Richard Dean, CT President for 2006/7, welcomed all to the Annual Assembly at Trinity Methodist church hall on Wednesday 15 November.

The opening worship was led by the new trio Phoenix, from St Aidan's school; our thanks to George (keyboard), Emily (Soprano) Sophie (second soprano) & Vicky (alto). Lists of local residential homes were completed with existing Church links [this resource was deleted by CT Harrogate in the autumn of 2009].

Ageing is to be seen as a negative thing . If we think about the association of our spirituality and well being then if aging is brings some things into question then the negative side has to be brought into account. Paul Tourniersaid this: “How can the person who has seen a meaning in life also see a meaning in old age which seems to be a diminution , an amputation and a stifling of life?”Strong words; whilst we may not feel stifled, we can imagine a time when this may happen. When thinking about the place and community of faith in aging, we have to be very careful how we express what we say about our understanding about what it is to be human. Generally, I wonder what place in our own week by week Christian nurturing do we allow doctrine and teaching about older people. So it is a spiritual issue.
Aging offers an opportunity for harvesting. One thing you'll find in any text about spirituality and aging is this image of harvest. It's particularly apposite at this time of year – in the autumn , leaves are falling, with dark nights and everything shutting down and dropping off, the year's end. But a few weeks ago we celebrated our harvest festivals which were a celebration of the whole point of the year. Generally the images of autumn and harvest are appropriate ones when thinking about aging. There is the opportunity for harvesting. 
Memory and Amnesia
There is a need to look at the issues around the word ‘memory'. Consider how memory and the word ‘remember' come up in the Bible: “Do this in remembrance of me” and “Remember the Lord your God”. The basic Old and New Testament commands are very hard if you cannot remember who you are. The place of memory is very important. Some suggest that “We are a church living with amnesia. We know what we are doing but we have forgotten why we are doing it.”
Aging is a spiritual issue because traditional ways of meeting spiritual needs may not be possible any longer. As we get older we may not be able to physically do what we used to – including going to church.
Albert Jewell, Old people in the church. In his book there it is a story of an old Catherine make lady who says she used to go to mass every morning on my way to town but now, 'ever since the doctor put me on those water tablets I don't go because just at the time it is less I need to go! Just imagine every time I go to the door everybody knows where I'm going ….' Aging sometimes cuts you off from the things that were very important to you. A lot of people especially older people feel a sense of guilt at not going to church and that is exasperated by aging. 
It is vital that the community of faith deals with these issues.
How then do we find ways of meeting spiritual needs? 
Harvest: Jenny Goodman offers us this challenge not just to the church but to everybody: “The perspective of our later years should be changed from expecting us to wind down and disintegrate but see it as a place of the joyful conscious ripening with a revitalizing sense of purpose and self worth, the place from which to harvest the fruits of a lifetime.” If we're thinking about nurturing the Third Age we're actually challenging ourselves to create a sea change in attitude. We may consider the Third Age as “that which I'm not.” When we consider the difference between reactions in society today to ageism and issues around racism , sexism and homophobia - which people are against – ageism doesn't energise people as much. It is fundamentally different. The first three are based on a fear about being the other- Keith suggested that he will never be a black woman, but he will grow old. Issues around being a black women are other to me. Ageism is based on the fear of what I will become. And that is a fundamental difference. How do we create a sea change for the Third Age? 

Experience of old people's homes and worship
Some have been to these places as a volunteer or visitor. Our older people out first and foremost people they do not exist as a breed apart. Spiritual goals are no different. Five particular areas which become less possible; these five goals are hugely important to people as spiritual beings.

1. Having an opportunity to experience awe and wonder.
2. The opportunity to reflect on action – on what I have done.
3. Making connections
4. Seeing another's point of view, and
5. Seeing beyond my own circumstances.

This is not unique to older people but it does take on a particular significance . When ministering to and amongst older people these five things take on a particular significance . Some can make a connection between these skills and the fruits of the spirit. 
Something going on in older people in the Third Age is t he need to try and make sense. Some try to work out what is the point of being alive. It is something that is almost unique to humanity . The experience of aging to the extent that we do is something we share with lodge seen mammals, though Keith hasn't asked a dolphin what it feels like to be getting old! People say it is something to do with trying to make sense and meaning for a particular tasks:

1. The first is a backward looking one - putting one's past in order. There is a link there to our liturgy and worship – how much do we draw out that link?
2. The second is to do with the present maintaining links in a changing society; think about being 110 and the changes in your lifetime or think simply about being 50 and the changes in your lifetime. Is one simply resentful at everything that is different or is one able to embrace the positives and not feel so bad about the negatives? How do I feel about being a human being as part of today's world?
3. The third area of meaning is about looking ahead and being reconciled today.
   These are some of the tasks of aging.

Life in a residential home and your role as a visitor. What can we bring to help nurture the third age? 
Affirmation: we all need affirmation whether we are two or 102 . But the person who is shut in is still a person but a lot of the people feel that they are shut in and alienated from the human race. Why am I still alive? What's the point? By visiting, engaging and ministering we affirm.
Belonging: The experience of loneliness so many older people feel. A sense they don't belong, that the community of which they have often been a key part somehow now is distanced from them. How can we bring a sense of belonging. 
Crisis: a lot of visiting will be in crisis and that's where we may be good. For pastoral emergencies we tend to be there. Sometimes needs a practical sometimes but sometimes the visits are urgent. How do we minister within crisis? 
Death: the death of a spouse death of a close friend and increasingly the death of their own children. The lady in Lincoln came into care at 107 because her daughter died aged 83 - t hat was the crisis that brought it about.
Escape: Sometimes visiting can offer escape particularly to a carer. One is the greatest gifts we can offer . A recent article in the church times about an alternative baptismal promise that we will baby-sit because we know what that does to your parents. The same is true for carers. Visiting and offering the chance for escape. The women' s fellowship of good in this area – when two or three visit, emphasising belonging by bringing someone along with you.
Guilt: Some visiting can allow great burdens and feelings of guilt to be lifted. Others may require specialist help. The need for Holy Communion remains; extending communion to them in the home where it is impossible when in a home.
Integration – bringing people together. 
Sometimes we do not need to have a reason to visit it's just because we were here – “I was just passing” – visiting is important.

Dementia
MHA and the Christian Council on Aging have produced some leaflets; Keith illustrated some of the leaflets on worship for people with dementiaand visiting people with dementia. People with dementia often receive few visits because there is a mistaken belief that visiting is not worthwhile and visitors do not know what to say all to or do.
Visiting people with dementia doesn't follow the usual pattern of simply listening; the visitor has to take the initiative and to communicate in ways appropriate to the person with diminishing abilities. Visitors need to remember the other people going into that house: who else will be going into that home? Carers, family, neighbours? One of the things you are doing to everyone else visiting is signalling that that old person is a member of a church. 
And do take a copy of the church notice sheet. When hostages have their photographs taken, they hold the current newspaper - it shows that they were alive on that day. The notice sheet is dated, too, and helps show we care.

Worship in a residential homes
Practical things: the nature of the home – is it a home where they're expecting you and want you to be there, leading a service or is it just the one resident you came to visit? Is your visit regular or a one off? Be prepared; you cannot get away with anything just because it's an old people's home. Check out who else is due that day.
What are their capabilities what is appropriate? 
Using things that people know – familiarity is essential. The place of reminiscence is important; by being there you are offering people the opportunity to join them memories. Tactile visual reassurance is important. Most are not in a position to go off and do things for the Lord, no matter how much we exhort them.

The churches contribution to nurturing the Third Age
Firstly: we have opportunity to bring the outside world in and inside out. You are part of the wider community a community that the older people are a part of . You bring in the gossip can use the news. Also, take what you have learned from the head and the news back to your church community.
Secondly: remember the importance of ritual. A lot of what we do in services is of a ritual nature, no matter if you are high church all for a Pentecostal we all have our rituals, whether we like it or not . One of the tricks that the preacher can play is that as he announces the notices – watching all the ladies dive into their handbags – to tell everyone that the collection will be at the end of the service. It illustrates the place of ritual, accessing memory and that place of knowing who you are and what you are. 
Finally: offer affirmation as a person in their own sight, but also in a care home , that of the staff. The Lord's Prayer is hard wired into our beings and everyone joins in; it is very affirming for the person. But what is fascinating is the experience of the staff; for that person old person, the Lord's Prayer and your visit may be the only time in the week that that old person has said anything to anybody. To see them participating is a reminder to staff that these people are indeed real persons. We offer the opportunity to see the person not the problem.

The responses of those at the Annual Assembly included:
Be more aware of the needs of the elderly 
Perhaps a letter requesting contact to homes about worship and pastoral contact 
Take the elderly more seriously and pastorally 
Follow up with a task force to consider how we can encourage and engage with Residential Homes in the area 
What we could do in [our area]: 
• 1 Find out what we are doing in [our area] 
• 2 Identify the gaps that could be filled 
One church to cover one home – simple and effective

Our thanks to John Sadler and the stewards for the use of Trinity church hall, Stephanie Noble, chapel keeper, musicians and the refreshments team, to CT Leeds Road and Pannal & Beckwithshaw for use of their powered speaker, Rock ConneXion for use of a projector, and, not least, to Keith Albans, Les Sudron & Angela Robinson for their contributions and leadership.