Prime Time Day has been set aside as a time to express appreciation for the work, sacrifice, and ministry senior adults have given to their families, local congregations, and communities. Use this day and make plans to celebrate, praise, and show appreciation to the generation of senior adults for the contributions they have made in the past and are making in the present.
Each year the Prime Time Ministries office provides helpful “thank you” ideas, worship service suggestions, and sermon outlines for use on Prime Time Day. Click here to download this year's set of resources.
In the United States , Prime Time Day is observed by Nazarene congregations on National Grandparents Day, the Sunday following Labor Day. National Grandparents Day originated with Marian McQuade, of Fayette County , West Virginia . In 1978, President Jimmy Carter made a proclamation that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day.
Start making plans to celebrate the grandparents in your congregation today. Following are some suggestions your church can use to honor grandparents and senior adults on Prime Time Sunday.
• Give several senior adults the opportunity to share their walk of faith in the Sunday School opening or morning worship service.
• Interview some senior adults and write their “story” in the church newsletter or bulletin.
• Invite senior adults to be guests in children and teen Sunday School departments.
• Have the children and teens interview them.
• Prepare a bulletin board with information, pictures, etc. about prime time programs and events in your church.
• Invite a senior adult to read a story to the preschool class.
• Honor all grandparents in your service (i.e., have a special prayer, give them a certificate, a small gift, etc.).
• Give a reading about grandparents.
• Interview some children and get their opinion on “What is a grandma or grandpa?”
• Invite a special speaker.
• Honor the grandparents with a breakfast or luncheon.
• Have a choir or small ensemble made up of senior adults present the special music.
• Invite someone to give a testimony on how grandparents have influenced their life.
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