Senior Ministries

Senior Ministry Mission Statement....
Enabling seniors to continue to experience the baptismal promise of being part of the Lord’s family.

“But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every ligament with which it is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in love.” Ephesians 4:15-16

Leadership Team: Owen Swenson, Barb Swenson,
Margie Olsen, Warren Mitch, and Scott Hagen

We need older adults, early retirees, and empty nesters to participate and help with events. Contact the church office if you have questions or would like to join us.

Angel Tree Jewelry Making

Angel Tree Jewelry Making is on break for the summer.

Angel Tree Jewelry Making class will meet every 3rd Saturday and 4th Tuesday from 10:00am to 12Noon in Room 201 in the spring and fall.

No prior experience required! The jewelry pieces made will be donated to our Angel Tree Program to be given to the children for Christmas.

RSVP so we can plan to have enough supplies for all attendees. Sign up at the Senior Ministry cart in the Narthex or in the church office at 602-866-9191.

Cut-Ups Sewing & More

Cut-Ups is on break for the summer.

The Cut Ups meet each Wednesday at 9:00am.

All are welcome to join the group to create lap quilts, baby items, shawls, and more. Sewing machines, materials, yarn and tools are provided for you. Items made are donated to community resources in need such as hospitals, care homes, and foster homes. Both men and women of any skill level are welcome to join the Cut-Ups on Wednesday mornings.

Come to sew, knit, crochet, quilt or cut fabric and share your talents and to learn from the group.

If you would like to donate fabric or sewing notions contact the church office at 602-866-9191.

Care Card Project

Care Card Project is on break for the summer.

Senior Ministries is offering a new small group opportunity for anyone age 6 years to 100 years.

C.C. Tomasi will be teaching how to make handmade greeting cards. She will begin with the basics of making handmade cards and teach new techniques each month.

There will be 2 classes offered every month. Classes will be held every 3rd Tuesday and every 4th Saturday of each month. All supplies will be provided. Classes are from 10:00am to 12Noon.

Care Card Project is taking a break for the summer. The classes will resume on Tuesday, September 20th and Saturday, September 24th.

Please RSVP so we can plan to have enough supplies available for all attendees. Half of the cards made will go to the church to be mailed to members and friends. The other half is for your personal use. Sign up at the Senior Ministry cart in the Narthex or in the church office at 602-866-9191.

Friday Friendly

Friday Friendly is a luncheon and entertainment event that occurs the second Friday of every February, April, October, and December for senior adults. The event starts at 12pm with a hot catered buffet lunch in our Fellowship Hall. A suggested donation of $15.00 helps with expenses.

After lunch we move to the sanctuary for our entertainment program that begins at 1:00pm. This one-hour program varies each month with musical guests or guest speakers. We invite winter visitors, friends, neighbors, and grandchildren to join us.

For more information about this even or to sign up call the church office at 602-866-9191.

Dessert bakers are needed to bake cakes, pies, cobblers, or cake-like bars for Friday Friendly. If you would like to bake or bring a freshly baked store-bought dessert, contact the church office at 602-866-9191.

Friday Friendly Field Trip

(Formerly OWL Adventure Bus Trips)
On the second Friday of January, March, and November we offer bus trips to various destinations around Arizona for senior adults and their friends.

Some of the destinations we have been to in the past are the Musical Instrument Museum, McCormick-Stillman Park, and Cave Creek Regional Park.

Some of our planned trips include lunch. Once per season the OWLS group and the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) group travel to Organ Stop Pizza together for pizza and to listen to the music of the mighty Wurlitzer Organ in a semi or private room dependent on attendance. This is a favorite event and enjoyed by all!

Resources for Seniors

Senior Ride Program

Envoy America
www.EnvoyAmerica.com

Thank you to all who have donated to this program!! Reliable and convenient transportation is a critical component to quality of life as we age. Those who can no longer drive are forced to make uncomfortable decisions about whether to stay home, ask someone to help them or navigate the complications of public transportation. Here, with the help of a young company called Envoy America, we have a proposed solution for solving the challenges of getting to worship. We are offering transportation to the 9:00am Sunday worship service.

Envoy is much more than a curb-to-curb ride. Their unique combination of transportation, companionship and assistance is a value-packed service and there is much to learn about what they offer.

We are delighted to be offering this transportation solution that will enable people to maintain an active presence in our worshipping community. If you are interested in providing financial support for this worthy cause, please contact Pastor Kristin or Tammy Follensbee.

Alzheimer's Association

24/7 Helpline
1-800-272-3900

Desert Southwest Chapter
www.alz.org/dsw

Currently, more than 170,000 are living with Alzheimer’s disease in Arizona and southern Nevada, and over 400,000 family and friends are providing care.

Serving Arizona and southern Nevada, the Alzheimer’s Association Desert Southwest Chapter provides education and support to all those facing Alzheimer’s and other dementias throughout the community, including those living with the disease, caregivers, health care professionals and families. We are also committed to advocating for the needs and rights of those facing Alzheimer’s disease and advancing critical research toward methods of treatment, prevention and, ultimately, a cure.

The Alzheimer’s Association offers in-person support groups and an online community for caregivers, individuals living with Alzheimer's and others dealing with the disease.

Veterans Heritage Project

Veterans Heritage Project (VHP) connects students with veterans in their communities, offering students the opportunity to become immersed in one-on-one personal accounts of heroism and service to our Country, while learning life-long skills, developing a passion for history, writing and civics, and an appreciation of the freedoms which came through the sacrifices of those who have served our nation.

VHP is an after-school club or in-classroom course for 8th through 12th grade and college-level students that is tied to class curriculum such as English, Social Studies, Civics or History. Students are responsible for interviewing, writing and celebrating their veterans’ stories of military experience. They become published authors, by contributing their stories to VHP’s annual hard-covered books entitled Since You Asked and permanent audio-visual archiving at the Library of Congress, in Washington, DC. Students honor their veterans through their Chapter’s annual book signing celebration.

Several people from All Saints have participated in this project and they have received their own copy of the “Since You Asked” book that includes their own story and pictures. If you would like to be interviewed by a student and have your story entered into the archives at the Library of Congress go to this website http://veteransheritage.org and click on “Stories/Books” in the red bar at the top of the page. Then click on “AZ-Vets Interview Request. Or call the local VHP office at
602-218-4036 or call Tammy Follensbee at All Saints to help you get connected to the program.

Duet: Partners in
Health and Aging

Phone number: 602-274-5022
https:/duetaz.org/family-caregiver

A family caregiver is defined as someone who provides unpaid care for a loved one. Many family members don’t consider such care “caregiving” – they are just doing what comes naturally. Whether the care is provided in town or across the country, it’s a responsibility that can take a physical, mental and emotional toll.

Duet will help you take better care of yourself—so you can take better care of your loved one.

Duet offers a variety of caregiver support groups, symposiums and workshops. Call the number above or check out their website to learn more. One recommendation is the video discussion series called Finding Meaning and Hope. Based on the groundbreaking book Loving Someone Who Has Dementia: How to Find Hope While Coping with Stress and Grief, by Pauline Boss, Ph.D., this video series occupies a unique place in the caregiving landscape. Dr. Boss is best known for her groundbreaking research as the pioneer theorist and clinical practitioner of stress reduction for people whose loved ones are physically present, but psychologically absent, coined “ambiguous loss.”

Area Agency on Aging

https://www.aaaphx.org/