Contents:

• 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.


• 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, Atlanta, Georgia.


• 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.


• Coming Fully Alive As You Age
  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.


• Older Adult Ministry Events


• 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.


• 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?


• Safe Sanctuary for Senior Adults: Pine Valley United Methodist Church
  These are some suggestions to follow to ensure the safety of our senior adults.


• Resources
  Featured resources are New Beginnings: The Gifts of Aging Video and Living Fully and Dying Well.


• 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.


• Spring 2007 Center Sage in pdf format (12 pages)