CURRICULUM
Welcome to the Spiritual Journey of Aging!
This cohort style course is designed to introduce you as a spiritual leader to the joys and challenges of aging in the United States in the 21st century, especially as they are experienced by evangelical protestants.
The experience of aging has changed significantly in recent decades due to several factors including medical, economic, and social factors. The increasing length of American lives is both a blessing and a challenge for families and elders themselves, but our cultural and theological foundations are not sufficient for understanding these or equipping the people we care for.
In this cohort you will connect with other spiritual leaders in eight 90 minute zoom sessions spaced out monthly. Between sessions, you will engage with readings and videos selected to spark conversation, inform you, and provoke creative responses to the spiritual journey of aging. The hope is that you will learn from each other as well as from the resources provided. In each zoom session, you will have the opportunity to respond to the materials and listen to God’s invitation to put what you learn into practice.
Modules
The materials for the first seven sessions include one or two essays addressing relevant topics, a video featuring seasoned believers sharing about their own experiences of aging, a list of other resources (articles, TED talks, blogs, etc.) to investigate, and one or more scripture passages to consider in the light of the session topic.
Each month as we meet, you will debrief your response to the course materials with each other, discuss the issues raised, consider the way that scripture speaks to the concerns of elders, and discern God’s invitation to you in response.
The final session will take place several months after the others to allow time for reflection and putting new ideas into practice. This session will be an opportunity to share how the course has impacted you and your community and hear from others how they have been impacted.
Please note that in the materials for this course, the term “elder” is used as a term of respect to refer to an older believer, not an ordained officer of the church.
Topics Covered
Module 1: Introduction: How is aging in our current American context different from traditional and historic contexts? What is the Biblical perspective on aging?
Module 2: The Seasons of Life: How do human beings wholistically travel through life from birth to death?
Module 3: The Central Christian Challenge of Surrender: How is it both familiar and different in aging? Module 4: Entering into Jesus’ Passion: How can passivity connect us to God?
Module 5: The Movements of the Soul: How does Jesus challenge us to grow mature?
Module 6: Composing a Life Story: How can this practice bless us both spiritually and psychologically?
Module 7: Midlife Preparation for Aging: How can believers in midlife anticipate and prepare for the challenges of aging?
Module 8: Debrief and Review: How has the work of the course impacted each participant’s ministry? What invitations are they sensing from God?
Facing Mortality
Assignment
Video Reflection:
Following the Video
- What emotions do you sense as people discuss their mortality?
- How do you see bodily changes creating awareness?
- How do their responses correspond to or differ from what you observe
in your context?
Fears and Challenges
- What fears and challenges do you observe both here and in your
context as people consider their aging? - How do you imagine that spiritual leaders can take these seriously?
Passages for Reflection
- Psalm 90: Teach us to number our days
- Romans 12:12-26: The body of Christ
- 2 Cor. 5:1-10: Groaning in this tent
Online Resources:
Seasons of Life
Assignment
Reflection Questions:
What Season of Life Do You Find Yourself in?
- How do people describe their season of life–both positively and
negatively? - What questions would you have for any of the interviewees?
Work and Retirement
What differences do you observe in people’s approaches to work and
retirement–both in the interviews and in your context?
What questions would you like to ask?
The Journey of Faith
Assignment
Video Reflection Questions:
The Journey of Faith
– What ways do you observe people living out their faith?
– What changes over time do you observe in people’s faith?
– How do people talk about hardship?
– Do you observe any commonalities between the interviewees’ stories?
– How do these stories compare with what you observe in your context?
Passages for Reflection:
- Eph. 3:14-21 rooted and grounded in love
Online Resources:
Christian Community
Assignment
Video Reflection:
Following the Video
Christian Community
- In what ways do people connect to their community?
- How is their involvement in their community affected by aging?
- How does their community differ from the faith community you are involved in?
- Is there any way you think either your community or First Presbyterian of North Palm Beaches could be strengthened?
Legacy
- What do you notice about people’s sense of their legacy?
- Was there anything surprising about what you heard?
Passages for Reflection
- Phil 2:1-11 self emptying of Jesus
- Rom. 6:1-14 united to Jesus in death / burial / resurrection
Online Resources:
Rob Lanciotti. Catholic Understanding of Suffering
Aging Gracefully: The Art of Elegant Kenosis
Spiritual Growth
Assignment
Reflection Questions:
What Season of Life Do You Find Yourself in?
How do people describe their season of life–both positively and
negatively?
What questions would you have for any of the interviewees?
Work and Retirement
What differences do you observe in people’s approaches to work and
retirement–both in the interviews and in your context?
What questions would you like to ask?
Looking Back on Life
Assignment
Video Reflection
Following the Video
Looking Back over a Lifetime
- How do you see reflection on the past to be helpful?
- What surprises you about what people say?
- How do you feel about listening to people’s stories?
- Is there anything from this video you will remember?
Passages for Reflection:
Psalm 18
Psalm 30/ 32
Online Resources
https://zuckermaninstitute.columbia.edu/eric-r-kandel-md
Spiritual Practices
Assignment
Video Reflection:
Spiritual Practices
What practices seem to be important to people?
Are there any practices you observe in your community that are different?
How do you imagine that spiritual practices might need to change with
the aging process?
Prayer
What strikes you about people’s attitude toward prayer?
How does it differ or not from what you see in your community?
Music
How do you see music working in your community to connect people to God?
Passages for Reflection
- Phil. 3:1-4:1
Online Resources:
Inner Work and the Third Third of Life
https://retirementreformation.org
Ken Arneson- TEDx talk the future of aging
Follow Up
