December 2020
Author: Ruth Preston
December 2020
Reaching, serving and empowering older people
Welcome to this December Faith in Later Life newsletter where we will be sharing updates and news, signposting to new resources, and highlighting opportunities for you get involved. We wish you a very happy Christmas!
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”
2 Corinthians 9:15
Resource of the month: Daily Hope
Since its launch at the end of April, in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the many older people not being able to access online content, the Daily Hope free telephone line has proved a big success. Launched by the Archbishop of Canterbury, charity Faith in Later Life, and the team from ‘Connections’ at Holy Trinity Claygate, Daily Hope has been over 335,000 calls received, totalling 4 million minutes of call time. Free to call from any UK landline or mobile, this 24/7 telephone line has proved a source of comfort and indeed hope, to thousands of people. Find out more by clicking here.
December news
Advent and the run-up to Christmas are always busy for us at Faith in Later Life, but this year has been even more so. With media appearances across Christian radio and Christian TV and BBC local radio, as well as leading national prayers for older people and hosting an online event with Ian Knox on ‘Finishing Well’, we have had lots on, as we continue to stand up as a Christian voice for older people. If you want to catch up on much of what we have been up to, do visit our website by clicking here.
We were also pleased to have a day of well-attended seminars, as we do every month, for our Church Champions. We heard from Pippa Cramer, Seniors and Pastoral Minister at Holy Trinity Claygate, who shared lots of encouragement and practical support. For more information about joining our free Church Champion community, do visit our website here.
In terms of partnerships, I had an exciting conversation with friends at Cliff College as we explore a partnership with them in their BA in Ministry and Mission- Third Age. And I am delighted to be able to announce that Professor Keith Brown has joined Faith in Later Life as our first Ambassador. We have worked with Keith on a number of excellent resources, including guidance for Christian organisations in the value and support of older people, which you can read here. Keith is the founding director of the National Centre for Post Qualifying Social Work and the leading expert in his field. Click here to read our press release.
It has been really encouraging to see the interest in our #notforgotten Christmas card campaign, and we are so grateful for your support and involvement. Because of you over 2000 older people will be receiving a Christmas postcard, which will hopefully be encouraging, and all the more so now Christmas plans have been disrupted.
Indeed, this newsletter will reach you at a time when things may feel very challenging indeed, with Christmas plans disrupted and family reunions on hold. Thank God that we have the hope of the Lord Jesus, and that we are able to celebrate Christmas wherever we are, even away from our loved ones. Do remember the free Daily Hope phone line is available to call, and has new Christmas content.
Finally, if you are praying for us and our work, please pray as below:
• Thank God for the 2000+ Faith in Later Life Christmas postcards that have been sent to older people.
• Pray for an important month in January of grant funding applications and financial planning.
• Pray for all those whose Christmas plans are disrupted and who are lonely or grieving this Christmas.
From all the team at Faith in Later Life, I wish you a blessed Christmas, where you know the closeness of the Lord Jesus, and find comfort and joy in Him.
Yours in Christ
CEO, Faith in Later Life
Upcoming Events
Church Champion training 12th January 2021
We will be hearing from Carl Brettle, CEO of the Neighbourhood Prayer Network, on praying for our neighbours in our localities.