Residents at Sedgebrook share their holiday traditions

Passing through the front doors of Sedgebrook and Radford Green of Sedgebrook is much like "walking into a religious and spiritual encyclopedia. But it's alive, it's living," said Janna Born Larsen, pastoral ministries manager and chaplain of the retirement community.

"We have many faith traditions here. We have Roman Catholic residents and Protestant denominations include Lutheran, Methodist, United Church of Christ, Episcopalian, Baptist, Presbyterian, Congregationalist, nondenominational, and more.

"We have Jewish residents from the Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Orthodox, and Humanist movements. We also have many people on their own kind of spiritual paths. This makes for a very heady and hearty holiday season."

Because it is a joyous time of the year, Larsen strives to see that everyone, regardless of their spiritual path, is able to celebrate and enjoy the season with the community in ways that are personal and meaningful to them.

Much of the holiday programming is coordinated by faith-based, resident religious councils. They will often schedule worship services, coordinate music, recruit clergy, help decorate, and visit residents in the skilled care neighborhood at Radford Green.

Many residents enjoy the celebrations of faith traditions in addition to their own.

"On Christmas Eve we'll have an ecumenical Christmas service. One of our Jewish residents just told me how much she loves this service," said Larsen. "During Hanukkah, everyone at Sedgebrook is invited to the celebration every single night."

Larsen said that a performance by the Maxwell Street Klezmer Quartet has been so successful in the past that this year it had to be moved to a larger performance area.

The diversity of Sedgebrook makes for eclectic holiday decorations.

"We have Christmas trees, Nativity scenes, Advent decorations, Hanukkah menorahs and more," said Larsen. "It all works."

Larsen said that it's not unusual for people who have for some reason previously left their faith traditions to find their way back at Sedgebrook. Additionally, she said, many residents enjoy the weekly interfaith worship services, which she said are a "beautiful, beautiful, warm time. It's just wonderful."

Larsen said that the religious diversity at Sedgebrook seems to be unique.

"It's something that our residents really treasure. I had one gentleman stop by my office recently. He told me that one of the reasons that he and his wife chose this community was because of its religious diversity," she said.

Larsen acknowledged that the holiday season is often tough for seniors who may be mourning former celebrations and lost friends and spouses. Larsen said that she and Rabbi Shari Chen, who partners with her for pastoral care at Radford Green, often visit with residents who are struggling.

Larsen said that she looks at her position as being the interfaith congregational leader for "one big congregation that is multi-faith and non-faith based. It's comprised of people on a journey."

For details on Sedgebrook, visit www.WelcomeToSedgebrook.com or call (847) 901-3319.

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