Agingwell F
Congregations help seniors connect & serve By Cindy Novak
red Loichinger said he’s never been part of anything like this: “To have friends you can talk with about anything and it never leaves the room. We help each other deal with a lot of different situations.” Through GEMS (Grumpy Elderly Men’s Group), Loichinger and about 15 others from Advent Lutheran Church, Madison, Wis., meet weekly for fellow- ship and book discussion. “We have serious conversations and share what is in our hearts and on our minds without feeling judged or wrong,” said Al Heggen. “We respect each person and their unique history and convictions.”
Advent even has a second group aimed at senior men: Sensitive New Age Guys (SNAG). It’s more relaxed and has no formal agenda. Ken Johnson’s father told him he envies him for having friends through SNAG, but also con- tinued connections with high school and college friends. “For men of my father’s generation, fellowship with men wasn’t some- thing they did,” Johnson said. “They didn’t get together to have conver- sations … on common issues like aging parents and health concerns. … As you age, you have a desire to revisit the basis of your faith and what keeps you attached to the church. If you were to ask the men in this group why they’re still church members, most would probably credit the support they feel in the group. … Each one has a good perspective. The discussions are pretty thoughtful and passionate.” Like Loichinger, Heggen and Johnson, seniors involved in older adult ministries in ELCA con-
Barb Bills (left), visiting here with Marion Campbell, says socializing, exercising and education programs were just what she needed when she started attending WOW (Wellness on Wednesdays) for senior citi- zens at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Webster, N.Y. Those are the same things churches can, and do, offer, says Bruce Roberts, Northfield, Minn.
Novak is a freelance writer and member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Naperville, Ill.
30 The Lutheran •
www.thelutheran.org
gregations enjoy friendship, support and even fun, said Bruce Roberts, professor emeritus of psychology, St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn. But they gain something more—a sense of well-being. “The church is one of the very few organizations in our culture that offers the critical components of well-being: a sense of belonging, a feeling that people care about me and I care about them; and a sense of contribution, a feeling that I still am able to do things for other people that are meaningful,” he said. Roberts began exploring the topic last year while preparing to teach a course called “Aging, the Church and Well-Being.” To gain real-life examples, he placed a classified ad in The Lutheran to solicit examples of how the church enables people 65 and older to feel like they matter. He also wrote a “My view” article on the topic in the magazine (August 2011, page 49).
As a result, Roberts received these MEGAN DAILOR
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