Aging gives us a unique perspective on a life lived with God, allowing us to review our faith journey, consider the ways God has been present in our past, and explore the ways God continues to be with us as we grow older.
The study content for the retreat is adapted from the Thoughtful Christian study, "Older Adult Spirituality." Throughout this one-day retreat, participants will explore connections between aging and their faith; they will also examine ancient Scripture and contemporary voices for insights into their faith and the aging process.
Participants will get to discover their answers to some difficult questions. What concerns them about growing old? What does their faith have to do with what they've come to understand about growing older? How can their congregations come to recognize and value the unique perspectives of older church members?
Activities to foster a comfortable environment for sharing include the creation of "Welcome Stations," which encourage participants to share information about some of the milestones in their lives such as moving, raising children, and participating in their faith communities.
Participants will make timelines of their individual faith journeys and share some of the insights gained from seeing such a stark representation of their lifelong walk with God. Both positive and challenging times will be considered to encourage a focus on a call for spiritual resiliency in their lives and to illuminate their changing understanding of vocation.
As important, these timelines remind participants that their journey is not over and they must continue to add to them as they look ahead.