Today at NOAC – Friday, Sept. 9, 2011

Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
The closing sermon of the 2011 National Older Adult Conference was brought by La Verne (Calif.) pastor Susan Stern Boyer.

Quotes of the day

“Both the old and the new: treasure them. The old and the new can create something right and pleasing to God. They have the potential to create something sacred.” — Susan Stern Boyer, pastor of La Verne (Calif.) Church of the Brethren, preaching for the closing worship service of NOAC 2011.

“May we Brethren hold on to the former things that ground us in faith and life. . . . and embrace and grasp what draws us forward into God’s newest story.” — Susan Stern Boyer, preaching for the Friday morning worship service.

“Even though you are older, you are more passionately engaged in the world than most people. . . . You aren’t done, you aren’t done in, you aren’t dumbed down.” — Ken Kline Smeltzer, in morning reflections on the NOAC experience. He had been asked by the Older Adult Cabinet to observe and reflect on what he had seen during the week of the conference.

“How did our path to peace get so overrun with weeds and woods?” — Ken Kline Smeltzer

Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford
Jo Reinoehl of North Manchester, Ind., at 98 years old was the oldest participant at the 2011 NOAC.

Main events of the day

This closing day of NOAC 2011 began with breakfast, then gathered the participants for singing and worship in the Stuart Auditorium before lunch and goodbyes. Susan Stern Boyer preached for the worship service on the theme, “Everything changes. Nothing Changes,” using Mark 12:28-34 and Matthew 13:51-52 as her texts.

NOAC weather report

Cloudy in the morning, with some sun breaking through midday to help send NOACers back home.

NOAC by the numbers

Age of the oldest NOAC participant: 98. Jo Reinoehl of North Manchester, Ind., was the oldest NOACer this year.

Number of NOAC participants in their 90s: at least 13.

[gt-link lang="en" label="English" widget_look="flags_name"]