Home Equipping Leaders Older Adults Celebration of Aging

Celebration of Aging

This service is designed to celebrate God's good gift of aging to all humanity. This worship service is meant to lift up older adults and the contributions they make to the life of the church. We will celebrate their wisdom, their guidance, and their presence in our community of faith. All leadership in this service should be performed by older adults. Effort should be made to bring shut-ins to this experience.

Call to Worship: Psalm 148

Processional Hymn: 636, "Christian People, Raise Your Song," United Methodist Hymnal

(Elders of the church should be invited to process down the center aisle of the church and may be seated in the front.)

Hymn: 700, "Abide with Me," United Methodist Hymnal

Opening Prayer

Gracious and Ageless God,
We come to you this morning
with grateful hearts
for your good gift of aging.
Bless this time together,
Reveal yourself to us
so that in all seasons of life,
We may serve the One
Whose Kingdom has no end.
Amen.

Litany for the Celebration of Aging

(Adapt this litany from the hymn "I Sing a Song of the Saints of God," 712, United Methodist Hymnal, and invite participants of different ages to lift up the words. Older adults read verse 1; non-older adults read verse 2; and all read verse 3.)

Sharing of Joys and Concerns
(With particular emphasis on shut-ins.)

Pastoral Prayer

God of Wisdom
You surely are our Rock of ages
Now and in all things.
We praise you this morning
For the ordering of creation
As we all walk toward being
United with you.
Guide our journeys, God,
For we confess that we have not
Always loved you with our
Whole hearts.
As our bodies age,
As we grow tired,
As we struggle with illness and affliction,
We all too often turn from you.
Re-direct us toward you, O Lord.
Create in us clean hearts,
Even as we lift our prayers
For those who need your healing touch.
(Silent Prayer)
Conclusion of prayer with Lord's Prayer.

Scripture Readings
2 Kings 2:1-13
Luke 5:39

Three Short Messages
(Lifted up by older adults of the congregation who have been invited to talk about the meaning of their faith as they age.)

Communion Hymn: "I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry," 2051, The Faith We Sing

Communion
(Served by elders of the congregation)

Closing Hymn: "Blessed Assurance," 369, United Methodist Hymnal

Contact Us for Help

View staff by program area to ask for additional assistance.

Related


Subscribe

* indicates required

Please confirm that you want to receive email from us.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. For information about our privacy practices, please read our Privacy Policy page.

We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.