sponsored in part by Lutheran church Extension Fund (LCEF)
Are you interested in information about the gathering in May 2026?
Click on any of the links below to go directly to that information for the Gathering.
Theme: Living on Purpose with Jesus
Mission
SAGES is organized to enhance the Older Adult Ministry of the Minnesota South District by providing experiences in Christian fellowship, service, and life enrichment.
Purpose
- To recognize older adults as gifts of God to the church.
- To affirm the unique worth of older adults as members of the body of Christ by nurturing their spiritual life.
- To enable and encourage older adults to share their faith, gifts and talents.
- To respond to the needs of older adults in the Church and community.
- To encourage congregations to organize older adult groups.
Ideas, helps, & Activities for Starting a Senior Adult Ministry Group
View Pastor Mark Jeske's three videos by clicking the buttons below. Each video has an accompanying discussion guide with suggested activities.
Discussion Guide 1: Ministry with, to, and by Seniors
Discussion Guide 2: Ministry to Seniors
Discussion Guide 3: Ministry by Seniors to the Congregation and Community
2. If you do not have one, start a Senior’s weekday Bible study.
3. Allow input from your Seniors as you plan activities.
4. If you need help, the LCMS - Minnesota South District Sages Board is prepared to offer help to establish Senior Adult Ministries in your congregation. Please address your questions in an email to minnesotasouthsages@gmail.com
5. Read these articles from the “Senior Adult Ministry Manual” compiled by Ken Holdorf:
6. Attend the SAGES Gathering at the beginning of May held in Mankato, MN. Preliminary information is given below.
7. Read the quarterly Sagacity newsletter (see links below). This publication keeps our district congregations and members up to date on the next SAGES Gathering.
Sagacity Newsletter
Sagacity is a quarterly publication to encourage and connect older adults with God and each other. Email minnesotasouthsages@gmail.com to be added to the newsletter distribution list.
Watch newly elected SAGES president, Ernie Freudenberg, as he greets the delegates to the 80th Minnesota South Convention. It was held at Concordia University St. Paul on June 12 - 14, 2025 with the theme, “…So That…”
An annual gathering and regional seminars are held to achieve the purposes of this organization and demonstrate leadership in conducting activities which can be replicated in congregational older adult groups. Membership in S.A.G.E.S. can be held as an individual, or through group affiliation. Members have voice and vote at the annual GATHERING. All who consider themselves to be older adults are encouraged to join S.A.G.E.S. organization.
Gathering XXXVI
May 4 - 5, 2026
Young or old, there are three questions everyone struggles to answer:
1) Who am I?
2) What do I have of value to offer others?
3) What is my purpose in this world?
When people are young, they struggle to answer those questions. If they answer them well, they generally have a confident, fulfilling life. If they do not, they usually struggle. They may have "success" by many measures, but they do not have a deep sense of confidence, peace, and joy.
Interestingly, as we age, these same questions once again press in on us. How we answer them in our later years is just as important to our well being as in our younger years.
The key for all of us, young and old, is to answer the questions not with what we think, or with what the world pushes, or with what other people say, but with the answers our heavenly Father gives us.
Come to the May 4-5, 2026 SAGES Gathering where Rev. Greg Finke will present "Living on Purpose with Jesus." Rev. Finke will help us unpack the good news about the answers our heavenly Father gives us so we can continue living purposeful, fruitful, and fulfilling lives each day.
Rev. Greg Finke
The featured presenter is Rev. Greg Finke, founder of Dwelling 1:14, a ministry that “comes alongside pastors and leaders to help them intentionally disciple their people to join Jesus on His mission in the places they already live, work and go to school.”
Rev. Greg Finke is an ordained pastor since 1989. For the past 20 years, he has been discovering how to live missionally, how to disciple missional leaders and how to establish and multiply missional communities. He spent the last ten years of his pastoral ministry pastoring churches with a 1000 or more in worship. In January 2011 he realized he couldn’t remain a senior pastor and do what Jesus was calling Him to do. Dwelling 1:14 is one of the results of that.
Greg and his wife Susan are neighborhood missionaries in a subdivision in League City, Texas.
Rev. Greg and Susan Finke
Registration
The registration fee for Gathering XXXVI is $110 per person for both days and $55 per person for a single day registration.
Read THIS BROCHURE for the daily agenda, meal information, program, session descriptions, and registration form.
Click on the button to the right to view the registration form. You can print copies of the form once it is open.
Held at Country Inn & Suites
1900 Premier Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
Complimentary breakfast for hotel guests.
Participants must make their own hotel reservations by contacting Country Inn & Suites directly (507-388-8555). A limited number of rooms are available under the room block, SAGES, at a cost of $132. Check-in time is 3:00 pm. The deadline for hotel reservations is April 4.
Questions may be directed to minnesotasouthsages@gmail.com
Workshops
Participants will be able to choose from six workshops to attend. There will be three times throughout the Gathering to attend a workshop.
The following workshops will be offered during the Gathering. You will have an opportunity to attend three sessions. To read the session description, click on the + sign next to the session title.
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Are we ever too old to serve our church or our neighbors? As I grow older, what can I do to support the ministries of my church? Does anyone at my church still recognize my value or do they ignore me? Cheri Fleischhacker, presenter, will share successful efforts to include those often forgotten or not included.
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We will learn of the lives of Dolley Madison, Clara Barton, and Shirley Temple, discussing their influence on American culture of the time and their impact on American history. Tom Kosseke, presenter.
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It’s never too late to focus on your brain health! In this interactive session you will learn about the six pillars of brain health, activities that support brain health, and hopefully be inspired by others. This session provides an overview for anyone interested in learning more about brain health and will provide the latest research, lifestyle suggestions, and resources to learn more. AARP, Betti Braem, presenter.
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Some life stories are humorous, some life stories are serious, and others are just interesting everyday events. No matter which type of life story it is, it needs to be passed on to the next generation in your family. In this session, the speaker, Stan Tordsen, will share examples of different types of stories from his life and how “Storyworth” helped him preserve them, whether using a subscription-based program or just a pencil.
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Presenter Jim Seemann presents this question: If Jesus lived among us here in Minnesota today, what would he be doing? In an email dated May 6, 2025, Jim wrote: “The last box to check is visiting with them. Sometimes people caution us about making the homeless too comfortable. This is just one of many myths about these people. No one wants to live off the grid, be cold or wet, hungry, or sick, miles away from any fresh running water. These people live here because they can’t find work. They have no address and no phones. They are waiting for and wanting social services. Some have been bankrupted for medical conditions. One or two with cancer will probably die alone there. Our mission is the visit itself, to treat them with a certain dignity that all God’s children deserve. We believe in the prophecy Isaiah described, ‘making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.’”
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Have you ever been approached with a fraudulent offer or been a victim of identity theft? The AARP Fraud Watch Network is working to empower you in the fight, with proven resources and tools to help you spot and avoid identity theft and fraud. By taking a few practical steps, you have the power to fight back against fraud. This session will arm you with the latest data on fraud trends and provide tips and resources to protect yourself and your family. AARP, Betti Braem, presenter.
Meals
The menu for each day is listed below. Please be aware that meals are an option. Please indicate your choices on your registration form.
Monday
Monday Night Banquet: Chicken Parmigiana (breaded chicken breast topped with marinara), melted mozzarella on top of linguini pasta, salad, roasted vegetables, and roll.
Tuesday
Breakfast: If staying at Country Inn & Suites, guests enjoy a complimentary breakfast served from 6:00 - 9:30 am.
Lunch: A box lunch containing a croissant with choice of turkey or ham with cheese, lettuce, and tomato; potato salad, apple, and a cookie.
Please note your dietary restriction on the registration form.
Activities
- Bible study and sharing the Word
- Mind enrichment and promotion of physical well being.
- Serving in the Church and community.
- Visitation and special ministries.
- Fellowship, recreation, and hobbies.
- Educational opportunities to understand and deal with the issues of aging.
More Information
For more information on S.A.G.E.S., contact minnesotasouthsages@gmail.com.
They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green
Psalm 94:14 (ESV)