Older Adults

In observance of Older American’s Month, the Resource Center at Mission House has a series of 5 videos of a program offered at Christ Church Cathedral in 2010 on issues regarding aging, called “Living with Vitality and Grace.”  The five sessions are:
                                “Living with Vitality and Grace “ with Wayne and Virginia Bell
                                “What do we do with our stuff?” with Tina Kruger and Amanda Sokan
                                “How am I doing so far? Wellness and Aging” with Nancy Stiles M.D.
                                “Generativity-Using our gift’s”  with Bob Voll, Ruth and Jesse Mark
                                “Lost but Found- Learning about Alzheimers and Godly Play”
 
This video series is available through the generosity of Christ Church Cathedral, and the work of the Older Adult Ministry Commission.  For use or viewing the videos, please contact Sam McDonald, Canon to the Ordinary, smcdonald@diolex.org, 859-252-6527

Each year the Administration on Aging (AoA) issues a theme for Older Americans Month to assist our National Aging Services Network of state, tribal, area agencies on aging, and community services providers plan for activities that might take place in May or throughout the year. The theme of this year’s celebration — Older Americans: Connecting the Community — pays homage to the many ways in which older adults bring inspiration and continuity to the fabric of our communities. It also highlights the many ways technology is helping older Americans live longer, healthier and more engaged lives.
www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/Press_Room/Observances/oam/archive/archive.aspx
www.olderamericansmonth.org/
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Logo and Poster
Sample Proclamation
History of Older Americans Month
Sample Article: You can use this sample drop-in article for Older Americans Month 2011 as a template to write your own article, or just insert it into your organization’s May newsletter.
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Resources for Older Americans Month Worship Services
Seabury Resources for Aging: Liturgical Resources – Senior Sunday
Includes Liturgy for the annual Senior Celebrations Service in the Diocese of Washington.
The United Methodist Church, The General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) Services and Liturgies
(Note copyright and permissions section–can use in local congregation.)
Older Adult Recognition Worship Service Suggestions, by Delia Halverson (PDF download)
Association of Lutheran Older Adults (ALOA) BLESS THE YEARS LITURGY (.doc; also in HTML via Google
Search)
Archdiocese of Omaha, Celebrate the Elders in Your Parish

Older Adult Ministries Note on Observing Older Americans Month:
A service with focus on the older adult during May each year helps to recognize and celebrate older adults and their contributions to the church and community as well as celebrating positive aging. A designated Sunday for one service is the best and if this is not possible then having an aging thread (prayers, collects) during the month of May would be a possibility. Special events/activities can be considered for older adult. This is a good time to have an intergenerational activity too. Some congregational Resources for older Americans appear above. Additional resources will be added as they become available.

blb, 2/2011

All congregations in the diocese are invited to participate in a Celebration of Older American’s Month this May. The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington has been asked by The Task Force of the Older Adult Ministry for the Episcopal Church to be one of four dioceses in the country to pilot activities, program, liturgies, and services during the month of May. Two members of our diocese Dr. Gary Stewart and Dr. Pam Teaster serve on the task force and also serve as members of our diocesan Commission on Older Adult Ministry.  They as your representatives to the national church, and we as members of the Commission of Older Adult Ministry and your fellow congregants, ask and encourage that all churches within our diocese prayerfully consider adding, if not already scheduled, at least one program or activity or service or liturgy during Older Americans Month (May 2010) that has a central focus on older adults.
 
Possibilities are limitless. We have available resources for liturgies and worship services (see attachments) and a popular DVD series on Living with Vitality and Grace done at the cathedral last year, etc. Members of the Commission on Older Adult Ministry can be available to come and present at a forum during May or speak at another time on topics of aging. Suggestions for topics and activities are: the joys of becoming older, opportunities for outreach by elders, exploring forgetfulness, caregiving, exercise, diet, intergenerational work, elder rights, incorporating Boomers into the ministry, grandparents raising grandchildren, late life sexuality, changing residences, joys of the contemplative life, the voyage toward retirement.
 
A nation wide celebration of Older American’s Month is being planned for all Episcopal Churches in May 2011. Your participation this year in the Celebration of Older American’s Month and informing our Commission and the Task Force about what you did and your experience and will be a valuable contribution for the planning. 
 
Download PDFs about Older American’s Month and Worship Services now. If any parish can’t decide on a topic, please contact Gary Stewart Ph.D, Chair of Commission on Older Adult Ministry, Diocese of Lexington gary.stewart@insightbb.com or call at 859-252-2616 0ffice or 859-699-6005 cell.