Aging in Grace

AGING IN GRACE

Every morning as I wake up to aches and pains, I am reminded that I am getting older. Soooo thankful for the resources of ALOA (Adult Lutherans Organized for Action) that provide information for individuals like me who are aging and congregations who care about older adults. Two free webinars are offered in August and more are planned. And you can go to the website for devotions, ideas for churches, and caregiver support.

Each webinar will be 60 minutes max. No charge.

• August 22, 2019 Webinar – Noon ET
  ALOA 101 – An Introduction to ALOA Resources
  ALOA Executive Director Mark Schoepp will introduce participants to ALOA’s mission and strategy as well as walk through the “Blue Print for Ministry”. He will also review all the resources available to the local congregation through ALOA for strengthening ministry with and for older adults – both in the congregation and in the local community.
  Register in advance:
  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/1a9f2e4987d2b4a4cde7dc3c8da9331e
  After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with directions to join the webinar.
• August 28, 2019 Webinar –
  Seniors in Transition
  Mark Schoepp will interview Chrislyn Carson about “Seniors in Transition” – a resource to help older adults make pro-active decisions about one of the hardest decisions older adults face: where they will live in the later years of life. The discussion will go over the template to help congregations develop an interactive, 8-week class (for members and the community) that explores options for staying at home and for moving to a care facility.
  Register in advance:
  https://zoom.us/webinar/register/ab76f3f7e7d87232dc2040ba88984b7b
  After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with directions to join the webinar-
• For more information--https://aloaserves.org/

Thank you to Alice who keeps us informed 

about the wonderful resources of ALOA.

She may be contacted here:

Alice Hedt, Hyattsville Maryland 

 aliceahh@gmail.com

Welcome to Rev. Marcus and Kimberly Brietbarth

The assembled clergy for the installation

 of Rev. Marcus Breitbarth.

The blessings and prayers over the ministry family

 are always a wonderful time in the service.

Installations are a special time

 to celebrate in the life of a congregation.

We pray that the Lord's hand of grace blesses

 this ministry partnership 

at Living Hope in Stafford, Virginia

Visual Faith Retreat- ROC

Visual Faith Coaches on site in Roanoke, Virginia

 for the Summer Visual Faith Retreat

 at the SED Reaching Others for Christ Event.
We gathered on July 26-27, 2019.

LtoR- Jamee Thieme, Connie Denninger, 

Presenter Mary Hairston of Marydean Draws, 

Faye Krans, Merri Dennis, Belinda Bost,

Eve Waring, and Erika Radke.

Melody Hester, with Connie Denninger,
joined us on Saturday morning
 to tell us about her ministry of Umbrella prayers.
 She explained the Leader's Kits 
so that they could lead a Prayer event
 right in their own home congregation.

What a great way to encourage leaders!
Here is her website:
melodyhester.com/umbrella-prayers

We loved hearing the story of how
 Mary Hairston

connects "real life" with her faith art. 

She was our Saturday afternoon presenter.

We were blessed with a whole packet
 of Mary's art to use for projects, 
memory work and to send as greeting cards.
Here is her website:
http://www.marydeandraws

Our Friday evening Fellowship time

 included sharing time from 

Visual Faith Ministry coaches.

 Visual Faith Coach Belinda Bost 
shared a way to "recycle" worship bulletins.

Using watercolor to fill in and then cutting out letters

 and images for all sorts of journaling.

 Belinda also showed a fun way to "share" washi tape

 and a way to use the watercolor bulletins for Bible journaling.

The teaching time on Friday included
 learning about Doors into Prayer.
There was also time for looking at computer sites 
and how the Visual Faith Ministry resources
 might bless congregations.

Participants made a Doors into Prayer paper bag journal

 to gather the responses to the retreat 

and have a prayer journal ready to go. 

New friends that joined us:

top right- Donna Kunde   bottom right- Shauna Kent

bottom left- Nancy Nolley

 top left- Tabatha Hohenburger and Barbara Haines, 

with Visual Faith coach Kim Schlauch

Shauna Kent showed us her simple way

 to use a small notebook, with a pen doodle

 "take-away" for sermon notes. 

 Visual Faith Coach Eve Waring

 shared her Circle Wreath project

(found on Visual Faith Ministry Resources)

circle-wreath-project

 and had some kits for people to try.

Faye Krans, a new Visual Faith Coach

 shared a favorite project

 with the Family Prayer Cubes.

(soon to be on the Visual Faith website)

Jamee Thieme serves as a Visual Faith Coach

 and uses a journal to gather

 the Visual Church Year project printables for the 

her devotional practice during the week.

visual-church-year

Kim Schlauch shared a "tag garland"

 that they use at her church to remember

 gatherings and visual faith events. 

Top Right- Mary Hairston and Eve Waring

Bottom Right- Cathy Guske and Jamee Thieme

Bottom Left- Faye Krans and Cathy Guske

Top Left- Belinda Bost and Erika Radke with Hope

Time to learn about processes, bring encouragement,

and show techniques. 

The Blue Ridge Mountains provided a perfect backdrop

for this Visual Faith Event.

 Next year we are in Richmond- 

won't you plan to join us?