From “Aging Gracefully” my new blog!

“Welcome to my new blog “Aging Gracefully” (aginggracefullyliving.wordpress.com)…… As Elder Ministry Coordinator for The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts, I sincerely hope and pray that the information shared here will be helpful and informative.

Church is one of the few places in our society where people of all ages still gather together to work towards a common goal. This is a time in our world where we need to seriously consider the topic of aging gracefully in our churches. God has given us the older folks in our congregations as sources of wisdom and inspiration- but I wonder, do we really choose to see them in this way?

We live in a fast, youth focused culture. Technology rules, and the changes in our world are happening with lightning speed. I just got a new, more advanced smartphone last week , and I am fully prepared that as soon as I figure out how to use all of its features, the technology will be obsolete and it will be time for me to upgrade again…..

Sigh.

We live in a consumer driven, disposable culture. Styles change. We upgrade. Disposable clothes. Disposable homes. Disposable relationships. Disposable jobs. When something or someone doesn’t fit us anymore- we get a new one. Usually a bigger and upgraded version of the old one.

But that’s not how any of this is supposed to work…..

There is something to be learned from the folks who lived through the Great Depression. Folks who saved their tin foil, and made beautiful quilts out of worn out clothing, and grew their own vegetables in their backyards. Folks who lived through WWII, and fought on the side of good to save the world from facist totalitarianism. Folks who remember what it meant to rest on Sunday afternoons and have dinner together- instead of going shopping….

I believe that our older people have a wealth of stories and experience and wisdom to share. In my work in my home church, I have been massively helped and supported by the older members of our congregation. They make up most of my volunteer staff. We can learn so much from them.

They are a treasure.

“Those who are older should speak, for wisdom comes with age.” Job 32:7

“The glory of the young is their strength; the gray hair of experience is the splendor of the old.” Proverbs 20:29

I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea…..

We are all on a journey together. The church, at her best, is a beautiful example of this. The journey IS the destination. How we live together. How we work together for the coming of the Kingdom “on earth as it is in heaven”.

Let us work together side by side.”

If you would like to share THIS journey with me, please go to my new blog and follow!

Many thanks…..

-Pastor Christine Keddy (missistine)

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Tags: ministry elder ministry community Christian community aging intergenerational community intergenerational ministry technology cultureCategories: Christian Community, elder ministry, Uncategorized
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Published by missistine

I am Christine Keddy- Pastor, Wife, Daughter, Caregiver, WRITER and lover of Jesus. My life has been changed by God’s love and I seek to live my life loving my neighbors and being used by God to bring God’s presence into as many situations as possible. I currently serve as Associate Pastor in a local, American Baptist church and as Elder Ministry Coordinator for The American Baptist Churches of Massachusetts. View all posts by missistine
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