't get to the church campus to worship are remembered by their church family and considered equal to those who faithfully fill the pews and lend their tithes and offerings. I wondered what would happen if more of the outside world went inside the care home, offering love and care and Christ.
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New Life for Old: Spiritual Formation and the Retirement Experience
Many of the participants in The Academy for Spiritual Formation are in the fifty-plus category, and the occasional octogenarian is a welcome addition.
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Honoring Our Elders in Today's Church
When I use the term elders, I am referring to a very specific group of Christian people who should be defined not only by their ages but, even more significantly, by their past and present roles of participation within the life of our congregations.
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Cole Honored by Committee
The Reverend Dr. Elbert C. Cole received the Outstanding Leadership Award for his many years of faithful service to older adults in The United Methodist Church.
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Wesley Theological Seminary Class
In April, twelve people participated in the Wesley Theological Seminary course, "Issues of Aging and Older Adulthood," that was offered in Nashville, Tennessee.
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Older Adult Ministry Grants 2007
The United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries, meeting in March 2007, awarded 26 older adult ministry grants.
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Older-Adult Ministry Leaders Hear Call to Expand Table
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Q&A: Dispelling Myths About Being Older (UM Portal)
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(August 10, 2007, UMNS) Church helps senior adults brush up on driving skills
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(June 18, 2007, UMNS) Grants Awarded to Ministries for Older Adults
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Center Sage (Spring 2007)
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Intentional Ministry with Older Adults: S.E.N.I.O.R.S. Ministry Model
Growing old is no longer synonymous with death. For many older adults, old age is not a time of disability or disease; instead, it is a time of generally good health.
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The Torchbearers and the Bridge Builders
Looking for a service commitment of only a few hours a month and great rewards for your church and yourself? Consider a program like the Torchbearers and the Bridge Builders at Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church on the Emory University campus in Atlanta, Georgia.
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New Attitude on Successful Aging
Optimism and effective coping styles (or attitude) were found to be the keys to aging successfully rather than traditional measures of health and wellness.
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Coming Fully Alive As You Age
Group-Forming, Sharing and Well-Being
Having a passion for creative programs to promote healthy, faith-filled aging led us to develop "Coming Fully Alive As You Age" (CFA). This is a program cosponsored since 2001 by Senior New Ways (a nonprofit corporation spin-off from Los Altos UMC's Older Adult Ministry) and the Center for Aging and Spirituality.
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CCRCs and the Church — A Personal Perspective
Generally speaking, the model of a CCRC (continuing care retirement community) originated to meet community needs. Through this type of housing, services — including independent living and personal/nursing care — are offered to people on a single campus.
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Revisioning Our Elder Years
What is your vision of growing older? Our culture seems to view growing older as a time of decline, diminishment, and ultimately death. Would you be willing to trade that in for a life of learning, adventure, fulfillment, and joy?
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Safe Sanctuary for Senior Adults: Pine Valley United Methodist Church
These are some suggestions to follow to ensure the safety of our senior adults.
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Resource Ideas: Getting Their Attention
Our hope/dream is that by getting their attention, we can make church members aware of this vital ministry and begin to engage the older adults in their churches in many and varied forms of ministry by, with, and for older adults.
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Reflections on Ash Wednesday
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Review of Aging Nation: The Economics and Politics of Growing Older in America
Two leading policy gerontologists tackle the conventional (and often false) wisdom, propagated by the doomsters, about the perils of a nation living longer.
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Adult Children and Aging Parents
Adult children should take advantage of the time when everyone is gathered together to initiate a conversation with parents and family members about "what if" scenarios and health and financial concerns.
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2007 Primetimers Events
Primetimers is an educational and mission service experience for older adults.
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Is Your Church Ageist?
Ageism is defined as prejudice or discrimination against older people because of their age. In reality, we have not moved very far in overcoming the prejudice against older people since the 1960s when the term "ageism" was first coined by Dr. Robert Butler (the first director of the National Institute on Aging).
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Reframing and Signaling: Communicating Tough Choices to Aging Parents
At some point in the lives of our aging parents, things slip out of control. It may be a subtle change over time that finally becomes unmanageable or the sudden arrival of a medical setback. As much as we want them to remain independent, events take them off course, and tough decisions need to be made about the quality of their lives.
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Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors: Embracing our Hispanic/Latino Brothers and Sisters
How can we prepare to be a church that embraces and celebrates multiculturalism? This is a central question for The United Methodist Church.
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The White House Conference on Aging
I was extremely proud to attend the fifth White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA), December 11-14, 2005, held in Washington.
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Older Adult Ministry Grants — 2006
The United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries, meeting in March 2006, faced an exciting but difficult task: determining the disbursement of grant funds available for this year.
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2006 Grants Support Wide Range of Older-Adult Ministries
Twenty-nine programs received grants this year through the Committee on Older Adult Ministries at The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship. The funds total $38,000
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Ministries of Health: Our Tradition and Our Challenge
John Wesley, Methodism's founder, believed that every Methodist society should be involved in direct health care.
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Faith Community Nursing
Faith Community Nursing, commonly known as parish nursing, is a unique and growing movement within communities of faith of all traditions.
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John Wesley Provides Timeless Health Advice
Wesley states, "The power of exercise, both to preserve and restore health, is greater than can well be conceived." Who would have thought that more than 250 years later we are still struggling to follow his sage advice?
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Spotlight
Caring Actions for Our Church Family
Wesley United Methodist Church, Charleston, Illinois
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Increasing Our Skills for Assisting Others
Are there increasing numbers of people in your church family who are faced with responsibilities for assisting friends and relatives with temporary or permanent physical challenges?
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In Memoriam
Eleanor Richardson, age 92, of Decatur, Georgia, died on February 21, 2006. Eleanor was well known for her service as the first chairperson of The United Methodist Committee on Older Adult Ministries.
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New Beginnings: The Gifts of Aging
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Older Adults Face Growing Threat of Poverty, Committee Warns
Many working men and women will retire after a lifetime of service and come face to face with the shocking reality that the pension they thought would support them for the rest of their lives isn't worth the paper it is printed on. The United Methodist Committee on Older Adults recognizes that reality and is waving "a cautionary flag" before the church.
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Understanding People in Life’s Second Half
America is moving from being a youth-oriented culture to a senior-oriented culture as the Boomers enter life's second half.
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Faithful Aging
The church is not about helping people age "successfully," but rather helping people age "faithfully."
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(March 22, 2005, UMNS) United Methodist Association Links to Senior Drug Program
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(March 9, 2005, UMNS) Committee Works to Celebrate, Recognize Older Adult Ministries
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Church Has Role to Fill with Aging Population, Expert Says
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Meet the Director of the Center on Aging & Older-Adult Ministries
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Equal Access Guide (pdf) for Meetings, Conferences, Large Assemblies, and Worship (from the Committee On Disabilities, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA)
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New Trends in Senior Theatre
Senior theatre thrives. What was once a trend is now a movement.
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Center on Aging and Older Adult Ministries Brochure (free)
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S.E.N.I.O.R.S. Ministry: A Congregational Model for Intentional Ministry with Older Adults (free brochure)
A helpful model for congregations seeking to plan ministry with older adults is the S.E.N.I.O.R.S. Ministry model, briefly described here. It is more fully explained in the book The Graying of the Church by Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. (Discipleship Resources, 2004).
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Sexuality and Older Married Couples
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Life-Long Learning
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Local Church Accessibility Survey
Is your church accessible and open to all people? This brief survey will help you identify your strengths and weaknesses.
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Guidelines for Selecting a Long-Term Healthcare Facility
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Committee on Older Adult Ministries: Purpose & Responsibilities
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Faith Needs of Older Adults
The Bible is filled with wonderful stories and references relating to the blessings of aging.
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Adult Ministries and the Adult Life Cycle
To help adults grow in Christian faith, we need to know something about the adult life cycle and the kinds of needs, interests, and concerns adults experience at various stages of adulthood.
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F.A.C.E.S. Of Aging: Spiritual Needs of Older Adults
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A Litany for Aging
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Listening to Legacies Promotes Intergenerational Communication
The California-Nevada Older Adult Ministry Council is pleased to announce the publication of Listening to Legacies, an innovative booklet providing an easy-to-follow program for intergenerational understanding and communication between middle-school age students and older adults.
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