Jubilation!
Seniors find fun, food, and friends
at MeadowView

By Annette Spence

Iva Lee Eads lost her husband on Dec. 7. But for three days in March, she was wearing a funny hat, rejoicing in her reunion with a former pastor, and dining in a fancy hotel with 23 pals from Broad Street United Methodist Church.

"I don't know how widows make it when they don't have a church family," said Eads, whose gingham- band straw hat was as perky as her personality. Eads seemed to be everywhere during Holston's retreat for older adults: singing in the choir assembled for worship, having her photo made with Bishop Richard Looney, and making new friends with people from other churches.

Jubilation was held March 18-20 at MeadowView Resort and Conference Center in Kingsport, Tenn. The event broke an attendance record with 370 participants, an increase of 90 over last year.

"It's the magic of this place," said the Rev. Bob Bostick, when asked about the surge in attendance. Older adults didn't like the traffic in Gatlinburg, but they did like the spaciousness and good food offered at MeadowView.

"We had outgrown our old place," said Bostick, Holston's coordinator of older adult ministries. "MeadowView was built for what we're doing."

Other than field trips around Kingsport (antique stores, planetarium, golf), seniors were treated to the music and comedy of Dollywood performer James Rogers. They participated in worship and workshops where speakers didn't nix words in prodding them to take active roles in ministry.

"Get up," said the Rev. Jonathan Jonas, worship leader, during the first evening's sermon. "Most times when we say or hear the words 'get up,' it's to point out that things are not as they should be... But when Jesus says 'get up,' it has a different meaning. Jesus invites us not just to something else, but to something more." "Don't say, 'I've already done my thing,'" said Bishop Looney during his Bible study workshop. "That's a good way to die. There's great joy in living life for others. All of us can do something." "Perhaps it's time to stop thinking about aging and start thinking about spiritual transformation - becoming Christ's gift and Christ's presence to the rest of the world," said Jane Marie Thibault, keynote speaker and associate professor of family and geriatric medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

"Christians do not retire," said Thibault. "Our baptismal call is our call until we take our last breath."

Meanwhile, participants commented overwhelmingly on their delight for the opportunity to be in fellowship with others. Although Frances Brockman lives a short distance from MeadowView, she and her friends from First Broad Street UMC chose to stay overnight in the hotel. After attending Jubilation for the first time last year, Jean Holt convinced her former Emory & Henry roommate, Peg Phillips, to join her at Jubilation this year. Holt attends Abingdon UMC, while Phillips attends St. Paul UMC in Wytheville, Va.

On the last night at Jubilation, Iva Lee Eads found a book at the book exhibit that she planned to put on her nightstand in Cleveland.

The book was "Faith Breaks: Thoughts on Making It a Good Day," by J. Howard Olds.

Eads opened the book and pointed out a quotation that she felt described her new approach to life: "The secret to traveling in space is to take your own atmosphere with you."

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