Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church Older Adult Ministries Council. Forever Green Older Adult Recognition Sunday

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1 Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church Older Adult Ministries Council Forever Green 2012 Older Adult Recognition Sunday

2 Older Adult Recognition In April 2008, General Conference adopted legislation inviting congregations to celebrate Older Adult Recognition Day each year during the month of May. The Virginia Annual Conference was well ahead of this legislation when in 2006 the first Sunday in May of each year was designated as Older Adult Recognition Sunday. Through an Older Adult Recognition Sunday, United Methodists are invited to show appreciation and support for older adults who continue to enrich and strengthen our faith communities. This Sunday should also call the church to action in addressing the needs of older adults in the congregation and community. Older United Methodists are more active in community life than ever before, thanks in part to advances in health care, education, technology, and financial stability over the last several decades that have greatly increased their vitality and standard of living. Older adults are out and about giving back and making a difference in their church and community. Our seniors are mentoring the church leaders of tomorrow, taking to heart the need for intergenerational learning to guide and inspire young minds. They offer a take on times gone by not discussed in any history class a unique perspective that sheds new light on contemporary issues. Older United Methodists help one another as disciples of Jesus Christ. Across the country, they connect with other seniors by delivering meals, helping with home repair, assisting with shopping, and offering companionship and care. Their efforts remind us that when older adults are active and engaged in their communities, everyone benefits. Invite your church to celebrate Older Adult Recognition Sunday! Your congregation can choose the first Sunday in May or another date that best fits your need. Join your neighbors not only to recognize what older adults bring to our congregations, but also to help them continue playing a vital role in weaving a unique and lasting community fabric. For additional resource help visit: RESOURCES.PDF The following worship service suggestions are offered by the Virginia Conference Older Adult Council. Tailor the suggestions to your congregation. For more information about Older Adult Ministries, contact: Older Adult Ministries Council Center for Lay Leadership Excellence Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church PO Box 5606, Glen Allen, VA Phone: (804) or (800) ext. 153 or 154 Website:

3 Forever Green Lectionary Readings for May 6, Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord, 31 and proclaim his deliverance to a people yet unborn, saying that he has done it. Psalm 22:25-31 (NRSV) 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, I love God, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. 1 John 4:7-21 (NRSV) 5 I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:1-8 (NRSV) Greeting Dear Friends: We come together as the church to praise God for the many blessings we receive. Today, we recognize the older adults of our congregation and pray that we may all be strengthened in God's will and purpose for our lives. As we join together as the family of God, may each member of the family feel God's Holy Spirit as we worship. Written by Mable Knotts, Farmville District Leader: Let us love one another. People: Love is from God. Litany Based on John 15:1-8 and 1 John 4:7-21 Leader: God loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning sacrifice for our sins. People: God loved us so much we ought to love one another. Leader: Those who abide in Christ and Christ in them bear much fruit. People: He removes every branch that bears no fruit and prunes every branch to make it bear more fruit. Leader: Abide in Christ as Christ abides in you. People: You cannot bear fruit unless you abide in Christ. All: My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit, love one another and become My disciples. Written by Joan Tipton, Farmville District

4 Time With Children Making Your Garden Grow Tools needed for Children s Time - You will need for each child: A flower pot filled with soil/dirt Flower seeds Small cup of water Just one bag/bottle of plant food/fertilizer to show Have you ever planted a seed? Today we are going to plant flower seeds and you are going to watch them grow. First, let s plant the seeds in the pots filled with dirt. Just make a hole, put in the seeds, and cover over the seeds with dirt. Next, we need to water the soil. You are going to take the pot home with you, put it in a sunny, warm spot in your house and WAIT. In a short time 7-14 days- if you look closely in your pot, you may see some tiny green sprouts breaking through the dirt. We will need to give our plant some fertilizer (food) and water to strengthen it as it grows. We also need to watch for bugs in our pots and make sure we pull out any weeds that might grow in our pots. Before long we are going to have a pretty flower growing on our green plant, showing the good care we have given our seeds. Our seeds will grow, remain green, and produce because of the care they have been given. But what happens if we forget to take our flower pot home, or take it home, set it in a warm sunny place, and forget about it? Without water, the seed will be thirsty and the soil will become hard. Without food, it is hard for the seed to grow and will not have the strength to break through the hard soil. It will die. The same is true with our lives. As we hear/learn about God, good seeds are planted in our hearts. To grow, these seeds need to be watered and fed. As new, young seeds we get fed and watered by hearing the Bible stories and singing the songs, learning the Bible verses and learning how to pray. Mon and Dad, Grandparents, and family teach us these things and feed our heart seeds. Tiny seeds cared for become big, green, strong plants. We continue to learn in Sunday School and church, VBS, and youth groups. As we become mature plants, we remain green and bloom, sharing with others. We read and study our Bibles, we pray for ourselves and others, we begin to tell the stories from memory, and we do deeds for others. Mature plants fed well continue to bloom. With daily care, we can remain forever green with God. Written by Annie Pierce, Harrisonburg District

5 Prayer for Older Adult Sunday Gracious Lord, Creator of this magnificent universe and all that is in it, we sing praises to your Holy name. You are the true vine and we are the branches. From you we draw life. From you we are filled with streams of living water. In the season of our lives when we see our days growing shorter, prune away anything which interferes with our service to you and fill us to overflowing that we may be fruitful and draw others to the joy of life in you. We ask these things in the name of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen. Written by Rev. Suzanne Schmid Spencer, Eastern Shore District Hymn Suggestions From The United Methodist Hymnal: From The Faith We Sing: Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty - #64 Life Giving Bread - #2261 For The Beauty of the Earth - #92 Sanctuary - #2164 To God Be The Glory - #98 Let us Break Bread Together - #618 How Firm A Foundation - #529 All Hail The Power of Jesus Name - #155 When We All Get to Heaven - #701 He Leadeth Me: O Blessed Thought - #128 Fill My Cup, Lord - #641 Take Our Bread - #640 Suggested by Rev. William Freeman, Richmond District Sermon Starters SCRIPTURE: Psalm 1:1-4; I John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8 I. INTRODUCTION: JOY AND SATISFACTION There is JOY in growing things and SATISFACTION in harvesting the fruit of our labors. Some gardeners specialize in flowers; some in vegetables. Some farmers grow grain or run truck farms, tree farms, or orchards. The JOY and SATISFACTION of growing things is spoiled by poor harvests, fruitlessness, or failed crops. Various causes: Drought causes crops to wither away. Prolonged rain and high winds may uproot trees. Insects and blight may destroy crops. Animals may damage or destroy from squirrels uprooting the impatiens to deer nibbling at the vegetables. Weeds may take over the garden. Insufficient pruning may limit the production.

6 For the Christian, life is a process of growth towards perfection in love. We are called to grow, to make progress in bearing fruit (see fruits of the Spirit Galatians 5:22). We are NOT called to remain static, stunted, passive. Without growth, we wither and die, like sere (dry) cornstalks during a drought. II. NOURISHED AND WATERED BY THE SPIRIT We need to be NOURISHED and WATERED by the SPIRIT, in order for growth and fruitfulness to occur. A. Through Bible Study. Psalm 1:1-4: BLESSED is the righteous man: His delight is in the Law of the Lord, on which he meditates continually.he is like a tree planted by the water; its leaf does not wither. The wicked are not so. B. Through prayer and worship John 15:1-8: We need to ABIDE in Christ (remain rooted in Christ); we cannot bear fruit unless we abide in Him (15:4). Apart from me, you can do nothing. (15:5) My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples (15:8) III. GOD PRUNES AND CLEANSES AS WE GROW OLDER God PRUNES US (John 15:2) and CLEANSES us (John 15:3) as we grow older. Through failure, disappointment, sickness, or tragedy (Used not caused by God). As a result, if we abide in Christ, we grow toward perfection in love. (I John 4:12), Older folk can often serve as role models for younger people. (Use one or more illustrations of mature adults you know in your family or congregation who seem good, loving, saintly because they have been abiding in Christ through Bible reading, prayer, meditation, worship, service to others, etc.) The unfruitful are discarded and destroyed (John 15:2-3, 6), We bring judgment upon ourselves by rejecting God s grace. The fruitful ones, however, enjoy abundant earthly life and inherit the fulfillment of eternal life, which begins in the here and now. IV. CONCLUSION: Older, more mature folk, who abide in the Lord, are a valuable asset to the congregation, the family, and to society at large. They continue to grow towards perfect love, bearing much fruit. In heaven, they shall be FOREVER GREEN. Written by Rev. David Lewis, James River District