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There are years that ask questions and years that answer. — Zora Neale Hurston For Next Time 1. Write in Your Journal Consider the most influential people in your life. Divide pages into thirds and title each third of a page with a decade; for example, birth to age 10, age 11-20, and so on. Then,...

By Donald M. Murray. Copyright 1996, in The Boston Globe. Reprinted by permission of The Rosenberg Group on behalf of the Author’s estate. I’m doing a class project on aging America. What’s it like to be a golden ager? Old. Excuse me? Not elderly, not senior citizen, never golden ager. I’m...

Activity time: 10 minutes Post the closing words so all can see them. Spread out Blessing Cards, text side down, and invite each participant to take one. Then take a card and read your blessing aloud. Invite participants in turn to share their blessings aloud. Allow a pause between each blessing.

Activity time: 5 minutes Distribute Handout 2, Looking Ahead to Workshop 2. Go over its contents, and answer any questions.

Activity time: 35 minutes Introduce the activity with these or similar words: Today and every day, we are still evolving, still developing our inner self, which we call our spiritual self, our soul, the essence of our being....

Activity time: 20 minutes Say: What comes to mind when you think of aging? Most likely there are some negative things. Invite the group to brainstorm a list of negative aspects of aging. Pace the brainstorm slowly so there is time for agreement, laughter, sadness, wistfulness, and other responses.

Activity time: 10 minutes Share the contents of Leader Resource 1, Valuing Elderhood. Invite comments.

Activity time: 10 minutes Model personal introductions for the group by sharing your name and age. Invite participants to introduce themselves. You might say: As we go around the group, please say your name clearly and your years of life experience—also known as your age. This sets the tone for...

Activity time: 20 minutes Encourage participants to chat over lunch. As lunch draws to a close, distribute Handout 1, Over Sixty: The Good Life Comes with Old Age. With your co-leader or a volunteer, read the column aloud. Pace the reading; allow time for laughter.

Arrange for coffee, tea, and water at the workshop. Arrange for furniture set-up: For large group: Place tables in a horseshoe arrangement (leaders at the head table, chairs around outside of tables)....

Coffee, tea, and water service items Tissues (for participant use) Newsprint, markers, and tape Chalice, candle, and lighter, or LED battery-operated candle Cloth and decorations for worship table: flowers, leaves, plant, small sculpture, or other decorative items Chime or bell for signaling time...

This workshop introduces the idea of elderhood as a creative and important time of life, a time to search inside, integrate experiences, and cultivate wisdom. Rituals and activities for the program, such as journaling, sharing blessings, and allowing for silence between speakers, will be...

We welcome your critique of this program, as well as your suggestions. Thank you for your feedback! Your input improves programs for all of our congregations....

Preregister participants for the program, making sure they understand that each workshop builds on the one before, and there is some preparation for participants to do for each workshop. If you charge a small materials fee, make sure that there are scholarships available. Make it as welcoming as...

A number of materials require advance preparation or purchase, as follows: Order copies of Five Wishes (include one for yourself) well in advance of the program and be familiar with the document before Workshop 5. Ordering information can be found at www.agingwithdignity.org...

The program has six workshops. The two-hour time frame for each workshop includes 20 minutes for lunch, either brown bag or a lunch you have arranged. It is recommended that the program be offered midday, because some potential participants may not drive at night or may avoid evening activities.

We welcome your critique of this program, as well as your suggestions. Thank you for your feedback! Your input improves programs for all of our congregations....