Franklin (Tennessee) First United Methodist Church offers a monthly worship service intentionally created for people who are living with mild-to-moderate dementia symptoms.
Older adults often say they want to stay in their own homes as long as they can. We describe such thinking as aging in place — defined as living in the home and community of your choice as you age. It is a place where one feels safe has the ability to control and enjoy life experiences.
An important role for the Church in its ministry by, with, and for older adults is helping older adults age in faith. In other words, effective congregational ministries intentionally invite, nurture, and equip older adults to age faithfully!
With 65 percent of active members older than 65, Millington (Tennessee) First United Methodist Church (FUMC) is a graying congregation. However, the church is located in a diverse neighborhood with a high school, intermediate school, and single-family starter homes. In March, church members began an inter-generational outreach ministry — pickleball for all ages.
Before the Tennessee-Western Kentucky Conference’s birth in January 2022, the legacy Memphis and Tennessee conferences had senior ministry programs: GOLDEN CROSS Senior Ministry (GCSM) and ENCORE Ministry (EM) While each ministry lives on in the TWK Conference, they have distinct functions and characteristics.
Memphis’ St. Matthew’s United Methodist Church received a $7,250 ENCORE Ministry grant to help renovate a storm-damaged room and make it a safe and inviting workout area for senior adults. Church member and community residents use the facility.
Sparta’s Bon Air United Methodist Church received a $10,000 grant to help fund a new meal ministry for low-income older adults.
Every May, The United Methodist Church invites local churches to celebrate Older Adult Recognition Day during Older Americans Month (OAM). Church leaders are invited to provide opportunities during May — whether on a Sunday morning during worship or on other days and times — for recognizing the legacy, unique gifts, and challenges of older adults. The 2022 theme is Age …
We may need to rethink the type of people who might be attracted to our churches. Is the correct question, “how can we get more young families in our church?” Or, is it something else?
As we begin the third year of the COVID pandemic, we are well aware that the coronavirus has wreaked havoc throughout the world. According to a recent report in The New York Times, more than 950,000 deaths have been linked to the pandemic in the United Sates, and, as of this article’s writing, about 2,600 cases continue to be reported …