Note: In the March 2023 issue of ENCORE Ministry Connection, I addressed the first part of an article titled Aging in Place or Aging in Another Place. Here, I will address the second part — namely, the role of the church, Sunday School class, or other older adult ministry group in relating to persons moving from their home to age in another place.
Eleanor is a member of the XYZ (Extra Years of Zest) Sunday School Class. An active member for many years, Eleanor recently stopped attending. Climbing stairs to reach her Sunday school classroom and increasingly painful arthritis made going to church too difficult.
Eleanor also has difficulty in her home. Household chores, cooking, and general home maintenance have become burdensome, and in some cases, impossible. Climbing wooden stairs to her bedroom and walking on a gravel path from the garage to her house are a fleeting memory.
After much prayer, conversations with family and close friends, and shedding many tears, Eleanor decided to move. Leaving her house of 37 years, she moved into a new home — an apartment in an assisted living facility.
Knowing that such changes can cause anxiety and pain, Eleanor’s Sunday school class sought a way to help Eleanor deal with moving. They used a ritual learned from one of my workshops.
Before Eleanor moved, the teacher and friends from her class met in her home. They sang hymns, read scripture, and offered prayers. Eleanor led class members from room to room, sharing memories within each room. After the memory tour, the group shared in the sacrament of Holy Communion — administered by the church’s pastor — and offered a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s presence with Eleanor while she lived in her home and invited God’s blessing on her as she moved into her new home. The group concluded by singing another hymn and sharing refreshments provided by class members.
After Eleanor moved to the assisted living facility, the same group gathered in a meeting room there — inviting some of Eleanor’s new neighbors to join them. The group talked about the transition and move, sang hymns, read scripture, and offered prayers. Eleanor then showed the group around her new home. Following the tour, everyone gathered in the meeting room, shared in the sacrament of Holy Communion, prayed for God’s blessing on Eleanor and her neighbors, and enjoyed refreshments provided by class members.
As you reflect on this ritual for an older adult who is moving, ask:
- Who else would you involve in this ritual?
- What other elements would you include?
- What other suggestions do you have for improving this ritual?
- Do you know people in your congregation or Sunday school class who will soon be moving to a new location such as an assisted living facility, nursing home, continuing care retirement community, congregate house, or other setting?
- Do you know people in your congregation or Sunday school class who have recently moved to a new location? Could you do the second part of this ritual with them, even though they have already moved?
- Would your Sunday school class or congregation support this type of ritual for all members?
Rituals and being remembered by one’s church and Sunday school class remind older adults that they are loved, valued, and respected. Find ways in your own congregation to develop rituals that address older adults’ needs and challenges as they experience the many transitions that come with aging.
Dr. Richard Gentzler, director, oversees ENCORE Ministry’s mission of providing older adult ministry resources, leader training, and consultations. For more information, email Gentzler at or call 615-400-0539.
