ALOA seeks to be a resource to the Church that strengthens ministry by, for and with older adults. Resources listed have been reviewed and are considered helpful to older adult ministry.
ALOA Publications:
To order ALOA publications, send request with check to: ALOA Operations Center, 901 E. Stroop Road, Kettering, OH 45429. For information, call 1-800-930 ALOA (2562).
“Bless the Years” Liturgy and suggestions for implementation of a special service to honor seniors. Click here to download the Liturgy.
Guide for Older Adult Ministry” is a tool designed to assist congregations and other groups to plan and strengthen this ministry. Order from ALOA by calling
1-800-930-ALOA. Cost: $10 includes shipping and handling.
Lutherhostel Manual: A Guide for Organizing Lutherhostels is a tool for groups planning to sponsor ALOA Lutherhostels. Guide is free with ALOA consultation.
SeniorFest Manual: A Guide for Organizing SeniorFest Events is a tool for groups planning regional educational and fellowship events for older adults as part of ALOA's SeniorFest outreach program. Manual is free with ALOA consultation.
Share the Years is a discussion guide to 37 topics related to aging. Designed for use by Adult Forums, senior adult Sunday School classes, etc., the guide also serves as a Bible study and an opportunity for outreach to seniors in the community. Each topic offers suggestions for service opportunities for individuals, small groups and congregations. Share the Years comes in a convenient binder format. Churches are free to duplicate topics as needed; you need only one book per congregation.
Cost: $30 plus $5 for shipping. Note: Share the Years is provided as a courtesy to ALOA’s Covenant Congregations.
Workshops and Congregational Resources :
Adult Ministries: Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation by Richard Gentzler, Jr.,D. Min. Cokesbury. 2004.
Building a Ministry for Homebound and Nursing-Home Residents by Marie White Webb. Designed to equip lay persons to assume this responsibility. $8. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
The Building Blocks of Older Adult Ministry is an anthology edited by Donald R. Koepke and published by Haworth Pastoral press, Binghamton , NY . (2005) This resource is helpful for both establishing and revamping older adult ministry programs within congregations.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Our Help in Ages Past: The Black Church’s Ministry Among the Elderly by Bobby Joe Saucer with Jean Alicia Elster. Judson Press. 2005
"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 Reading People Over 50 by David Gallagher. $17.95. Published by Advent Source. 2002.
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.
Caregiving Resources:
Caregiving: Church & Family Together , by Marty Richards. $4.50. Geneva Press.
Caring for Elders: Mind, Body and Spirit , an Educational DVD for Stephen Minister Training or Adult Education. Facilitator’s Guide also provided. $99. Available from the Center for Spirituality and Ethics in Aging, dkoepke@frontportch.net.
Caring for the Caregiver is a comprehensive resource for congregations published by the Lutheran Deaconess Association at Valparaiso University. It includes devotions, sample agendas, study materials, and guidelines for surveying your congregation and community. There is also a 12-page annotated bibliography of resources on caregiving. The resource comes in a sturdy three-ring loose-leaf binder. Cost: $39.95 plus $5.50 for S&H. Additional copies available at $25 each. Order from the website: www.valpo.edu/lda/resources.html#caring.
Caring for Caregivers . Contact Alliance of Baptists, (206) 745-7609.
Caring Today. A magazine for family caregivers. Six issues for $12.95. Call 1-800-480-4851, or contact www.caringtoday.com.
The Family Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease . 5 DVDs and a study booklet. Contact Life View Resources, Inc., P.O. Box 290787 , Nashville , TN.
Lessons in Caregiving for the Dying, by William H. Griffith, Judson Press, Valley Forge , PA.
A Ministry of Caring: Leader’s Guide and Participant Workbook, by Duane A. Ewers, is a skill training course divided into 11 sessions. Designed to help participants become more sensitive to caring opportunities and develop skills for effective caring. Leader’s Guide: $8; Participant Workbook: $10. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
Parting: A Handbook for Spiritual Care Near the End of Life by Jennifer Sutton Holder & Jann Aldredge-Clanton. $8.95. Published by the Foundation for End-of-Life Care and the P. L. Dodge Foundation. This book is based on the Hospice model and stresses support and comfort, leaving control of the agenda up to the dying person.
Devotional/Meditation Resources:
…A Lot on My Mind, Lord , personal conversations with God, by Karl Lutze, Retired
Executive Director of the Lutheran Human Relations Association, Associate Professor of Theology, former parish pastor and former Executive Director of ALOA. Cost: $18, plus $5 for shipping. Order from Orchard House, Box 469 , Valparaiso , IN.
Fire in the Soul: A Prayer Book for the Later Years, by Richard L. Morgan. Classical and personal prayers for accepting aging, discerning meaning, facing loss and death, suffering, etc. $12. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
From Grim to Green Pastures: Meditations for the Sick and Their Caregivers, by Richard L. Morgan. Also useful for chaplains and visitation clergy. $10. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
Hope and Healing . A Bible study for people with long term illness. Order from Faith Lutheran Church , 314-846-8612, or download from www.faithlutheranstl.org.
I Never Found That Rocking Chair, by Richard L. Morgan. Meditations focused on the emotional and spiritual aspects of retirement. $12. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
No Wrinkles on the Soul: A Book of Readings for Older Adults, by Richard Morgan. 60 inspiring devotions for the varied lifestyles of older adults. $12. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
Strength for the Day. Monthly magazine for inspiration and strength during adversity. Concordia Publishing. $6-12 for bulk quantities; $15/year for subscription. Contact: 1-800-325-3040, or magazinestrength/"www.cph.org>magazines>strength for the day.
With Faces to the Evening Sun: Faith Stories from the Nursing Home by Richard L. Morgan. Meditations for people in nursing homes and their families. $12. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
10 Gospel Promises for Later Life, by Jane Marie Thibault. Upper Room Books. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
Pastor David L. Miller, Cornelsen Director of Spiritual Formation and Dean of the Chapel at the Lutheran School of Theology, blogs a Scripture passage and a prayer each weekday at www.prayingthemystery.globspot.com.
Large-Print Resources:
“Prayers & Psalms for Today” CD and The Large Print Book of Common Prayer includes prayers and psalms from The Book of Common Prayer of The Episcopal Church, USA. Donation requested. Contact Ann Dahlen at a.dahlen@att.net or largeprinthelp@att.net
Mentoring/Story Telling:
AIM: Adventures in Mentoring. Award-winning community mentoring program developed and modeled at Trinity Lutheran Church , Roselle , IL . For information and CD-ROM, contact Ken Black, ken@trinityroselle.com.
Parents and Grandparents as Spiritual Guides: Nurturing Children of the Promise, by Betty Shannon Cloyd. Explores different ways elders can introduce children to the presence of God. $13. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
Remembering Your Story: A Guide to Spiritual Autobiography by Richard L. Morgan. Remembering your story helps both the rememberer and those who share the story see how God continues to bless, love and prod us. $12. Leader’s Guide (“Map): $5. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
The Spirituality of Grandparenting, by Ralph Milton. Published by Wood Lake Publishing Inc. www.woodlakebooks.com.
Books:
Affirmative Aging: New Edition, edited by Joan E. Lukens. Published by Morehouse
Publishing, Harrisburg, PA.
Aging and Spirituality: Spiritual Dimensions of Aging Theory, Research, Practice and Policy by David O. Moberg. 2001.
Aging: The Fulfillment of Life, by Henri J.M. Nouwen and Walter J. Gaffney (1974). Published by Image Books, New York, NY.
Aging Well: The Complete Guide to Physical and Emotional Health by Jeanne Wei & Sue Levkoff. Published by John Wiley & Sons. 2000.
Aging Well: Surprising Guideposts to a Happier Life from the Landmark Harvard Study of Adult Development by George E. Vaillant. Published by Little, Brown & Company. 2002.
The Creative Age: Awakening Human Potential in the Second Half of Life, by Gene D. Cohen, M.D., Ph.D. Quill 2001
A Deepening Love Affair: The Gift of God in Later Life, by Jane Marie Thibault. Designed to enrich the spiritual life of older adults. $12. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
Faith & Mental Health: Religious Resources for Healing, by Harold G. Koenig, M.D. Published by Templeton Foundation Press, Philadelphia and London . Cost: $29.95.
Faith in the Future: Healthcare, Aging, and the Role of Religion by Harold G. Koenig and Douglas M. Lawson. Templeton Foundation Press. 2004
Finishing Well: Your Second Half of Living by Bob Buford. Published by Integrity Publishers, Nashville . 2004. Interviews with 60 remarkable people give insights into significance, life journeys and retirement planning.
God’s Path to Golden Splendor , by J. H. Martin, Publish America , Baltimore , MD.
Growing Old in Christ is an anthology of serious theological reflections on what it means to grow old in today's world. Published in 2003 by the William B. Erdmans Publishing Company. Available in bookstores.
A History of Old Age edited by Pat Thane. Published by the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles . 2005. A review of how the Western World has treated old age.
Honoring African American Elders: A Ministry in the Soul Community, edited by Anne Streaty Wimberly. Published in 1997 by Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA.
I Will to You: Leaving a Legacy for Those You Love by Herb Brokering. Published by Augsburg Press. 2006. (Can also be used as a daily devotional.)
It Ain't Over Till It's Over is a user's guide to the second half of life, written by William E. Diehl and Judith Ruhe Diehl. This book is a helpful guide to an active, engaged, and spirited retirement. Available at www.augsburgbooks.com. Online cost: $10.39 plus shipping and handling.
Keep Your Brain Young: The Complete Guide to Physical and Emotional Health and Longetivity by Guy McKhann, et al. 2003.
Life After Fifty, edited by Katie Funk Weibe. Faith & Life Press, Newton , KS . (Ms. Weibe, a Mennonite, leads workshops on older adult ministry.)
My Time: Making the Most of the Rest of Your Life by Abigail Trafford. 2003.
The Power Years, by Ken Dychtwald and Daniel Kadlec. Published by John Wiley & Son, Inc. 2005. Encourages pursuing dreams, deepening relationships, and achieving financial freedom.
Purpose and Power in Retirement, by Harold G. Koenig. Published by Templeton Foundation Press, 2006. Ideal resource for "boomers.”
Rituals for the Celebration of Later Life, by M. Dosia Carlson. $4.95. Published by Geneva Press.
Spiritual Marketplace: Baby-boomers and the Remaking of American Religion. Written by Wade Clark Roof, published by Princeton University .
Successful Aging, by John W. Rowe & Robert L. Kahn. Published by Dell.
Winter Grace: Spirituality and Aging, by Kathleen Fischer. This hopeful book demonstrates how the losses of aging can lead to freedom and new life. $12. www.upperroom.org/bookstore.
ALOA Golf Shirts :
Order a high quality cotton golf shirt with the ALOA logo. Choice of five popular colors: white, black, red, slate blue, stone beige. Available in sizes S-M-L-XL-XXL-3XL. Specify ladies' or men's, color, and size. Cost: $25 plus shipping and handling. To order call: 1-800-930-ALOA.
Useful Websites :
Click on the name to link to the site.
· American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging – www.aahsa.org
· American Society on Aging – www.asaging.org
· Association for Lifelong Adult Ministry (ALAM) — www.lifelongadultministry.org
· Center for Aging and Spirituality – www.spiritualityandaging.org
· Christian Association of Senior Adult Ministries (CASA) — www.gocasa.org
· Church Resources, Inc. — www.elderministry.com
· Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — www.elca.org
· Forum on Religion, Spirituality and Aging – www.asaging.org/forsa
· Geriatric Mental Health Foundation – www.treatmenthelps.org
· Johnson Institute for Lifelong Adult Ministry – www.lifelongadultministry.org
· Lutheran Church Missouri Synod — www.lcms.org
· Lutherans Online — www.lutheransonline.com
· Lutheran Services of America – www.lutheranservices.org
· National Council on Aging – www.NCOA.org
· Wheat Ridge Ministries — www.wheatridge.org
STRENGTHEN YOUR SENIOR MINISTRY WITH ALOA RESOURCES!
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