About six years ago, Joyce Schumann placed an item in the Sunday bulletin inviting singles — men and women — 55 years of age and older to her home for a social gathering. That initial group of fourteen decided that a social group for single seniors was a good idea to help those widowed, divorced, or never married to belong, to find a group to identity with in this very large parish.
Since then, the group has grown in size. Most popular are the potlucks held in parishioner’s homes two or three time a year, with twenty to more than thirty attending. Brenda Bell, Jodie Sheridan, Peg Anderson, and Annalyn Watt have hosted the group in the past. Joyce Schumann hosted again this past September, and Carolyn McKeeman is hosting in April. Joyce also hosted a New Year’s Eve party on December 31, 2011. After-church lunches at local restaurants have also been popular, the most recent being lunch at The Union in St. Philip’s Plaza.
Some potluck get-togethers have been at church for a board games night, and a “display your interest” night, which included prayer shawl knitting, jewelry making, JoAnn Aldgredge’s paintings, and Kathy Pease’s weavings. Before they left Tucson, the Rev. Blake Hutson and his wife Christine hosted a party in the gallery — which they decorated — featuring their chocolate fountain with cake and strawberry dipping.
The group also takes occasional field trips. These have included the Desert Museum, Kartchner Caverns, The Mini Time Machine (miniatures museum) in Tucson, Tucson Museum of Art, Tucson Botanical Gardens, ASARCO copper mine, and the Sabino Canyon shuttle. Last summer the group took an excursion up Mt. Lemmon, where they enjoyed lunch at the new Sawmill Restaurant in Summerhaven, hosted by Seasoned Single Maryl Barnes and her brother, Bob Zimmerman, owner of the Sawmill. He told a few stories of their father and the history of Summerhaven, early and after the 2003 fire.
A trip to Imago Dei Middle School last fall resulted in two Seasoned Singles parishioners preparing a “teacher appreciation” event, with another being planned for the spring.
Fun and fellowship abounds with the Seasoned Singles. There are no membership requirements. If you are “seasoned” and “single,” call Joyce Schumann at 529-7421 and ask to be placed on the e-mail contact list.
—Wayne Fulton
Good News from St. Philip's 