John F. Kennedy designated May as “Senior Citizen’s Month” in 1963. In 1980 former President Jimmy Carter renamed it “Older Americans Month,” a name the observance retains today. When “Senior Citizen’s Month” was established, there were only 17 million Americans living aged 65 years and older. Today there are approximately 36 million Americans aged 65+. By 2030 that number will increase to 70 million. More than half of the Church of the Brethren membership is 55 years of age or older. Older adults are an important and significant portion of the U.S. population and the Church of the Brethren population.

The Association of Brethren Caregivers affirms the recognition of the Church of the Brethren’s older members and encourages all congregations to celebrate Older Adult Month in May.

This year's new resources for Older Adult Month in 2008 will focus on the theme "Aging with Grace."

Celebrating Older Adult Month - May 2008

“Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time……be filled with the Spirit.”
~ Selected verses from Ephesians 5 NRSV

While we often associate aging only with older adults, in fact, aging is a life-long process. From the time of our birth, we are all aging. We age physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually throughout our lifetime. As people of faith, we believe spirituality to be a fundamental aspect of healthy aging. Aging is a spiritual journey!

One of the greatest gifts the church can offer is to help people of all ages live their life-journey well ~ to move through the stages of life creatively, expectantly, meaningfully, and Spirit-filled ~ to age with wisdom and grace.

The Older Adult Ministry of the Church of the Brethren invites individuals, families and congregations to observe Older Adult Month and explore ways people can age with grace and filled with the Spirit.

Resource List

2008	Aging with Grace
Worship Resources	Compilation of all Worship Resources (Word | PDF file)
	“Scriptures and Quotes” compiled by Kim Ebersole (Word | PDF file)
	“A Choral Reading” by Sonja Griffith (Word | PDF file)
	“A Prayer of Thanksgiving” by Sonja Griffith (Word | PDF file)
	“A Litany of Generations” by Kim Witkovsky (Word | PDF file)
	“Aging with Grace Worship Resources (7)” by Myrna Wheeler (Word | PDF file)
Worship Bulletin Inserts	Compilation of all worship bulletin inserts (Word | PDF file)
	“Call to Worship I” by Myrna Wheeler (Word | PDF file)
	“Call to Worship II” by Myrna Wheeler (Word | PDF file)
	“Unison Invocation” by Myrna Wheeler (Word | PDF file)
	“Aging with Grace Litany” by Myrna Wheeler (Word | PDF file)
	“A Prayer of Thanksgiving” by Sonja Griffith (Word | PDF file)
	“Aging with Grace Theme” by Kim Ebersole (Word | PDF file)
	“Blank Insert” for your congregation to personalize (Word | PDF file)
Other Resources Related to Aging	“Celebrating Older Adult Month in Your Congregation” by Myrna Wheeler (Word | PDF file)
	“Ways to Affirm and Celebrate Older Adults” (Word | PDF file)
	“Suggested Books and Movies about Aging” (Word | PDF file)
	“A Blessing: When You Change Your Residence” (Word | PDF file)
Personal Reflections on Aging with Grace	“Aging with Grace” by Tana Durnbaugh (Word | PDF file)
	“Amazing Grace” by Heddie Sumner (Word | PDF file)
	“Joys and Sorrows of Aging” by George Simms (Word | PDF file)
	“Aging with Grace” by Sonja Griffith (Word | PDF file)
	“By God's Grace” by Ethel Klopfenstein (Word | PDF file)
2007	The Fullness of Years
Worship Bulletin Insert	The Fullness of Years - Kim Ebersole (PDF file)
Worship Resources	Call to Worship - Myrna Wheeler (PDF file)
	Litany - Myrna Wheeler (PDF file)
	Order of Worship - Kim Ebersole (PDF file)
	Meditations - Sonja Sherfy Griffith (PDF file)
Sunday School Resources	The Need to be Remembered - Bill Cave (PDF file)
2006	A Month of Observances
Worship Bulletin Insert	Reflection on Losses - Mary Cline Detrick
Worship Bulletin Insert	Call to Worship/Invocation/Blessing - Myrna Long Wheeler
	Retirement Blessing - Deanna Brown
Sunday School Resources	The Power of Empathy: Healing Amidst Suffering - Bill Cave
	Reflections on a Five-Week Emphasis: God's Gift of Growing Older Together - Bill Cave
Weekly Discussion Groups	Bulletin Insert Describing Four Weekly Discussion Groups - Sonja Griffith Handouts for Four Weekly Discussion Groups Reflections and Questions on Growing Older in a Culture that Does Not Like Old (corresponds to bulletin insert) - Sonja Griffith