Celebration of Aging Honoree

The Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy PC(USA) has an annual ‘Celebration of Aging’ service that spotlights the contributions older adults have made and continue to make in the ministry of the church for the glory of God. This year, in its 30th annual celebratory service, our member Dick Wallace was selected by the St. Mark session to be our representative and honoree.

Dick, a man in his late 70s, is a worthy choice, for he has chosen to live his life in productive, sustaining, and enthusiastic ways. Dick has been ordained as both Presbyterian elder and deacon. He ushers regularly at worship services and is found every morning helping with Business Person Between Jobs. With his wife Elizabeth (Betty Jo), he attends an adult Sunday school class and is also a member of a small group Bible study fellowship. For years Dick has been a worker bee on the property committee and chaired it during much of the ‘crisis’ with the church’s roof issues. Despite having endured several serious health issues, Dick continues to swim, practice yoga, and walk-run. He began racing in 2010 and now has more than 25 races to his credit, including one full marathon. He keeps all routine doctors’ appointments and recommended screenings. Regular housework chores are in his bailiwick. He helps others freely and serves ungrudgingly. And best of all, Dick often laughs at himself.

On May 6, 2015 at the Celebration of Aging, this statement of faith was recited:

We believe in the God of the First Age who is present in the lives of little children and youth; who gives to every person the right to grow in wisdom and years, and in divine and human favor. 

We believe in the God of the Second Age, who energizes young adults to find and realize their destiny in life; who sustains parents; who invigorates those in mid-life; who give to every person the right to grow in wisdom and years, and in divine and human favor. 

We believe in the God of the Third Age, who stands with those who retire from work, granting them peace, and nudging them to creative new beginnings; who shatters the complacency of those who languish in rockers and hurls them into unknown places. 

We believe in the God of the Fourth Age, who carries with love those who can no longer walk where they wish, who listens with compassion to life stories, who hovers over the bedside of the frail, the weak, the dying, with whispers of a better life yet to come. 

We believe in the God of All Ages, who is ageless, and who dwells with people of every age. Amen.

Along with Dick, we, at St. Mark Presbtyerian, celebrate the joy of living and aging in God’s grace.