10 Ways to Stay Connected to Your Church as a Senior

1. Pray

This sounds simple, but it's the most effective tool any of us can use. Praying through your church directory, for instance, is a habit every church member would benefit from, and it's a wonderful way to serve the church if you are shut in or have physical limitations that keep you from engaging in other ways.

Another way to encourage others is to pray for one family or individual for an entire week and then send them a card letting them know they've been the focus of your prayers. What a special way to let your church family know you care. If you cannot purchase cards and stamps, ask your church leadership about providing them for you as an outreach of encouragement.

2. Send Birthday Cards

An older woman in a church we once attended sent birthday cards to each regular attendee. My children, especially, looked forward to their cards from Miss Mary every year. Her personal notes made us all feel special, and we missed this tradition when we moved and joined a different congregation.

Not everyone has family or close friends to acknowledge birthdays. This simple act of kindness will surely bring a smile to anyone's face, but especially to those who are lonely and long to feel cared for.

3. Offer Free Babysitting

Every church family I've been a part of has had young parents with no family in the area. As these young parents strive to prioritize their marriage, they find not having free babysitting by family members to be a struggle. There are also single parents who need help fulfilling other responsibilities while juggling work and children.

This is where those living in retirement can be a tremendous blessing to the younger generation. Giving a bit of your time and energy as a babysitter would allow a young couple to focus on their marriage and for a single parent to focus on themselves for a time and any other pressing matters in their life.

4. Be an Adoptive Grandparent

If you look around your church family, you'll likely find at least one couple with small children whose parents are estranged, have already passed away, or don't live in the area. Consider adopting this family, even if you have children and grandchildren of your own.

You would be a blessing not only to the parents but also to the children who are missing out on having a dedicated grandparent figure to pour into them, celebrate them, walk through struggles with them, and be there at the soccer games and school plays cheering them on as they grow and learn.

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5. Offer to Pass on Your Skills

Are you a hunter, fisherman, a cook or baker? Do you sew, knit, or paint? I guarantee there are younger folks in your church family who would love to learn a new skill and would love an experienced church family member to teach them.

Perhaps you were an accountant and could help others in your church family with their budgets. Maybe you were a mechanic, an electrician, or you know how to refinish furniture. Whatever skill set you have can still be utilized and could be a real blessing to those around you.

6. Attend Extra Church Family Activities

Does your church offer mid-week Bible studies or small groups that meet in homes? Does your church host a trunk-or-treat event or an Easter egg hunt? Whatever extra activities are available, do your best to be there. Not only can you bring a unique perspective to group discussions, but this is a great way to interact with your church family in a more casual setting.

If you're someone who doesn't like driving at night and therefore tends to miss out on extra church activities, lean into the relationships you've made and ask someone to pick you up. You've likely spent decades serving the church - let the church serve you so you can stay connected.

7. Don't Settle for Generational Segregation

My husband and I visited a church last year that had a basket of earplugs at the door. This was a reminder of why many churches still offer multiple services with one having calmer, quieter music. And, as I'm sure you can guess, this calmer, quieter setting is where many of our seniors end up.

The unfortunate consequence to this is generational segregation. The generations are missing out on each other and what they each uniquely bring to the table for the good of the Kingdom. Try visiting a different service once or twice a month if you can. And if that's simply not an option, talk to your church leadership about bringing the generations together for worship.

8. Write Letters to Missionaries

If your church supports missionaries, write them letters of encouragement. If the missionaries have children, ask about being pen pals with them. Depending on where the missionaries are located and how often they return home, organize care packages to be sent to them.

If the missionaries were sent out from your church family, ask others in the church to join you in writing letters and notes of encouragement. This will bless not only the missionaries but also you. Perhaps you could even organize a care package to be sent during the holidays.

9. Open Your Home

There are ways to be hospitable that don't have to involve you feeding a crowd or exhausting yourself playing host. If you have the space in your home, find someone who would enjoy hosting a game night but doesn't have the space, and let them use your home. Do you have a swimming pool? Have open swim days for moms and their little ones and ask everyone to pack a lunch.

Do you have an extra bedroom? There's usually a college student or two who need a place to stay during the holidays or international students who need a place to stay over the summer breaks. Another option is to offer your home for a small group Bible study. You don't have to lead the study; just offer your home.

10. Ask for Opportunities

This may be last on the list, but it's certainly not the least important. Depending on your age, health, and a wide range of other factors, you may find that none of these suggestions are viable options. And that's okay. You still have something to offer your church family and you can still stay connected.

Reach out to your church leadership and have an honest discussion on how you would like to be connected to your church family, even if you don't know how. Let your church leadership help you figure it out. Let them know the desire is there and let them help find the opportunities that suit you best.

The truth is, staying connected with your church family takes effort for everyone, not just seniors. Yet, getting older often brings health issues and unique circumstances that can make staying connected even more challenging. Even so, please don't stop trying.

The bottom line is the younger generations need you, even if they don't realize it. We need to hear your stories, life lessons, perspective, and perhaps most importantly, we need to hear how God has been faithful to you throughout your life.

Stay connected for your own sake and the sake of others. Job 12:12 tells us wisdom is found among the aged, and that with long life comes understanding. You have a unique role to play in the lives of the younger generations. Connect with us.