Franklin (Tennessee) First United Methodist Church offers a monthly worship service intentionally created for people who are living with mild-to-moderate dementia symptoms.

Several years ago, Madison Street UMC (Clarksville) member Aleeta Christian applied for a grant from the Golden Cross Foundation (GCF). Money from the $7,500 grant helped fund iPads, accessories, Wi-Fi connections, and a TV and conference tables used during training. The iPads and training were provided to 12 interested older adults in the congregation. The idea for the iPad project …

Centertown (Tennessee) United Methodist Church received a $10,000 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation. Money from this grant was used to help fund a storage building for non-perishable items used in the church’s weekly food ministry program. The program started in 2012 after church members learned about area children who were going to school hungry. Initially two volunteers prepared 20 …

Carthage (Tennessee) United Methodist Church received a $5,000 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation. The grant helped fund equipment needed to improve online and in-person worship services. Pre-pandemic, the average attendance was 200 people each Sunday. The average number of people attending in person each Sunday now is about 100, but services also are livestreamed and posted on YouTube. “Our …

While Cookeville First United Methodist Church already had a Facebook page for seniors, it was primarily a bulletin board announcing various events. Interaction between individuals was limited and missing a sense of community and togetherness. As a result, our Senior Adult Council established a Facebook group for seniors in February 2020.

By Dr. Aleeta Christian Sometimes ministry sneaks up on you. This happened to us at Madison Street United Methodist Church, Clarksville. The beginning was a request from a member of Serendipity, our older adult ministry. We have a board which meets regularly and last January we decided to send birthday cards to members 65+. But by the time we got …

Morton Memorial United Methodist Church in Monteagle received a $2,500 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation, a ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. The grant helped purchase equipment needed for outdoor and online worship services. In the early months of the pandemic, congregation members formed a COVID Task Force, staying up to date on pandemic-related numbers …

by Dr. Jim Clardy Several months ago, the Senior Adults Growing, Exploring and Serving (SAGES) Ministry Team at Murfreesboro’s St. Mark’s United Methodist Church asked how they might respond to the pastoral needs of the congregation during the pandemic. Adapting a survey developed by Belmont United Methodist Church, 25 church members called a large number of St. Mark’s members to …

Elder’s Chapel United Methodist Church in Smyrna received a $1,600 grant from the Golden Cross Foundation, a ministry of the Tennessee Conference of The United Methodist Church. The grant helped buy food for a food pantry ministry. Spearheading the ministry is Elder’s Chapel member Shelia Howse. After being challenged by a discipleship course to step out of her “boat” and …