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Recommended Resources by Steven Lee

If you try any of these resources below, do let me know what you thought. It would be great not just to have my bias in reviewing! Also please let me know if there are any other resources you have come across.

Courses
For those of you into courses I would particularly recommend

Retiring Well by Helen Calder Volumes 1&2. A very comprehensive set of 16 Sessions! Volume 1 covers topics to consider before you leave work. Volume 2 covers matters to address in the months following retirement. Personally I think there would be value in looking at these at any time 2 years before retirement to 10 years after retirement. I found some of the session really helpful: such as Session 2 Opportunities and Challenges in retirement, Session 3 Exploring God’s calling for your retirement, Chapter 14 Volunteering: Opportunities and Tips. Other sessions on ‘Staying or moving’ or ‘Financial considerations’ were not what I was personally looking for.  You are most welcome to borrow my copies.  There is also a website with further information  https://www.helensheadlines.net/

Re:Purpose is from the London Institute of Contemporary Christianity and is a six-session guide for anyone looking to grow as a disciple in retirement. I found it a really helpful way of thinking about retirement. You can download this for free at https://licc.org.uk/ourresources/repurpose/

SHAPE A 6-session course exploring our God-given gifts and building confidence in God’s call. I found this a bit prescriptive but there were many helpful bits. You can download this for free at https://www.resourcingrenewal.org/shape-course
 

Books
As regards books on retirement I have read

A Good Old Age by Derek Prime. It is easy to read with short chapters on various topics related to following Jesus in later years. I found it full of practical and challenging wisdom, but is more aimed at people who have been retired for a good number of years who are having to give up doing things and to learn to live with increasing restrictions.  You are very welcome to borrow my copy.

The Highway Code to Retirement. By David Winter. This was lent to me and is written by a committed Christian, but written in such a way as to still be relevant to non-Christians.  This to my mind is its main weakness, as it is not challenging enough to Christians about making the most of the very real opportunities to serve God and grow in faith in retirement. It is however a well thought out and comprehensive guide to issues that need to be faced in retirement. 


Websites
I have found the following website particularly useful sources of information

https://www.afterworknet.com/

https://faithinlaterlife.org/
 

Planning your Visit

Welcome to St John's Church!

We are so delighted that you have found our website. We are a Church family in Wimborne for anyone living, working or studying around this area. Whoever you are, whatever your age, whether you’re an experienced Christian or not, we would love you to join us.

From an intrigued onlooker to the committed follower we are keen that everyone should grow in relationship with God through knowing Jesus. To help us do that our emphasis is on hearing God speak to us by his Holy Spirit through his word, the Bible. Each of us knows that we only grow in a relationship with someone and get to know them when we spend time listening to them and responding and reacting to what they say. So the focus of St John’s is on listening to God’s word, talking to him in prayer and taking up all that he says.

The Church family here at St John’s longs to help anyone who wants to investigate the life of Jesus. On this site you will find people, meetings, talks and events shaped to help you take another step forward in finding out more about God and his love for us in Jesus, and to help you get linked into the church family life.

We hope to have the opportunity to meet you personally in the very near future and that you will quickly feel at home at St John’s.

Stuart Hull and Nigel Day (Churchwardens)
Please note that we are currently seeking a new Vicar, following the retirement of Revd Peter Breckwoldt in July 2025