Diocese of Virginia Committee on Aging
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News

 

Events

At the Annual Diocesan Council, the 2008 Jeanne Biggar- Betsy Power Award for Older Adult Ministry was presented to three churches:

  • Church of the Holy Comforter, Vienna
  • St, George's Episcopal Church, Fredericksburg
  • Trinity Episcopal Church, Charlottesville
The Committee's Celebration of Longevity  will be held May 30, 2008 at Westminster-Canterbury of the Blue Ridge in Charlottesville, Virginia.

The Celebration of 50+ Wedding Anniversaries will be held at the Greenspring retirement community in Springfield, Virginia.  The exact date is, as of this writing, undetermined, but will be early to mid-June. 
 
Planning for the Annual Fall Camp in Shrine Mont is proceeding. The Keynote Speaker will be author, lecturer playwrite and editor Phyllis Tickle.  Our Chaplain will be The Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston, Bishop Coadjutor of the Diocese of Virginia and church musician.  And the ever popular Folk Theologian, singer, storyteller, glider enthusiast and sailor Ed Kilbourne will provide worship, entertainment, and workshops.  Fall Camp is a joint effort of the Tri-Diocesan Council on Aging and all three dioceses in Virginia convene at Shrine Mont.  Plan to join us October 27-30, 2008.
 
 

Annual Report from the Committee on Aging

 

 

The Committee on Aging was very active in 2005. We began the year by presenting the Biggar-Power Award to The Savvy Senior Ministry of Christ Church, Alexandria. This award recognizes an older adult ministry in the diocese for its excellence. It is named for two of our former committee chairs, The Rev. Dr. Jeanne Biggar  and Mrs. Betsy Power.

 

With Region 15, and Church of our Saviour, Charlottesville, we sponsored a Morning on Aging from 9am-12 noon at Church of our Saviour on May 7th.  This was an opportunity to hear various speakers regarding aging issues – medical, legal, Alzheimer’s disease and community resources.  During the year, the committee published articles in the diocesan paper on issues pertaining to aging.

 

On May 25th, during Older American’s Month, the committee held its annual Celebration of Longevity at Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury. The Rev. Charles Johnson was the preacher. This service honors those over the age of 90.

 

Bishop Lee joined the committee and couples married fifty years or more on June 22nd at Shenandoah Westminster Canterbury in a celebration that included the renewal of marriage vows and a reception. In addition, Bishop Lee graciously took Eucharist and visited couples at Westminster Canterbury who were not well enough to attend the service. In addition to a certificate, the couples were given roses.

 

The committee joined with the Tri-Diocesan Council on two occasions. The first was to prepare materials for use by the congregations of the three dioceses in Virginia  during Older American’s Month. The second time was for the annual Fall Camp at Shrine Mont October 17-20. Phyllis Tickle, a leading authority on religion in America was the keynote speaker. The Rev. Tony Lewis from Virginia Seminary served as Chaplain, and Ed Kilbourne returned as our Folk Theologian-Musician.

 

2006 looks to be an active year as well. Planning for Fall Camp is underway. It will be held October 23-26 at Shrine Mont. H.R. Moody, Director of the Office of Academic Affairs for AARP, is the keynote speaker. He is also the author of The Five Stages of the Soul, and Editor of The Human Values in Aging Newsletter. The Chaplain will be The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher, Assistant Bishop of Newark. She is the first Native American woman to be consecrated as bishop. Ed Kilbourne returns. The committee will again sponsor the Longevity and Fiftieth Anniversary Celebrations.  Another educational event is in the planning stage, and we will continue to have articles in the diocesan paper.

 

The Committee on Aging is available to assist regions and congregations in establishing older adult ministry or supporting on-going ministry. After all, from the moment of our birth, we are aging.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

The Committee on Aging

 

Announcements

At the February 2006 meeting of the Committee, The Rev. Stephen G. Shepherd agreed to serve as Chair.  Stephen is the Rector of St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, McLean, Virginia.

Please put a note on your calendar to attend the
Tri-Diocesan Fall Camp at Shrine Mont
October 26-29, 2009
Click for your registration form.
 
Committee on Aging* Diocese of Virginia * Richmond* VA