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“When you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” (John 21: 18)

Concerns about issues related to aging are not limited to the elderly. Seniors may wonder how they will be cared for in the event they can no longer care for themselves, or may worry about being a burden to their adult children. Middle-aged adults may be engaged in assisting their elderly parents to make decisions that are perceived as limiting their options, and may be worrying themselves about how they will handle such decisions in the future. And the term “sandwich generation” refers to adults who find themselves juggling responsibilities for their own children and their aging parents at the same time. In fact, because of the needs of the sandwich generation, the Pima Council on Aging considers their core consistuency to be persons 40 years and above.

St. Philippians may not be aware of who in our parish community and our community at large is struggling with this plethora of issues and concerns, in part because very often people feel isolated by trying to cope alone. Various ministries relating to aging at St. Philip’s have been discussed, including developing ways to connect those in need with the services offered by agencies such as PCOA, finding a means of providing ongoing support to seniors and to caregivers, and even exploring whether offering a senior activity center might be a feasible and successful ministry at St. Philip’s. The ongoing forum series “Elder Care and You” provides St. Philippians a chance to share their stories about caring for aging parents or other loved ones.

In a preliminary exploration of how St. Philip’s might serve the needs of this population, our Rector, John Kitagawa, visited Pima Council on Aging. Impressions of his experience are posted on St. Philip's Web site and in Facebook. You are encouraged to read the notes, and then post your comments on the St. Philip's group page in Facebook. Not on Facebook yet? Simply go to www.facebook.com to create an account. It's free, and an easy way to participate in the St. Philip's electronic community.

Efforts toward better serving senior citizens and those who love them are a response to several of the “dreams” expressed during the Mission Discernment process — serving pastoral care needs through addressing concerns of the elderly, and investigating St. Philip's need for additional multi-use spaces.