Connection UMC Receives Grant to Improve Accessibility
Nashville’s Connection United Methodist Church received a $2,004 grant to help fund an elevator door restrictor that improves church safety and accessibility.
February 7, 2022
Nashville’s Connection United Methodist Church received a $2,004 grant to help fund an elevator door restrictor that improves church safety and accessibility.
With the graying of America and our churches, older adult ministry is now more important than ever. The new Tennessee-Western Kentucky (TWK) Conference includes organizations devoted to older adult ministry that have their roots in the legacy Tennessee and Memphis conferences.
Later life is a time of reassessment and reflection. What sense do we make of the lives we have lived? How do we come to terms with illness and death? What do we want to give to others as we grow older?
Grandparents play significant roles in families and there is an ever-increasing number of grandparents who are primary caregivers or raising grandchildren. According to Generations United, approximately 2.7 million children in the U.S. live in grandfamilies or kinship families — families in which grandparents, other adult family members, or close family friends are raising children — with no parents in the home.
Being a leader in any area of ministry today is a daunting task. Rapid change and uncertainty are constantly before us. While COVID-19 brought challenges to the forefront, ministry struggles have been with us through the ages.
During times like these, it’s helpful to remember the primary mission of the local church as stated in The Book of Discipline: “The mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.”
Funded by the Golden Cross Foundation, two videos from Alzheimer’s Tennessee can help adult Sunday school classes and other groups start or continue conversations about Alzheimer’s Disease.
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15. It’s a day set aside to raise awareness and to better understand the abuse and exploitation older adults may experience. Although elder abuse is a tough topic, it’s certainly one that deserves our attention. Abuse and exploitation against older adults can happen in many different ways. For example, financial exploitation can occur in the form of scams targeting older adults or stolen identity to access banking information. Neglect can stem from caregivers denying basic necessities like assistance with hygiene, nutritious food, medications, or safety.
In my lifetime I have had to move several times. Moving is hard. While the physical labor is hard, I believe the emotional pain is even harder. And the hardest for me was the loss of dear friendships due to miles of separation. Some widows lose 75 percent of their friendships after their spouse’s death. The loss of your best friend and companion can be overwhelming. Add to that the loss of friends, and it can be devastating.
As the pandemic continues, so do concerns about older adults and their mental and emotional health. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it’s a good time to shine a light on issues and resources for older adults and their families and caregivers.
Have you ever noticed after marriage couples seem to adapt to various divisions of labor? Often the man does the yard work, car repairs, and finances whereas the woman usually does the grocery shopping, house cleaning, and cooking (although I have known some men who are better cooks). After years of marriage, couples don’t think about these divisions of labor. They just do them. This changes when someone experiences the death, divorce, desertion, or imprisonment of a spouse. All of a sudden, the person’s world is turned upside down and he or she has to assume all of the roles.
The ENCORE Ministry Foundation provided a grant to First United Methodist in Columbia, Tennessee, to help fund their feeding ministry, the People’s Table. Since 2004, the People’s Table ministry serves meals to neighbors in need every Tuesday evening and Friday afternoon, providing nourishment, love, and hope to the homeless, elderly, families, and individuals struggling to make ends meet. However, the need in the community is growing. With the closure of a local battery plant and reductions in SNAP benefits, more families are facing food insecurity.
Together, we can be the hands and feet of Jesus, feeding the hungry, caring for the vulnerable, and showing love to those who need it most. Every dollar you give to the Kent and Ellen McNish Fund for Older Adult Food Security helps feeding ministries stretch resources and serve more meals to those in need. Donate today and help support life-changing feeding ministries like the People’s Table.