On Wednesday, December 11th, our creative and generous deacons and several assistants provided a delicious lunch to twenty-eight “seasoned souls.” The tables were beautifully set. The menu included a choice of three homemade soups: squash, pea and vegetable. Everyone was given a plant. After the meal, everyone gathered in a circle for some carolling and a $5 gift exchange.
Our monthly gathering of sixty-somethings in our church has now been in existence for a decade. From the beginning, we have had the vision of being not only a multi-cultural and multi-ability church, but also a multi-generational church. That’s why we made a point of offering a ministry to seniors in addition to our kids and youth programs, and our many small groups. So for several years, I met with a small but faithful core: Corrie, Wayne, Jackie and Harold.
When we moved into our new facilities five years ago this month and changed the name and format of the group, both interest and numbers increased. It turned out that most seniors balked at being identified as Sixty Plus, whereas they liked being called “Seasoned Souls.” I also learned that people preferred singing, socializing and guided conversations called “Tabletalks” about topics like war memories, grateful living and coping with regrets.
Members of this generation can be serious, but they also like to have fun. That was obvious during the gift exchange when hearty laughter erupted time and time again as people exercised their right to swap their gift for one that they liked better. One gift in particular, a beautiful scarf from the Philippines, caught everybody’s eye and sparked the most trades. I scored it eventually and slung it around my neck. Everyone agreed that it would make a great stole for a special Sunday. But that did not stop the next person from stealing it from me.
So sad! But that’s the challenge of multi-generational ministry and the risk you take when you match wits with such seasoned souls!
- Pastor Peter
Our monthly gathering of sixty-somethings in our church has now been in existence for a decade. From the beginning, we have had the vision of being not only a multi-cultural and multi-ability church, but also a multi-generational church. That’s why we made a point of offering a ministry to seniors in addition to our kids and youth programs, and our many small groups. So for several years, I met with a small but faithful core: Corrie, Wayne, Jackie and Harold.
When we moved into our new facilities five years ago this month and changed the name and format of the group, both interest and numbers increased. It turned out that most seniors balked at being identified as Sixty Plus, whereas they liked being called “Seasoned Souls.” I also learned that people preferred singing, socializing and guided conversations called “Tabletalks” about topics like war memories, grateful living and coping with regrets.
Members of this generation can be serious, but they also like to have fun. That was obvious during the gift exchange when hearty laughter erupted time and time again as people exercised their right to swap their gift for one that they liked better. One gift in particular, a beautiful scarf from the Philippines, caught everybody’s eye and sparked the most trades. I scored it eventually and slung it around my neck. Everyone agreed that it would make a great stole for a special Sunday. But that did not stop the next person from stealing it from me.
So sad! But that’s the challenge of multi-generational ministry and the risk you take when you match wits with such seasoned souls!
- Pastor Peter
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