The Gift of Years - An Abundant Senior Life
Sundays, April 12 - May 17 | 9:45- 10:45 am| Room 200
This class will be geared toward the 60+ year old crowd – eager to explore the abundant life promised by Christ as we age. This class will include some lecture and much discussion – as well as time to practice certain ways of thinking and praying. Come join Pastor Stacy and Phil Haag for this interesting class!
In this first week of "The Gift of Years", Stacy Ikard and Phil Haag invite us to stop fighting the aging process and start seeing it as a divinely designed journey to "mellow the soul." We explore how physical diminishments can actually mature our spirit, moving us from a life of "to-do lists" to one of deep, Christ-centered fruitfulness. Join us as we rediscover aging not as an end, but as a new initiation into the realm of the spirit.
Stacy Ikard and Phil Haag lead week 2 of "The Gift of Years", as they discuss "The Art of Loving." Discover how the later stages of life offer a unique opportunity to climb the "Second Mountain" of meaning and moral joy. Through the lens of the Sermon on the Mount and the Prayer of St. Francis, we learn how to surrender control and embrace a life of gratitude, forgiveness, and service.
In Week 3 of "The Gift of Years", Stacy Ikard explores how the "art of blessing" defines true spiritual maturity. Moving beyond simply offering advice, we examine how to become a "perceptible proximity of God" through our words and presence, learning to 'give your life away' and 'shining like stars' for the generations that follow. Phil Haag explores the beatitudes of the 'poor in spirit' and the 'meek' from the Sermon on the Mount, and presides over a lively class discussion on being a blessing.
How do we move from a root of bitterness to a life of grace? In Week 4 of "The Gift of Years," Stacy and Phil discuss the expensive, miraculous work of forgiveness. Whether it's forgiving others or ourselves, this session highlights why mercy is the ultimate task of spiritual maturity and the only way to find true harmony at God’s table. Special guest Drew Beckley also shares his thoughts on getting older.
