Congregational Resources

Workshops and Congregational Resources :

Adult Ministries: Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation: An Inquiry Approach by Richard Gentzler, Jr., D. Min. Cokesbury. 2004.

Aging and Ministry in the 21st Century by Richard Gentzler, Jr.A structured approach to implementing ministries by, with and for older adults. $13.00. www.UpperRoom.org/bookstore. 

Building a Ministry for Homebound and Nursing-Home Residents by Marie White Webb. Designed to equip lay persons to assume this responsibility. $8.

Catch the Age Wave, by Charles & Win Arn. $13.86. Published by Nazarene Publishing; Beacon Hill Press. 1999.

Christ Alone—Older Adult Ministry Workshop: Growing Congregations in a Culture of Mass-Aging. Church Resources, Inc. offers workshops on the use of Senior Ministry Inventories to strengthen congregations and better prepare them to face the challenges of mass-aging. For information, contact CRI at www.elderministry.com.

Designing an Older Adult Ministry by Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. 1999. Explains "why" older adult ministry and offers tools and planning models. $12. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.

Dimensions of Older Adult Ministry: A Handbook, edited by Richard L. Morgan. Commissioned by the Presbyterian Church ( USA ). 14 contributing authors write on timely topics that deal with the "age wave," and provide excellent questions for discussion. $15.95. Call 1-800-524-2612, or contact www.pcusa.org/marketplace.

Eldergames. From yesterday's headlines to flashbacks of music and comedy stars, to holiday trivia, The National Council on Aging's games for older adults are designed for fun and intellectual stimulation. An ElderTrivia Sampler Set contains 4 volumes. $20 plus $4.50 postage. A 7 volume set is available for $46, plus $4.50 postage. To order call 1-800-373-4906.

Forty-Sixty: A Study for Midlife Adults Who Want to Make a Difference, by Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. and Craig Kennet Miller. For use in small groups; helps midlife adults recognize and understand the unique problems of midlife and suggests ways to cope constructively. $10.  www.upperroom.org/bookstore.

The Graying of the Church: A Leader's Guide for Older Adult Ministry in the United Methodist Church by Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. A companion book for Designing an Older Adult Ministry. $12. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.

The Graying of the Flock: A New Model for Ministry by James L. Knapp. 2003.

Growing Old in Christ, edited by Stanley Hauerwas, Carole Bailey Stoneking, Keith G. Meador and David Cloutier, William B.Eerdmans Publishing, 2003. www.eerdmans.com.
Health and Wellness by Jill Westberg MacNamara (daughter of Granger Westberg, founder of the parish nurse movement). Practical book to help congregations establish a health cabinet in the local parish. For churches who desire to minister holistically—mind, body and spirit. Pilgrim Press, Cleveland, OH, 2006.

Heartwarmers. Heartwarmers produces 4 series of song-leading videos to meet varying needs and environments. They produce a "Pure Fun" series and a "Pure Inspiration" series as well as seasonal series. For information call 1-888-256-7322 or consult www.heartwarmers.org. 

Lutheran Spirituality Series--
Prayer: We Speak to God by John Kleinig
Word: God Speaks to Us by John T. Pless
An Adult Bible study series from Concordia Press. Call 1-800-325-3040 or visit www.cph.org. $7.99 each. 

Midlife Manual for Men, by Stephen Afterburn and John Shore. Book, Leader's Guide, CD-Rom and group leader kit available. Bethany House. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7642-0545-3. 

Ministering to Older Adults, edited by Donald R. Koepke. A practical, insightful book for enriching the lives of older congregants. Good resource for a congregational leader or task force charged with helping older adults mature gracefully and gratefully. The Hawthorn Pastoral Press, Binghampton, NY. 2005.

New Beginnings: The Gifts of Aging. This video produced by the Center of Aging & Older Adult Ministries, United Methodist Church, gives short stories of older adults and the role faith plays in their churches and communities. There are vignettes on several ministries particularly suited to older adults. Available in DVD or VHS. $15. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.

One Church, Four Generations: Understanding and Reading All Ages in Your Church by Gary L. McIntosh. 2002.

Parish Ministry for Maturing Adults: Principles, Plans & Bold Programs by Richard Johnson, Published by Twenty-Third Publications, New London , CT. 2007. Written from a Roman Catholic perspective, Johnson's 15th book on senior ministry is an excellent guide for embracing aging as a gift from God.

2008 Older Adult Ministries Planning Guide. A tool for honoring older adults and celebrating their Christian service. Presbyterian Older Adult Ministries Network. www.pcusa.org/marketplace.

Our Help in Ages Past: The Black Church's Ministry Among the Elderly by Bobby Joe Saucer with Jean Alicia Elster. Judson Press. 2005

Policy and Program Planning for Older Adults by Elaine Therese Jurkowski. Springer Publishing Company, New York, NY. 2008. Insights and a vision for the future in terms of supporting an aging society.

"Resources for the Whole People of God." Series of Reproducible Small Group Discussion Resources from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia's Theological Education for Laity Project: Aging is NOT a Disease by John Jorgenson and How Shall I Live, Knowing That I Will Die by George Keck Reproducible Studies are available in two formats: notebook or through downloading. Cost: Notebook version: $34.95; Download version: $24.95; Order from website: www.Ltsp.edu. Click on "Theological Education for Laity."

Rock of Ages: A Worship and Songbook for Retirement Living, edited by Richard H. Genzler, Jr., Daniel T. Benedict, Jr. and Dean B. McIntyre. A large print ecumenical songbook and worship guide for use in nursing homes and retirement centers. $13. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.

Senior Adult Ministry in the 21 st Century: Step-by-Step Strategies for Reaching People Over 50 by David Gallagher. $17.95. Published by Advent Source. 2002.

Significant Living Seminars: Guidance for Life & Faith after 50. Series of 8 DVDs on topics of interest to seniors: finances, faith, health and well being. $9.95 per topic, or $54.95 for set of 8. www.SL50.org.

10 Gospel Promises for Later Life, by Jane Marie Thibualt. Each chapter addresses a specific fear related to aging—and the Gospel response. Useful for small groups and Sunday School classes. $12. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.

Understanding the Senior Adult, a Tool for Wholistic Ministry, written by Lois D. Knutson. Order by email: kairostpt@yahoo.com or call: 507-297-5485. Cost: $22.95 plus $3.95 shipping and handling.

White Unto Harvest: Evangelizing Today's Senior Adults , by Charles Arn. $14.95. Published by Church Growth, Inc. www.churchgrowth.net.

Winter of Christian Life: The Generations Consider Difficult Choices. By Judith B. and Richard H. Reuning, LifeCrossings: Resources for Life's Choices. The Reunings also provide workshops on these topics. Prices vary depending on quantity. Contact LifeCrossings at (614) 451-0519, or www.lifecrossings.com.

Several practical resource books are available from the General Council of Assemblies of God. Call 1-800-641-4310, or contact them at www.sam.ag.org.