Organizing a Weekday Senior Adult Program

You may be the Sunshine Club, the Young at Heart, or the Ageless Wonders. But whatever the name, you’ll discover a weekday senior adult program offers a unique opportunity for fellowship and ministry among older adults in your church and community.

How can you begin - or reorganize - a weekday senior adult program in your church? Here are four steps for getting your group on its way.

1. Determine When the Group Can Meet

When and how often should your group meet? "Weekday" means just that--activities will take place during the week. Check your church schedule for a day of the week when the group can be best accommodated, then decide whether to meet:

• Weekly, one day each week, the same day each week. This requires detailed planning, much preparation, and extreme dedication by the senior adult leader. If the leader is a lay volunteer, he or she should have assistants who can help with the programs. Even a church staff member might find a weekly program difficult and would want to enlist lay volunteer help. Variety in programming is essential in a weekly program.
• Twice Monthly, or every other week. Scheduling for this might be somewhat easier, but a variety of programming is suggested.
• Monthly, as most senior adult groups. This does not place an undue hardship on the lay volunteer leader or the paid church staff member who has this responsibility. During the year a weekly program may involve a retreat or an extended, weeklong excursion.

2. Establish an Organizational Structure

Most senior adult weekday programs are formally structured. The group has a name, officers, and a regular time of meeting. For example:

• Name: Triple L Club
• Meeting: Every Thursday
• Officers: President, vice-president, secretary, group captains

Other senior adult weekday groups work well with an informal structure. Many of these have a name, but no officers. The group’s leader, usually a church staff member or a senior adult, plans and coordinates the activities with the group. This person needs to have a genuine love for, and understanding of, senior adults.

The leadership of the group should report to the committee (or staff member) responsible for senior adult ministry. A representative from the senior adult group should be a standing member of the committee. This person would represent the program in budgetary matters, report on the plans and events of the weekday ministry, and ensure that a balanced program of fellowship and ministry be projected for all senior adults in the church.

3. Plan for a Balanced Program

It is important to establish a balanced program of activities to meet the needs and interests of all senior adults. Too often, weekday clubs will overemphasize one area--usually travel. Be sure to plan for:

• Worship. Senior adults need the experiences offered through formal and informal worship settings. They also need to be involved in the worship process as leaders. Worship settings can include drama, music, retreats, camping, and more.
• Fellowship. Senior adults need fellowship with other seniors as well as with other age groups. They experience periods of loneliness, especially with the loss of a mate or a job, or when moving into a new community. Weekday programs provide opportunities for fellowship with Christians who have similar needs.
• Educational experiences. In-depth Bible study, continuing education (skill classes, crafts, college courses), opportunities to instruct, and educational trips are all good activities which allow senior adults to acquire new knowledge.
• Ministering and service activities. Senior adults need to continue to serve the church and community. With their enormous amount of talent and experience, the church should capitalize on the vast wealth of this resource. Seniors often devote much of their leisure time to constructive and useful purposes.
• Leisure or recreational activities. Provide senior adults with choices in recreation: Arts, crafts, hobbies, camping, drama, recreational music, retreats, social recreation (parties, banquets, fellowships), sports and games, and trips and tours.
• Physical fitness. This is one area that should be emphasized in your program. Physically fit senior adults lead a happier and more active life. Be sure to focus on the role of nutrition and fitness as well.

4. Choose a Creative Name

Finally, back to the name. A catchy name will help your church and community identify and recall this vital ministry. Look over this list of active senior adult groups. If one works for your group, use it, or use the names as inspiration to create your own. You may also wish to have seniors submit and vote on the name for your group.

• Triple L Club (L.L.L.)–Live Long and Like It
• JOY–Just Older Youth
• XYZ–Xtra Years of Zest
• Keenagers
• Ageless Wonders
• SAFO–Senior Adult Fellowship Organization
• Heritage
• K.I.T.–Keep In Touch
• Young at Heart
• Going Like Sixty
• Best Agers Club
• The Diamond Set
• Get Together Club
• Merrymakers
• Never Too Old Club
• Evergreen Club
• Second Mile Club
• Sunshine Club
• Golden Harvest
• Retired Live Wires
• Pioneer Club

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