{"id":8263,"date":"2017-09-05T19:28:18","date_gmt":"2017-09-05T19:28:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/new.brethren.org\/news\/?p=8263"},"modified":"2018-10-16T19:38:27","modified_gmt":"2018-10-16T19:38:27","slug":"noac-2017-tuesdays-inspiration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/2017\/noac-2017-tuesdays-inspiration\/","title":{"rendered":"Tuesday’s inspiration – National Older Adult Conference 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

Church of the Brethren Newsline
\nSeptember\u00a05,\u00a02017<\/b><\/p>\n

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Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Early morning<\/h3>\n

Tuesday started with several devotion opportunities. Annual Conference Moderator Samuel Sarpiya led devotions on The Terrace front porch and General Secretary David Steele at Inspiration Point, above the cross outside of the Lambuth Inn (if interested in attending, note that this is a slight change from the published location).<\/p>\n

Bible study<\/h3>\n
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Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stephen Breck Reid, Professor of Christian Scriptures at the George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Waco, Texas, gave a lively and sometimes hilarious take on what leadership means in the church, comparing Moses to John Wayne. (Would you want to be mentored by John Wayne?)<\/p>\n

In a serious moment, he talked about real leadership: \u201cThe office of servant of God is a major office\u2026. This is about serving as we might think of giving one\u2019s whole being to the office.\u201d<\/p>\n

View the recording of the Bible study at\u00a0https:\/\/livestream.com\/livingstreamcob\/NOAC2017\/videos\/162317409<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Keynote address<\/h3>\n
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Missy Buchanan speaking at Inspiration 2017 – National Older Adult Conference. Photo by Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Author and speaker Missy Buchanan focused on the need for communication between the sandwich generation and their parents, asking, \u201cAre the generations talking with each other about the journey of aging? \u2026Are we talking to each other or are we just talking to our peer groups?… We\u2019re all aging. It\u2019s something we have in common. \u2026We\u2019ve got to quit talking about an \u2018us vs. them\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt takes communication and respect to faithfully navigate the journey of aging\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is ageism in our churches\u2026. Ageism often causes congregations to neglect the spiritual and emotional needs of older adults.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buchanan quoted a 99-year-old friend who said that we talk about gaining all this wisdom over the years. \u201cWhy doesn\u2019t anyone ever ask me for it?\u201d<\/p>\n

She concluded, \u201cGod designed the church at its best when old and young serve alongside each other\u2026. God is every bit as interested in old as he is in young.\u201d<\/p>\n

Buchanan signed books and did a presentation talk-back later in the day.<\/p>\n

Watch the recording at\u00a0https:\/\/livestream.com\/livingstreamcob\/NOAC2017\/videos\/162320959<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Elementary school visit<\/h3>\n

Thirty-three volunteers went to Junaluska Elementary School to read books about Heifer International:<\/p>\n