Advent is here!  And, during all the busy preparation for gifting at Christmas, let us all remember to take time to quiet our hearts and minds and be present to ourselves and to those whom we love.  As I grow older, I think this gift of presence may be the best gift we can give to one another.

I invite you to our Christmas Lunch 'N' Learn at St. George’s Parish, Washington DC on Wednesday, December 14th from noon to 2pm.  Fr. Harris will bless a very special set of gifts to older adults at our worship service.  We will also enjoy a Christmas Buffet lovingly prepared by Mary Ann Wilmer and parishioners of St. George’s.  Please bring non perishable food items for the food pantry of Seabury's Ward 5 services and/or  scarves or gloves for children.  Parking is available “on the street”.  And, we can enjoy the church’s elevator from the church to the parish hall.  Invite a friend to attend with you AND be sure to RSVP by December 9th to me at 202-414-6314 or ashaw@seaburyresources.org.

After the Lunch 'N' Learn, you are invited to an Open House at Seabury Resources for Aging's Ward 5 service office from 2pm to 4pm.  The address is 2900 Newton St, NE. (at Rhode Island Ave.)

I look forward to seeing you this month.  Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Annie

Annie Shaw
Director, Congregational Resources
Seabury Resources for Aging

4201 Butterworth Place, NW

Washington DC 20016
(202) 414-6314
AShaw@seaburyresources.org
www.seabury4congregations.org

Staying active within their ministries describes the ways in which some of our older adults at St. Mary Magdalene, Wheaton Parish engage with life. These parishioners love to stay involved in the life of the parish and we thank God that they do! Age is not an issue and some of them will let you know that they are not senior citizens. Our older adults serve in the following ministries: Altar Guild, Lectors, Executive committee of the vestry, Office Volunteers, Prayer Group,  Daughters of the King, Brotherhood of St. Andrew, Fellowship events, the Choir, Ushers, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, and the Thrift Shop -- and they love to bake cakes and pies!  

More than what they do, many of our vintage folk model what it means to be a Christian – they are open to learn through our weekly Bible study and participate in spiritual deepening through a rule of life as members of the Daughters of the King and the Brotherhood of St. Andrew or within the community where they live. Recognizing that no one has a patent on Jesus, regardless of one’s years in the church, many of our “elders” at St. Mary Magdalene humbly grow in and from their relationship with God, with the community of faith and with all those in the wider world in which we live and serve daily.

Pastoral care is one of the most important aspects of parish life, and we are restructuring our pastoral network to better meet the needs of our older adults. At the present time, the rector and parishioners participate in hospital visitation and visits to the homebound. Some of the older adults have developed close friendships/relationships with other parishioners. Plans are on the way to structure a more robust cadre of services for our older adults in 2012 and to include the homebound in the lives of our young people.

In order to meet other needs of our senior members, we have planned periodic open forums, discussion groups, presentations from healthcare professionals, and other services as identified by the seniors themselves during 2012. We look forward to exciting times ahead as our older adults continue to be a vibrant part of the parish, serving together to meet the needs of young and old alike.