About sixty seniors gathered at St. Paul's yesterday for a strawberry social. Our pastoral care committee worked hard to bring this event together, but the strawberries and shortcake were just a small part of the effort. As a theme the committee gathered about twenty wedding dresses, dating from nearly one hundred years ago until 2008 and displayed them on the walls around the hall. It was quite a history lesson and a reminder of all the years of holy acrimony -- I mean matrimony -- represented in these dresses. A number of people came to the microphone to share stories of weddings and wedding dresses.
What a wonderful group this committee is, finding ways for seniors to connect. A number of those present are quite active and sure don't seem old. There are others who are less steady on their pins, or in wheelchairs, and who are still very alive inside despite the fact their bodies are letting them down. Our oldest member, who will be 103 in September (God willing,) managed to get out and while she couldn't hear a word she enjoyed herself. I teased her that the shortcake was as big as she is. It is important that people aren't isolated due to infirmity. I'm sure most of them feel as young inside as the day they married.
It seems to be the fashion these days to criticize organized religion and what churches offer to the community. There aren't many organizations that take the time to care for our elderly and our folk do so in Christ's name.
What a wonderful group this committee is, finding ways for seniors to connect. A number of those present are quite active and sure don't seem old. There are others who are less steady on their pins, or in wheelchairs, and who are still very alive inside despite the fact their bodies are letting them down. Our oldest member, who will be 103 in September (God willing,) managed to get out and while she couldn't hear a word she enjoyed herself. I teased her that the shortcake was as big as she is. It is important that people aren't isolated due to infirmity. I'm sure most of them feel as young inside as the day they married.
It seems to be the fashion these days to criticize organized religion and what churches offer to the community. There aren't many organizations that take the time to care for our elderly and our folk do so in Christ's name.
2 comments:
Would have loved to see the wedding dresses, but not the strawberries(deathly allergic to them).I do think the church does a great job looking after the seniors and the young, I think it is the middle age that sometimes seems to get left out or taken for granted.
I think congregations tend to spend the most time with those who are vulnerable, at either end of life. My sense is that it has always been that way.
Your comment gives me "cause for pause." During the past couple of weeks I have spent time with teens heading off to university in the Fall to talk through what will happen. And I have been in serious conversation and prayer with folk in their thirties and forties who are finding their way through significant challenges in relationships and the workplace. A hospital visit to a young couple who just had a child. I even dropped off a prayer shawl to a fellow in his twenties who has some big health problems (surprisingly well received.) Definitely not the demographic that gets the most attention, but you might be surprised by how much goes on behind the scenes.
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