Each Generation Calls to the Next

By Rev. Ruth D. Fitzgerald  •  July 03, 2025

In this new season of life—early into retirement with grown adult children fully into charting their careers and raising children, I’ve found myself reviewing my own life and that review includes a perusal of parenting.

Recent Blog Posts

Intergenerational Interaction: A Blessing

By Rev. Rebecca S. King  •  November 16, 2017

This is the first blog in the November series highlighting topics related to Thanksgiving.

Radical Change: Reformation and Aging

By Rev. Catherine Lawrence  •  November 10, 2017

Societies throughout history have experienced major events that have challenged commonly held beliefs. One such event, known as the Reformation, signaled the beginning..

Wonder of Life

By Rev. Beth Rodenhouse  •  November 10, 2017

I just walked outside into our central courtyard at Pilgrim Manor, a retirement community in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and joined community members soaking up the warm..

Self-perceptions about Aging Matter

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  November 07, 2017

When a person believes that aging is a negative process, it negatively affects their self-concept, performance, health and how long they live. We need to live as if..

Ethical Wills: How to Leave a Legacy of Intangibles

By Rev. Jared Ruari  •  October 26, 2017

Hang around enough funerals and eventually you will hear the cliché about hearses and U-Haul trailers. For those who have not heard the message, it goes something like..

Abundance: An Essential Part of Aging

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  October 18, 2017

Three years ago, the Board of Directors of United Church Homes, along with the executive leadership team, and select staff and residents from one of our senior living..

Say What?: Changing the Conversation

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  October 16, 2017

One of the ongoing conversations that we will periodically share has to do with the language that we use when we talk about many things related to aging. We know that..

Do Clergy Increase End-of-life Costs of Care?

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  September 11, 2017

When a loved one is challenged with a significant health crisis we request prayers for healing—just listen to the prayer requests on Sunday mornings. We want those who..

Elder Orphans

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  June 26, 2017

It may not be something to which anyone aspires, but it is a very real and growing concern: Elder orphans. An elder orphan is defined as “aged, community-dwelling..