Founded in 1985 as a church-oriented medium for older adults to enrich their lives through mutual interests and activities, the Greater Lakewood Shepherd Center has attracted about 600 members.

Open to any adults who are 60 or older, the center was formed in the Greater Lakewood area because of its high percentage of senior citizens. Currently, members come from 88 churches, extending well beyond Greater Lakewood.

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The private, non-profit center is supported by area churches, denominations, foundations, businesses and individuals. Programs are offered in three categories: Education, Life Enrichment and Community Outreach.

The education division consists of two major programs: Adventures in Learning and Creative Arts Adventures. Each program features two months of activities and one month off each quarter.

Adventures in Learning classes are held Fridays from 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 3204 Skillman Ave. Members choose from programs offering Bible Study, Travelogues (slides presented by volunteers), News & Views (discussion of the latest news, often involving controversial opinions), Handwriting Analysis, Informal Conversational French, and Practical Conversational Spanish.

A half-hour of entertainment follows lunch (members bring sack lunches, with drinks and dessert provided). Entertainment has ranged from prominent speakers to singing, dancing and musical groups.

The day’s program ends with a member’s choice of exercise, participation in a drama group or playing bridge from 1 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Creative Arts Adventures programs vary by quarter and involve activities such as needlepoint, oil painting, calligraphy, drawing, photography, crocheting, knitting and quilting. These classes are held Monday afternoons at the First Community Church, 6255 E. Mockingbird Lane.

The Life Enrichment division consists of three programs: Adventures in Travel, Theater-Goers, and Steppers, Shufflers and Line Dancing. The travel programs offer trips, some for one day and others overnight. Past trips included a bus tour to Palo Duro to see the play “Texas” and an old-fashioned steamtrain ride in East Texas.

Theater-Goers often are eligible for free or reduced tickets to movies, plays or concerts. And, as the name implies, Steppers, Shufflers and Line Dancers offer members a chance to strut their stuff with some not-exactly-new dance steps.

Finally, the Community Outreach division offers health screenings and classes, a “Friendly Visitor” service for the lonely and home-bound, and assistance in completing Medicare or Medicaid forms.

Also offered is a “handyman” service provided by volunteer jacks-of-all-trades, who install shelves, repair leaky faucets, handle spot painting, repair small appliances, caulk windows and other small home repairs. Major repairs, mowing and edging are not included.

Executive director Sylvia Sanders was instrumental in the center’s formation after months spent studying the Shepherd Centers of America program, which originated in Kansas City in 1972 and has expanded to 60 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Further information can be obtained by calling 823-2583 or visiting center offices at the First Community Church, 6255 E. Mockingbird Lane.