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SPIRITUAL VITALITY AFTER 70 November 19, 2011 Virginia Theological Seminary

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II Corinthians 4: 7-9, 16-17 But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us.

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We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...

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So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal wealth of glory beyond all comparison.

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Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot

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Richard Rohr

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YOUNG OLDER OLD OLD

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dabrooks@nytimes.com

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There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics

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The Elderly Sub-Populations

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Pew Research Center November 7, 2011

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Margaret Cruikshank Aging in contemporary America is so complex and multidimensional that studying it is worthwhile, even necessary, for those who wish to do it consciously and without fear. Source Margaret Cruikshank, Learning to Be Old: Gender, Culture, and Aging (2003), ix

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Simone de Beauvoir There is one form of experience that belongs only to those who are old that of old age itself. The young have only vague and erroneous notions of it. Source Simone de Beauvoir, The Coming of Age, trans by Patrick O'Brian (1996), 381.

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Aging as a Spiritual Practice http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ORvUZou0Ak by Lewis Richmond

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Spiritual Well-Being Affirmation of life; the ability to say yes to life in spite of negative circumstances. By being a part of a community of faith, people grow to accept the past, live into the present and seek the hope of fulfillment in the future. Source Thorson, J. A., ed. Perspectives on Spiritual Well-Being and Aging. Charles C. Thomas Publishers LTD, 2000, xiii.

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Theorists Who Shaped Erikson Erik Erikson Charles Darwin Sigmund Freud Anna Freud Heinz Hartmann Maria Montessori Margare t Mead

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Eriksons Stages of Psychosocial Development

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Gerotranscendence Increased feeling of affinity with past generations, & decreased interest in superfluous social interaction Feeling of cosmic awareness, & redefinition of time, space, life and death. Individual becomes less self-occupied & more selective in choice of social and other activities. Individual might experience decrease in interest in material things. Solitude becomes more attractive Source: In Thomas, Bill. Post on Changing Aging Blogstream, Feb. 3, 2011. http://changingaging.org/blog/2011/02/03/gerotranscendence/

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Deepening Spirituality All Ages 1. Finding worth in ones being, not through having or doing 2. Accepting ones life journey and faith story 3. Confronting losses and accepting gains 4. Experiencing a new (or renewed) relationship with God 5. Serving the needs of others Source: Gentzler, R. H. and Clingan, D. F. Gods Challenge to the Church and Synagogue. Discipleship Resources, 2003.

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COME BACK AT 1pm!

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Zones of Emotion Vedantam, S. Older Americans May be Happier than Younger Ones. In The Washington Post, July 14, 2008, p. A04.

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Principles of Parish Ministry for Maturing Adults Part of parish plan Pay attention to three dimensions of growth: spiritual, physical, & psychological Employ styles of teaching unique to people being served

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Principles for Parish Ministry Assume God is calling each person to a profound personal vocation Shift focus of ministry to shared activities & shared growth in faith and life Welcome elders into mainstream

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Principles for Parish Ministry Embrace a goal of spiritual transformation Offer programming that rises out of the real situation in which elders live Focus on both interior and exterior growth Be Christ-centered Think: Developmental, ongoing, & lifelong Honor diversity of age, stage, personality, ethnicity, & spirituality Source: Johnson, R. P. Parish Ministry for Maturing Adults: Principles, Plans and Bold Proposals. Twenty-Third Publications, 2007, 15-16.

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Essential Programming Components Responsibility toward community, family, and church Thorough contemplation of death and eternity unless we can come to terms with our ultimate destination, we really wont have the wisdom to make those right decisions about the journey here

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Essential Components Provide time for solitude & meditation Recognize being alone being lonely Feel loss deeply Recognize movement toward giftedness in maturity Making and keeping friends Source: Davis, C. B. Spirituality and Aging, in Perspectives on Spiritual Well-Being and Aging, J.A. Thorson, ed. Springfield: Charles C. Thomas Publisher, 2000, p. 45-53.

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