I look at friends and family and church members, and marvel at their signs of growth – artistic, intellectual, spiritual, service!

• Ann Croll, in her fifties, became a master quilter.
• My brother-in-law Richard Thorbeck, learned to play the piano in his sixties.
• Leslie Snorf and her late husband, Charlie, in their seventies, served orthopedic clinics in St. Lucia, Bhutan and Vietnam.
• Aram Kinosian, in his eighties, discovered he loves serious Bible Study.
• Jacqui Coleman, in her nineties, is reading new books and debating each month with our church’s book club.

This week we’ll think about growth as a hallmark of Christian retirement.   Growth is one of six essentials for a Christian retirement, in our new sermon series, “Fresh Starts to Finish Strong.”  In following weeks we’ll look at the imperative to connect, care, invest, be available, and plan ahead.

Our sermon series is based on a thoughtful resource developed by retired Texas pastor Hal Habecker, who decided that he would do something new in retirement –  to rally us Christians to rethink retirement!

According to Pastor Halbecker, American culture promotes a form of retirement that is antithetical to Christian faith.   American culture tends to convey to retirees that our purposeful years are behind us, new friendships and love won’t happen, volunteer service isn’t as important as entertainment and travel, and nostalgia is our religion.

Is that what we believe?  What is a Christian retirement?   Join us this Sunday, as we  begin to rethink Christian retirement.