The Courage to Hope

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging  •  February 06, 2025

There is a saying attributed to St. Augustine that lingers in my thinking. It has come to mind multiple times in the past several months as many I know are struggling to understand what hope is. This questioning most often comes amid great fear and frustration with the present moment and the danger of lingering in despair when looking into the future.

Recent Blog Posts

Wholefully Willing

By Rev. Beth Rodenhouse  •  March 28, 2019

In our chapel, the entire back wall showcases a beautiful stained-glass window depicting Jesus’ final hours of freedom, praying in the garden of Gethsemane. Overwhelmed..

Love: How Music Brings Abundant Life in Community

By Rev. Rebecca S. King  •  March 21, 2019

Connection I serve a community where music is valued as one way to connect with others. Through our Music & Memory program, several residents have an iPod personalized..

Ask

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging  •  March 14, 2019

It is an art to be able to ask questions. It is also a spiritual discipline. Sometimes, one question will lead to another because curiosity is generated and the desire..

Dust

By Guest Blogger  •  March 07, 2019

Christians around the world entered the liturgical season of Lent yesterday. This season includes the 40 days, not counting Sundays (which are always little Easters),..

Reflections on the Miami Valley LGBT Horizons of Aging Summit

By Emily Howard  •  February 28, 2019

What Does Advocacy Mean to Me? First, it means learning to love myself. I am a questioning, and queer, woman. I had a moment during the course of the LGBT Horizons of..

Health and Wellness

By Rev. Catherine Lawrence  •  February 21, 2019

Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare is one of the greatest social justice issues facing our nation. An essential aspect of addressing health and wellness..

Older Advocates

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Ruth Frost Parker Center for Abundant Aging  •  February 14, 2019

Advocacy is not often a word that we associate with people who are older. It usually brings to mind a specific cause, a specific historical moment or even specific..

Indispensable Older Adults

By Rev. Beth Rodenhouse  •  February 07, 2019

Is there an issue of social justice in regards to older adults? Yes. Working as a chaplain at a retirement community, I see multiple ways that people view older adults..

Narrative Gerontology and the Importance of Storytelling

By Rev. Rebecca S. King  •  January 31, 2019

The Importance of Storytelling and Story Listening I was saddened by the recent death of poet Mary Oliver. In the wake of her death, I spent time reading various pieces..