I’m an older person who’s a member of “The Christian Dance Fellowship of Britain” and I believe that we can use our body in praise.
Christian gentle movement groups for seniors are wonderful. Colourful pom-pom shakers can be used (like USA cheerleaders use.) These are safe because they have no stick, and are light and easy to hold as they have a handle. Many older people appreciate melodic songs such Graham Kendrick’s “Shine Jesus Shine” and “The Servant King”, and Marilyn Baker’s songs such as “Jesus, you are Changing me.” The light movement can be done standing up or sitting down and I ask people to only do what feels comfortable to their body, with no stress or strain.
There’s no pressure and it’s very gentle – so it’s ideal for older people. I point out that we’re not dancing to impress other people – as we’re dancing for God. I think it is important for mature people to have beautiful tuneful songs and not just a repetitive disco beat which seems to have taken over the music industry now! Using praise songs adds a beautiful Christian dimension.
Movement can improve older people’s fitness and balance – and it should be enjoyable, with nobody barking out orders – as can happen in non-Christian exercise classes! It could also be used in fellowship groups. Perhaps Christians could start a small exercise and movement group in their local area or suggest the idea to their church leader. All you need is a comfortable room, chairs, pom-pom shakers and joyful Christian praise songs!
It’s also a way to introduce not-yet-believers to encouraging Christian words sung to praise music. It could also be used in Christian “Holiday at Home” days and in church groups, sheltered housing and in people’s own home. Even a small group with just a handful of people could get together in someone’s home to do this.
It’s also Biblical as Psalm 149 & 150 tells people to praise God with music and dance.
Mrs Ann Wills, Middlesex, West London.
Find out more about The Christian Dance Fellowship of Britain.
]]>Love My Neighbour campaign returns for a second year as communities called to save lives this winter.
For Immediate Release – Friday, 1st November 2024
The Christian charity, Faith in Later Life, has launched its life-saving and life-giving Love My Neighbour campaign for the second year running. This winter initiative calls on Christians and churches across the UK to support their older neighbours, with the aim of reducing loneliness and the excess winter deaths that can result from it.
Building on the success of last year’s campaign, Faith in Later Life is once again encouraging intentional acts of kindness, prayer, and practical support for our older neighbours.
Every winter, loneliness is a contributing factor to 25,000-30,000 excess deaths among older people. The Love My Neighbour campaign aims to tackle this crisis head-on, reminding Christians of the simple but powerful ways they can bring life and connection to their older neighbours.
Whether we live in a house, a flat, in a care home, or anywhere else; this is a wonderful opportunity for everyone to share God’s love with people within and beyond the church family.
This campaign, launching today (1st November) will run until March with an intentional focus on encouraging Christians to pray for, offer practical support and bring good news to older people in their neighbourhood.
As the campaign develops, so will social media encouragements and a special resources section on the Faith in Later Life website.
In a special video message, Alexandra Drew, CEO of Faith in Later Life, highlights the urgency of the campaign:
“This winter, as heating bills rise and the cold creeps in, many older people will be forced to stay inside, missing out on the life-giving connection that community brings. But this isn’t how it should be. We all have a God given need for community.”
“Don’t let your older neighbours face winter alone. Whether you’re one person, a family, or a whole church, you can make a difference. Together, let’s shut the door on this dark winter loneliness, and instead open the door to light, life, connection, and God’s incredible love.”
To find out more about Love My Neighbour, please visit https://faithinlaterlife.org/love-my-neighbour/
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Faith in Later Life exists to inspire and equip Christians to reach, serve and empower older people in every community, through the local Church.
Alexandra is available for media interviews by prior arrangement.
For more information or media requests, please contact Adam May, Communications Consultant for Faith in Later Life on 07736 949 869 or [email protected]
]]>Tim and I have been taking services at a local care home for many years.
We have seen the Holy Spirit at work during our time with our dear friends. The lady in a large wheelchair who comes in with her eyes closed and doesn’t seem to take part in any way suddenly starts moving her lips when we say the Lord’s Prayer together; the new gentleman, who we wonder if he wants to be in the service, who in his way joins in with the hymn that touches him or the lady who sits in her usual chair at the back of the room smiles and laughs out loud when something is said or sung that resounds in her innermost being.
What wonderful reactions to the Holy Spirit’s prompting.
During our service, we sing hymns we know that are loved and familiar to our friends. Their response to these familiar words and tunes is amazing. However, there are occasions when we come across a wonderful children’s song which fits in perfectly with our theme for the service. A fun song, a catchy tune and sometimes shows children using actions representing the words.
We use our mobile phones and have all our songs linked to YouTube. We then cast the link onto a smart TV. We have to be aware that there are adverts at the beginning of these links. We use children’s songs from time to time because they are sung clearly, they are cheerful and have a good rhythm. We play it through the first time and suggest we sing it again. Our friends are always keen to sing it again.
In introducing the song, we always say “Why should the children have all the good music?’ or “We are all children at heart”. We are certainly aware that they don’t know these songs, they have never heard them before so tunes, words and even actions are not familiar to them. We have sought God’s guidance in the choices of the hymns we use and certainly have asked Him about using children’s songs for our older friends. Are we being patronizing in our approach? Is there a better way to help our friends to know the love of Jesus? Is this what we would want if we were in their shoes?
The answer is actually in our time with them as we play these songs. The smile that lights up their faces, the actions that they use in reaction to the tune they hear as they clap when the children clap; the response when we say shall we play this one again and above all the sense of the Holy Spirit touching them and telling them “Yes, you are My child, you are safe in the arms of the Lord Jesus”
So this year at our Harvest service we played the ‘Harvest Samba’.
At another service entitled ‘Jesus said, “I am the Light of the World”, we watched and played ‘Jesus You’re the light’.
And yes, we played them twice!
Harvest Samba by Chet Valley Churches
Jesus, You’re the Light by Jana Alayra
We have used these Christmas songs to bring the good news of the Birth of Jesus to our friends:
Child in a Manger Born From Songs for Every Christmas by Mark & Helen Johnson – “Out of the Ark Music”
Midnight from Chet valley Churches**
If you haven’t tried using children’s songs during your services at the care home then why not try it? If you do, why not let us know what reaction you see as the Holy Spirit moves amongst your senior friends?
** We use Chet Valley Churches for our hymns and song. Chet Valley Churches added many hymns and songs onto YouTube to help churches during COVID.
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Wednesday 11th December 2024 – Church Champion Networking & Prayer Event
Our Church Champion Networking Events hosted by our CEO Alexandra Drew, are opportunities for those with a ministry serving older people in their churches or communities to share with and pray for one another.
Our next Church Champions Networking Events will be on:
Date: Wednesday 11th December 2024
Time: 1:30pm + 7:30pm
Register for FREE here for either of the above sessions: https://forms.gle/ft1sC7U2yhVw4QuSA
If you have any prayer requests, either for the event, or that you’d like us to pray into during our weekly meetings, please send those to [email protected]
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On March 13th 2025, Lucy Honeysett, from Christians in Care will be coming to talk to us about how we can help older people to navigate the most challenging and uncertain times of life.
More info to follow – save the date – March 13th 2025.
]]>At Christmas I was given Warren W. Wiersbe’s Abide: Understanding the secrets of living for Jesus by a dear friend. I glanced through it but for various reasons it lay on my bedside table, waiting for me to pick it up and read it.
So when you have finished reading your current book or if you are looking for something else to read – here’s one I would recommend. If reading isn’t your thing, then this book is still for you. It’s short, just 76 pages, the Bible passages are included within the text so you don’t have to stop to look them up. The publishers, (10Publishing) say “Books that point to Jesus change lives”. Abide certainly points to Jesus.
The book is based on John 15: 1-17 where Jesus starts by saying “I am the vine and my Father is the gardener”. It is for those who have walked the Christian journey for many years – giving reminders of what it means to Abide in Christ and to those who are seeking to show what it is to Abide in Christ.
Here’s a couple of extracts:
Good Works: (Pages 15-16) “And the beautiful thing about these good works is that they are tailor-made for each individual believer. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10)
Some of the branches produce their “good works” fruit in their own homes. Others serve Christ in stores and offices, or even in the cabs of trucks or the cabins of jet planes. The teacher, the builder, the doctor, the city official, the gardener and the printer – all of these and many more serve Jesus Christ (if they are Christians) by accomplishing the good works He has planned for them. In the Christian life, there is no such division as “secular” and “sacred”. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” “1 Corinthians 10 v 31).
A Christian pilot can serve and glorify the Lord just as much as the missionaries he is flying to the field.”
Christian Joy through difficult times: (Pages 40-41)
“When the believer is abiding in Christ, he experiences an inner joy. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11)
Christian joy is not the absence of trial or trouble; it is a deep peace and confidence in the midst of trial and trouble. The very hour in which Jesus spoke those words was one of tremendous pressure and challenge for Him. Judas would betray Him; Peter would deny Him; His own followers would forsake Him and flee. He would be arrested, falsely accused, humiliated, beaten, and then crucified. He would even be forsaken by His Father! Yet Jesus was able to give His joy to His disciples! It was a joy in the midst of sorrow, a confidence in the midst of man’s failure and sin.
The world offers entertainment, and even a bit of happiness; but only Christ can give joy; and this joy comes from abiding in Him.”
Do you know the secret of living?
In order to bear fruit, we must abide in Christ . . .
What is the secret of abiding? It is obeying; give God your will.
What is the secret of obeying? It is loving; give God your heart.
What is the secret of loving? It is knowing; give God your mind.
Christ gave His disciples complete instructions for living the abundant life. And He speaks to us today through His Word, saying: This life can be yours as well!’
Abide: Whether we have known Him for years or we want to know what is means to “Abide in Jesus” – this book is a challenge to us all.
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David is a vicar on the south coast at St John’s Church in Poole, and has been in pastoral ministry for 27 years. When he moved to Dorset in 2012, he saw with his eyes what he previously knew in his head, that ageing is a significant issue for Christians. In his work, David sometimes gets to know inspiring examples of older Christians who reflect Jesus to those around them amid the challenges of ageing, drawing nourishment from decisions/habits/rhythms/character formed earlier in life.
Before getting ordained, David worked in the overseas aid business around the developing world. A continuous thread in his life has been helping things which are ‘not yet’ to become things that ‘are’. David is married to Becky and they have two adult children.
Our Church Champion Event
On September 12th, we were delighted to have David Price come to talk with our Church Champions about Discipleship that Sustains – helping us to support others in lifelong discipleship, for God’s glory!
David helped us to explore:
How discipleship can help people now and in later life
How habits we start today can lead to future fruitfulness
How people of all ages can ‘invest’ now so as to bear fruit later
The event featured inspiring stories, valuable advice, and a Q&A session.
You can now catch up with the session below:
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Many people in later life are unable to participate in person, with church life in the community, either in the long term, or temporarily due to sickness or medical treatment.
Combined with Age UK research revealing that almost half of over 65s (almost 6 million people) are either unable to use the internet safely and successfully or aren’t online at all, this means DailyHOPE is a significant spiritual resource in many older peoples’ lives.
As DailyHOPE is relaunched and refreshed, we’re encouraging Christians to share the free telephone number – 0800 804 8044 – in their church and wider communities.
The plan for DailyHOPE as we move forward is to further develop the range of content and content providers in order to appeal to a wider audience of Christians, as well as older people exploring faith for the first time.
Announcing the news of the return of DailyHOPE, Alexandra Drew, Chief Executive Officer of Faith in Later Life said:
“Closing the DailyHOPE line was an extremely heart wrenching decision to make. I know that it’s been a lifeline to many older people, especially those unable to attend church in person, and without online access to spiritual comfort.
Due to a lack of funding provision, it was however with much regret that we shared the news that DailyHOPE had to come to an end at the end of January.
Amidst letters of thanks, and expressions of sadness at the closure, our prayers that God would yet provide continued, and although the timing wasn’t quite what we might have hoped for, God’s answer has been overwhelming. I’m thrilled to share the news that we have been able to restore DailyHOPE for a further season. Praise God!
We’re looking forward to welcoming new callers, as well as new content providers, and funding partners, to help us continue to bring DailyHOPE to older people, and others who are staying at home.”
Pam Rhodes, Broadcaster and Ambassador for Faith in Later Life added;
“DailyHOPE has brought Christian fellowship through the landline into the homes of so many, filling their hearts and souls with God’s presence and comfort through word, prayer and song.
It is no wonder that DailyHOPE has remained so popular – and the thought that this vital service may have been lost to those who value and rely upon it brought real despair.
But now, we’re thankful to God that DailyHOPE has been saved. This is wonderful news!”
Over the last few weeks, as the telephone line has been restored, a caller sent this feedback:
I have found DailyHOPE to be such a blessing in my life day by day. It encourages me as a Christian, the presenters have become like friends and the variety of the material on the different options is refreshing.
If you can support DailyHOPE in any way, including providing content or sharing a story please email [email protected].
To give financially towards the continuation of DailyHOPE please choose option 2 on the line or head to https://faithinlaterlife.org/donate/
To download and print flyers and posters to share in your community please click here for printable resources.
In May 2024 we welcomed Dr Fiona Costa to lead our Church Champion event on the subject of Music and Dementia, during which she inspired us to use music with the people we visit and spend time with.
A few words from Fi about what inspired the event:
“Almost everyone enjoys music. It is one activity that older people, even those with severe symptoms of dementia, can join in with. They may be able to sing or hum or even play a simple instrument. With so many things that they cannot do, being able to remember the words of a favourite song or hymn gives them a real boost of confidence.
My colleague, Professor Adam Ockelford and I have been carrying out various projects in care homes for several years. During Covid, when care homes were closed and our research projects had to be disbanded, we decided to put together some materials that anyone caring for older people could use, irrespective of their musical ability. We came up with the title, Take Note: 100 Everyday Musical Ideas for Carers to Use with Older People. These are due to be published by Routledge in July. We hope that they will be useful for carers, whether in care homes or in private homes. Some of them are suitable for groups, others for one-to-ones.
You can now catch up with the session below:
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We are blessed to have a committed and experienced group of trustees who enjoy serving Faith in Later Life together.
To further develop our charitable offering, we’re now looking to expand our range of expertise and experience by welcoming new trustees.
We are looking for people who are passionate and/or experienced in helping others to have faith in later life and who also share our Christian values.
You can find out more information about Faith in Later Life, the role of our trustees, and how to apply here:
Please pray that we would find just the right people to help us to continue to inspire and equip Christians to reach, serve and empower older people in every community, through the local Church.
Thank you.
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