Mission Studies

IMAGINE —Older Adult Ministries

Forty-four people gathered at the church on May 6 th to worship, socialize, reflect and strategize about Older Adult Ministries at BBPC. This event culminated 7 weekly discussion/planning meetings that were open to all church members. Our weekly meetings were partially facilitated by Elaine Tetreault, a church member as well as someone who works professionally in guiding churches and clergy through the search process for the Reformed Church in America .

Many participants on May 6 th expressed their joy in the opportunity to gather, share and discuss key issues in the church's life. The planning team identified a need for socializing and conversation. We envisioned gatherings of older adults that would include singing, planned input (maybe a speaker or maybe well thought out questions), conversation and food. On May 6 th , we sang hymns and then divided into small groups to answer four questions:

1. Describe a time when you felt blessed in this church.
2. What is one dream you have for older adults?
3. What are your hopes for this church in five years?
4. Name two or three challenges in your life now.
   

Elaine recorded all responses after we had shared in groups of 6 and then in groups of 3. The coordinating team reviewed the documents. Then we met again on May 13 and listened for the major themes/issues and hungers that we heard in the responses. Those themes are described below. Very much present in our meetings was our sense of spiritual health, energy and determination. We were willing to keep coming to explore where we are right now as well as where we want to go. As older adults we will continue to be a vital part of the BBPC community. We invite you, the reader, to review our ideas and concerns, keeping in mind that this is a living document – not written in stone. Periodically, we will revisit what we have created to strengthen and improve our life together.

1. Isolation

We know that many older adults have strong social relations inside the church and outside of it. Some older church members are not connected through family members, church groups or friendships. We want to be a congregation in which all older adults are connected, supported and in communion with the congregation.

Responses

• Deacons Phone Circles have been created
• Update the Church Directory
• “Passing the Peace introduction time will be scheduled for 3 rd Sunday.
• Contact a Deacon or make the call yourself to someone who is missing from worship.
• New list for birthdays – so we can celebrate/acknowledge the birthdays of all in congregation during coffee hour on the fourth Sunday.
• Transportation – some drive, some don't; some only drive during daylight hours. How do we create a transportation system for all those needing it?
• Communication – how do we reach everyone (those connected thru computers and those who are not)? Electronic newsletter should not leave people out.
• Automatic phone system for getting messages out
• A buddy system – each of us has someone to keep in touch with new members who need help finding their niche. Take pictures and post them again.
• We need a name – what about “Older and Wiser” – for speakers, events, etc.

2. Meaningful Conversation/Socializing.

One special aspect of the gathering on May 6th was that we counted off, in order, to establish our conversation groups. So we were all with folks that we didn't normally sit with at congregational gatherings. In some cases, people were interacting who had experienced significant disagreements in the past.

Responses

•  Older Adults will gather at 10:00 a.m. on the first Wednesday in September and hopefully on the first Wednesday of each month thereafter. The planning team met July 22 nd .

• Health issues (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual) are a high priority concern. How can we help each other get accurate information/referrals?
• Budget/financial health (including financial planning) weight on many older adults. Among other things, how can we expand the Deacon's assistance program?
• Thursday circle – once a month the older women can: organize topics, invite men in Fall; develop a brief biography of each person (especially what they are doing now, have done in the past), as a resource of those we can invite to come talk with the circle.
• In addition to the Wednesday gatherings, do we need monthly gathering for older adults (theatre, games, book reviews with discussions following?
• Go out to lunch – invite someone to join you after church; book exchange too.
• Share happy news, good news. Lifting up birthdays, anniversaries, and graduations, is one way to move beyond prayer concerns that focus on illness.
• Have a Senior page in the Presbyterian and on the website.

3. The Mission Studies/Search Process

People enjoyed the day and felt that their input was valued. But many people still expressed a need to understand how the planning for Older Adult Ministries related to the mission studies process and to the search for the installed pastor. The Interim Pastor and the Mission Studies Coordinating Team need to provide continuing clarification of the Process.

Responses

•  Articles will appear monthly in the Presbyterian. The meetings of Older Adults will include an update on the process. A congregation meeting in June provided information and discussion for the whole church.

•  Older Adults Participation in Decision-making. Older adults were eager to have their voices heard in the decision-making of the life of the church. While older adults don't sometimes have the energy they once had, they still have wisdom and much to share. So facilitating their participation in service, groups and decision-making is very important. At least 4 elders currently serving on session participated in this process.

•  Older Adult meetings would provide opportunities to express concerns and be updated on issues before the church. Older adults are urged to volunteer to serve on commissions that are responsible for initial policy making.

•  One Service on Sunday morning. A number of people expressed a desire for one service at 10 am on Sunday. People spoke of unifying the congregation. But people also spoke of a desire to grow the congregation and have more people in worship. We acknowledged the tension between these goals as one Sunday morning service could mean fewer total worshippers. When presented with the issues of parking and church school staffing, many people were able to understand the rationale for two services during the program year. In the coming program year, we will have 3 Sundays with one service at 10. Those services will be on Nov. 1, the Sunday after Easter and Pentecost.

4. Mission Activities

Those attending were enthusiastic about the mission opportunities and challenges that are part of the church's life. They rejoiced in the processes of learning about and then sending off work groups as well as in the work the church does locally. People were proud of the church's response to floods. Some voices were concerned that the PFC was underutilized during the day.

Responses

• Perhaps older adults could help with advocacy around issues, especially health care.
• There was a desire to help mission programs in various ways besides giving money.
• FISH hospitality program and related advocacy work
• Volunteer at Soup Kitchen, SHIP, Laurel House, FISH, Habitat, Immigration Issues (with Joyce Phipps), Zambia , Homeless, ASP
• Travel opportunities for learning and services and report back to the whole OA group.
• Overseas – take part in collecting medicine bottles for Haiti
• Prayer Shawl ministry
• Providing meal for seniors (Somerset Office for the Aging.
• Use nursery school facilities for immigrant children

5. Adult Education

Besides the ongoing groups in the church, people appreciated opportunities for Thursday morning Bible study, for retreats and for special Sunday events.

Response

Perhaps we could have a Sunday morning class or a retreat for older adults.

6. Intergenerational Issues

People spoke too of wanting more intergenerational contact. Older people want to see, hear and participate with younger families, youth and children as they grow through the life of the church. Enthusiasm greeted the reminder that the Pentecost Service would also be the welcoming of the Confirmands into the church's life as members. How could youth and children be more present occasionally at the 11 am service? Do we look to create intergenerational friendships by adopting grandparents or adopting grandchildren in the life of the church?

Responses

• The children and youth could sing more frequently at the 11 am service.
• Church suppers could be designed to mix generations.
• Older adults could assist in church school.
• We could develop a Foster Grandparents program.
• Worship service – where there is one service, design it to be led by multiple generations.
• Open Cave Night – Junior and Senior Highs invited OA to participate more as they currently do in the Prayer Shawl, ASP and FISH ministries.
• Fellowship – organize transportation for OA's to events at the church.
• Picnic on 9/13 is open to the community and is intergenerational and bicultural.
• Skills sharing for speakers and youth (example: youth teaching adults how to use their cell phones)
• Youth to participate more often in the 11:00 service (example Children's choir at the 11:00)
• Talent show – intergenerational sharing at other than worship.
• Involve young people in more aspects of worship, including ushering throughout the year.
• Have OA's praying for young people.
• Drama productions that include all ages.
• Job posting for youth and OA's who want to make money.