International Day of Older People 2024

The International Day of Older People (1 October) provides us with the opportunity to celebrate, encourage and affirm the older people within our local settings. This year's resources consider the theme 'BOLDER: It takes a village'

Our ageing is inevitable. Often ageing can be seen as a burden rather than a bonus, and this year’s theme is about to challenge that. Let’s challenge the narrative because ageing is a bonus, not a burden. Growing older is not the end of the story! Our ageing as a society, community and church is an opportunity for growth. Ageing is everyone’s business – no one living is exempt. We are a day older with each day.

We hear the old saying, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ We believe that it takes a village to do everything! It takes a village to educate, to teach, to bring wisdom, to nurture and to love. Everyone has a part to play in being bolder as we grow older. Older people bring so much to the life of the Church and to our communities – but are we selling them and the wider Church the narrative that older is weaker rather than bolder?

This year’s set of resources wants to encourage everyone to strive for a bolder later life. We also want to encourage churches and communities not just to use these resources for the International Day of Older People 2024, but to go beyond and use these throughout the weeks leading up to and after this key date. You will find:

A Bible study – Bold Moves
A short talk / sermon outline
All-age activity – The Generation Game
A sports-themed mid-week celebration idea by Rob Moye
A music video of the song ‘Be Bold, Be Strong’ arranged by the Music and Creative Arts team

Taking two key leaders from the Bible – Nehemiah and Joshua – we look at how they gathered people to build, restore and bring liberation and hope.

If you wish to do further reading around the subject of being bold in older age, we suggest the book 'BOLDER – Making the Most of our Older Lives' by Carl Honore.

Carl was asked what his hope was, and he said: ‘To see ageing in a completely new light. To move from fear and dread to the kind of understanding and optimism that will help them (older adults) make the most of their lives – at every age. The real challenge facing us is not ageing; it’s ageism.’

We pray that as you take time to celebrate your older people, you will also inspire them to be bold in their ageing and that the Kingdom of God on earth will be a place where everyone is welcome, no matter their age.

So, gather your ‘village’ and bless the elders of your village, acknowledging their strength, their boldness, their courage, and their wisdom.

God bless your ministry!

The Older People’s Ministries Team