Prelude
(For all choral music, try using arrangements of hymns that the older adults of the congregation would be familiar with; or perhaps have a special choir made up of older adults.)

*Greeting — Psalm 150:12-13

Leader: Young men and women alike,

People: Old and young together!

Leader: Let them praise the name of the Lord.

People: For his name alone is exalted.

Leader: His glory is above earth and heaven.

People: Praise the Lord.

*Hymn: "Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling," 348, United Methodist Hymnal

Greeting and Welcome
This morning we offer special greeting to our elders. During this service, we will be honoring our elders through Word, song, and by presenting special crosses symbolizing the role of elders as guides for our community.

Call to Prayer
Morning Prayer
(In addition to the prayers of the people, include the prayer below.)

Creator and Sustainer God, we give special thanks this day for our elders.
Surround them with your healing as they guide us on our faith journey.
Anoint them to provide wisdom and lead this community to greater understanding.

Solo

Children's Message
Holding a compass, the pastor speaks of the importance of grandparents and other elders within the congregation as guides, pointing us to God through traditions, memory, and history.

Hebrew Bible Reading — Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

*Litany — Psalm 23
The first reader should be 60 years old or older; the second reader, between 50-59; the third reader, between 40-49; the fourth reader, between 30-39; the fifth reader, 20-29; the sixth reader, 10-19; the seventh reader, 6-9.

First Reader: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

Second Reader: He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters.

Third Reader: He restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.

Fourth Reader: Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil;

Fifth Reader: For you are with me, your rod and staff, they comfort me.

Sixth Reader: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, you anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows.

Seventh Reader: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.

All: Bless the Lord, O my soul, all that is within me, bless God's holy name!

*Hymn: "Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing," 400, United Methodist Hymnal

Message: 2 Timothy 4:7 —Running the Good Race

Celebration of Elders
Calling the elders in the community to stand — as they are able — to be recognized, present each elder with a cross. Invite the congregation to participate in the following litany:

Pastor:Just as Abraham and Sarah lead the nation of Israel and the Elder Eli provided guidance for young Samuel, the Elders of our community provide wisdom.

People: "Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life" (Proverbs 16:31).

Pastor: Today we celebrate our elders. We celebrate the leadership and guidance of our elders and renew the commitment of these elders to our community and our community to these elders.

People: "You shall rise before the aged, and defer to the old; and you shall fear your God "(Leviticus 19:32).

Pastor: Would our elders please stand?

People: God has given us the gift of life. The gift of long life gives us wisdom, guidance, and leadership. Today, we as a community renew our commitment to glean from you, our elders. With this cross, we symbolize the knowledge and shared history you pass down as we grow on our journey with Christ.

Elders: Taking these crosses, we agree to be the sages of this community, passing on tradition and offering guidance.

Pastor: Let us pray, Lord God, in your ultimate wisdom, you have given us the blessing of those wise sages to guide and lead the community in our faith journey. Help us see the blessing in aging, the fulfillment of your gift of life. Amen.

Offertory Prayer

Merciful God, as we celebrate this day the elders of our congregation, help us to give freely.
Help us to give our wisdom, our experience, our blessings, and our service. Amen.

Offering

Offertory Anthem

*Doxology: 94, United Methodist Hymnal

*Hymn: "Take My Life, and Let it Be," 399, United Methodist Hymnal

Benediction

Benediction Response: "Shalom to You," 666, United Methodist Hymnal

Postlude

This service was submitted by Katie Posey, Washington, DC.

Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Copyright © 2005 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church, PO Box 340003, Nashville TN 37203-0003. Center on Aging Website: www.gbod.org/coa.
This worship service may be printed, copied, distributed, reprinted in church bulletins or newsletters, or otherwise used for nonprofit local church worship or education with the inclusion of the copyright citation and General Board of Discipleship Worship website as its source. It may not be used for profit or republication without prior permission. It may not be reproduced on another website, though other websites are welcome to link to it.

Posted 6-14-05


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