I need ideas......
 

I need ideas of activities to do with the Young at Heart group at church.

I've been working with them unofficially for the last 6 months or so. As of Jan 1, I've officially been named as being completely in charge of this ministry.

What are some things that different churches do as activities for the 50+ crowd?

Besides a monthly get-together for fellowship & food, what other things can we do. At these luncheons, we give door prizes, play bingo, have music & a short devotional/sermonette by a different minister each month. These things are all okay, but I want more ideas so that we can do some different things.

One of the first things I am going to do is to try to do a fundraiser in March, to have a fund set up for the expenses of these activities, etc. So that when we plan something special for them, there's never the problem of someone not being able to afford to participate.


I've talked to the youth pastor about getting the youth group involved as volunteers to go out to the homes of these senior citizens to lend a helping hand with tasks they may not be able to do themselves.

I would greatly appreciate any input, I need new ideas because I am currently having to plan out my activity schedule for the coming year.

Try Paintball! Kidding.

Actually if may sound like it would not work but buy a Nintendo Wii. It is very easy to learn and they will love playing it. It will keep them in some shape as well. Many Sr. Homes use these for entertainment.

One get together, sponsor a missionary.

Take the missionaries country, and decorate and make that particular countries foods. Try and get a tape or CD of some worship from the missionary to play. Or even a DVD. Maybe get the missionary to write a special letter telling of their work and read it to the group. This will allow you to promote missions to young people, and allow them to bring money to send to the mission.

Invite a talented young pianist or violin player to come and play. Have your church youth group put together and serve an elegant dinner to the older people, complete with candlelight and flowers.

Go fishing, go to the fair. If you can raise the funds go to a museum, or the symphony.

Are there some neat places that you can take your older people for a field trip? My mom goes to the Senior Group of a local church here. Last month they made a trip to see the Christmas lights in an area that does it up big. They had 3 or 4 vans. Some people in their early 20's served as drivers so the older people didn't have to worry about driving at night. Each driver got a list of the people who were to be in their vans. They picked them up at their homes, then met at the church. After every van arrived, they caravaned to see the lights. After the light show, they stopped for a late night snack together and then were dropped off at their respective homes.

Another time this group went to a local dinner theater.

And they've all gone to a movie together. In fact, on the first Tuesday of each month, the local theater shows only old time movies (from the 40's and 50's). They charge $1.00 for the show which includes popcorn and pop, coffee or juice.

They've also gone bowling together as a group. That only works if you have an active bunch of people.

You could also consider pairing each of your older folks up with one of your little kids (4 yrs old to 10 years old) in your church. Ask them to pray for their "grandchild", send them cards for their birthdays and holidays and little cards of encouragement at other times. And then have quarterly gatherings where the little ones come and share an activity with their "grandparent"

Oh I like the "grandchild" idea Margie3. And maybe you might ask the 50+ what they would like Tina. You know get their input.

Maybe go to the zoo.

HAHAHAHA!!!! I just realized the "Youth at Heart" are the old fogies, and not the young punks. :toofunny

:killinme:lol

50+ Matthew.........that was a clue.

Thanks for the great ideas everyone.

I need all the input I can get here. I'm supposed to have this schedule of events ready to turn in to the pastor's wife on Jan 9.

We don't have issues with transportation for trips, our church owns a charter bus. We have several men in the church who are licensed to drive it.

We've done a couple of trips to the Amish village in Lawrenceburg TN, they seem to like that. I've got a couple of ideas from some in the group.

The activity that I'm doing for the group this month is an auction. Each person in attendance is supposed to bring one item that they would love to get rid of. They will all be given play money to bid on the items with. I think it will be fun. I even had a real auctioneer to agree to help me with this one, so it will be even more fun. I never can understand what the auctioneers are saying. :D

Ours did a monthly breakfast for a long time at one of the member's houses. They had a ball! They have also done trips to Branson, Nashville, to a Gaither concert, etc. We are getting ready to do a Senior's Bible Study one morning a week at one of our campuses.

Tina, I'm a little confused.... Does your age put you in the "young at heart" group? (From your post, I take it that is 50+) For some reason, I thought you much younger than that. Having said that - some of the ideas given make me feel really old! :ohplease And some of them sound like fun! :happydance

At our church, the age breakdown is somewhat different. Our Heritage Builders is the group after Home Builders (Young Marrieds). Then comes the Kingdom Builders. It is about 55 - 70. (and no, I didn't have anything to do with these names - wasn't me - no siree!) :search Of course we have some who have stayed in that group until 75 or so. Then we have the Keenagers. Once people build a rapport together - age doesn't always matter - they tend to want to fellowship with their friends and who they feel comfortable with.

Anyway, both of these "older" groups have their own committees to plan activities. Sometimes there is a crossover in activities if someone wants to participate in an activity planned by the other group.....

For the 55 to 70 group, there have been "banquets" at holiday times, camping trips, overnight trips to various places, "game nights" with various tables set up for different type games (dominoes, rook, etc etc) and light refreshments. Not sure what part of the country you are in, but these overnight trips have included trips to Carmel/Monterey, Lake Tahoe, etc. Day trips to San Francisco and other scenic places.

The Keenagers have a monthly service. Sometimes our elders enjoy using their talents that have gotten pushed in the background by the younger people (example: playing the piano, singing special songs, etc). And lots of churches no longer have "testimony service." At these special monthly "jubilee" services, the Keenagers have all these things and enjoy it. They really enjoy singing all the old songs that sometimes have gotten lost in the shuffle. Usually one of the ministers speaks to them - or sometimes one of their own "preaches". After the service, they usually have light refreshments. Once a quarter, they meet at a restaurant for breakfast. This group has even made day trips to San Francisco, Apple Hill, etc.

If you are indeed much younger, I guess I am confused as to why you don't have a committee of people from this age group (depending upon the size of your group - as few as 3, as many as 5 or 6) - help you plan activities. I'm sure they could give you valuable input as to what most of them would enjoy and could afford. Just because they may be over 50 - doesn't mean they are ready for the nursing home and only wheelchair activities yet. Some of them can out-party the younger folks! :happydance :happydance

I know at our church, the older group (not 50's...but late 60's on up) just like to get together. Our home was opened up a few years ago for a breakfast. They had a wonderful time. At that event, Sis. Nita Hodges spoke to them. It was also one of the last times Sis. Olive Haney was down and she just spoke to them on a simple thought. During that devotional, they sang the songs of old (which really, is the songs of their generation). But, just for them to fellowship and get-together is special to them.

I also like Matt's idea of sponsoring a missionary. Perhaps that could be a yearly thing for the group. Perhaps you could get the visiting missionary schedule from your pastor and if someone is in the area..have that person come by the social on a Saturday and then speak to the church Sunday AM. How intimate and special that would be for the group....and the missionaries.

For our widows we have an annual "Queen For A Day" celebration. Each dept. in the church comes up with a special way of honoring them. The day culminates with a banquet meal fit for a queen! Some ideas:
1. Greet them first thing in the morning at their door with a rose.
2. Provide "limousine" transportation to the banquet. The funeral home will allow you to borrow their limo free.
3. Have the young boys open the door for them and escort them to the church lobby.
4. A photographer takes their picture with their "escort." These are framed and given out to the ladies.
5. A "treasure chest" in the church lobby has all kinds of small gifts for them to choose from.
6. A corsage is pinned on their dress.
7. The banquet meal is fine china, silver, and crystal. Only the best.
8. An envelope at each place setting has their name on it. Inside are coupons from various fast food restaurants, oil change, gift card, and a monetary gift.
9. After the meal, each department in the church presents gifts to the ladies such as a fruit basket, a beautiful pin for their dress that says "Queen", baked goods, a magnifying glass, a silk pillow case, a free maintenance certificate for any home repair needed (by one of the men of church), handmade cards by the children, etc.
10. During the banquet, the youth have been washing their car (if they have one) and filled it up with gas.
11. The ladies need a lot of help taking home all of their presents and leave feeling truly loved by their church.
12. Who enjoys the evening more? I don't know if it ist he widows or those who put on the banquet. It is life-changing to see the tears and expressions of love for a group in our churches that are often neglected or simply given a "token" fruit basket at Christmas time.

I am 39.

Since I've just been appointed to this position, I wasn't responsible for putting together a committee of helpers before. Now I have the freedom to do that, and I have already talked to a few of the ladies and a couple of the men to get a few ideas for the activities.

We have a very active group of seniors.

The last time we asked for suggestions, some of them suggested a three day trip to the Smoky Mountains-- going to the Dixie Stampede, visiting Cade's Cove. I think that would be great--- but I also think it may be out of the price range of several in the group.


I'm getting some good ideas from this, and I really do appreciate all the input. :)

praying for you Tina and I know all will go well. Lots of ideas here...Love you much.

speaking of seniors going on trips, I have to tell you this funny that happened a couple of years ago..................

We had had a pastor named Jim who retired. After he retired and was about 70 years old, his wife passed away.

One day we had a special activity at our church that Jim came back to visit for. At the lunch afterwards, we were all sitting at the table talking. Jim was telling us that he had made plans to take a trip to the Holy Lands before Martha passed away, but since this was a trip that required two to a room and he didn't have anyone to go with now, he was going to have to cancel the trip.

Immediately, this meek, quiet, little lady in our church piped right up, saying, "Well, Jim, I could go as your roommate!"

Me and my big mouth - I blurt out, "Jim, I believe you've just been propositioned!"

And the whole room was howling. Poor Ann couldn't figure out why offering to go with the former pastor and share his room was such an awful thing. After all, they must have two beds, right? LOL!!!

:heeheehee

Poor Ann!

Sounds like you have a lot of good suggestions here.:happydance

Last bump... hoping for a few more great ideas that I can add to this before I have to turn it in.

Have a videographer, a piano, and some good lighting. Let them stroll down memory lane with stories & song...record it all and give them a DVD. Sell it at church and raise money for their dept. too!