This November at ElderPride
THE HEALING BALM OF GRATITUDE
As of November 1, we have officially fallen back. We have set our clocks back one hour and now we are adjusting. At 5:15 in the afternoon, we wonder how it can already feel like 7:15 p.m. We marvel at this every year. We relish that extra hour of sleep, even as our bodies catch up to the new schedule.
Some of us may even arrive an hour early for church because we forgot to turn back our clocks. And just as we settle into the change, it is time to plan for Thanksgiving and everything that means around our homes.
Perhaps we might as well accept that November has its own version of normal. Each day invites us to pivot, accommodate, and go with the flow. So here is a suggestion to help us through the adjustments: let us make November our month of gratitude.
Let us choose to be grateful for everything that comes our way.
Our faith, philosophy, and way of living remind us that even in setbacks, a gift may be waiting to reveal itself. Gratitude helps us recognize that gift.
Here is our homework for November:
As you awaken each morning, say aloud — I am grateful for this new day. Repeat it as you make your way to the coffee maker or brush your teeth. Let the Universe know you are thankful for another day to be a light in someone's life — to remind them they are seen, loved, and valued.
End each day by reflecting on at least three things you are grateful to have experienced.
Instead of counting sheep, count your blessings.
Say them aloud.
As you repeat this practice throughout November, you may notice even more reasons to be grateful.
Why? Because you have set your intention to live in gratitude — and you are keeping your attention on that intention by beginning and ending each day with expressions of thanks.
Let us do it.
This stuff works if we work it.
On Sunday, November 1:
Rev. Jack will be at Heart and Soul Center of Light in Oakland for their 17th Anniversary Celebration. Over the following four Sundays, we will take a deeper dive into adopting an attitude of gratitude.
November 8 — "I Have No Complaints Whatsoever!"
November 15 — "Sometimes Things Fall Apart to Fall Together"
November 22 — "Remembering There Is No Place That God Is Not"
November 29 — "The Healing Balm of Gratitude"
WHAT'S NEW AT ELDERPRIDE
~SAGETALK SEASON TWO IS COMING~
We are excited to announce that Season Two of SageTalk will premiere with a special live virtual gathering on Sunday, January 6, 2027.
The broadcast begins promptly at 8:30 a.m.
Join us by clicking the Zoom In button at the top of the page.
SageTalk goes live on the first Sunday of each month, with a new podcast episode released every Sunday morning. Jack Elliott is a playwright, theologian, motivational speaker, and storyteller. Each week he offers an inspirational and often humorous pep talk to elders in the LGBTQIA+ community — designed to help you age forward with grace and ease.
In 2027, our recommended Daily Read is The Pivot Year by Brianna Wiest, available at your favorite bookseller. For January, we kick off the year with Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements. Tune in. Try us on for size. We think you will enjoy the community you find at ElderPride.
You will find SageTalk wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. Please share us with your friends and like-minded associates.
Tag us, like us, and subscribe.
— ARE YOU LISTENING TO CABIN CREEK? —
If not, you need to check it out. The Cabin Creek Anthology is a novel, podcast, and soon-to-be stage play by the Reverend Jack Elliott. Volumes One and Two — Cabin Creek: Devotion — are available now as both a podcast and an ongoing column on Substack.
Cabin Creek is a multigenerational LGBTQ+ historical fiction story set in the southwestern corner of Randolph County, Indiana. Rooted in the true histories of the Lenape people, the Underground Railroad, the Quakers, and the freedom seekers who built a community on that land, Devotion follows six generations of families — and the loves, losses, and secrets that connect them across time. It is the story of a place where inclusion, diversity, and devotion were not ideals. They were simply how people lived.
Visit cabincreekanthology.com to catch up on episodes you have missed, or find the podcast wherever you listen to your favorites.
— THE SHOE BOX MINISTRY —
By some estimates, nearly 500,000 LGBTQ+ youth in the United States are unhoused. That is roughly the population of Atlanta, Sacramento, Denver, Kansas City, or Fresno. Organizations like the Larkin Street Youth Center and Covenant House work hard to provide shelter and safety for young people who have been pushed out because of how they identify. ElderPride supports those organizations — and we also believe in acting locally.
That is why we created the Shoe Box Ministry: a care package assembled by elders in our community and delivered directly to one of these organizations. Imagine a gift box filled with daily essentials — soap, toothpaste, a new toothbrush, deodorant, a clean pair of socks, nail clippers, and more — along with a personalized note of encouragement written by you.
If assembling a box feels like more than you want to take on, a one-time designated gift of $25 allows us to build one on your behalf — and you can still include your own personal message. Please join us in this special outreach.
— SUPPORT ELDERPRIDE —
ElderPride is a self-sustaining organization. We depend entirely on your gifts and donations to carry out our intention to assist LGBTQIA+ elders in aging forward with grace and ease. If this community has meant something to you, we invite you to give back.
Click the Donate Now to make your gift today.
Every contribution makes a difference. Thank you for your generosity.
ElderPride Presents...
The Cabin Creek Anthology
Dear Friend of ElderPride,
You are receiving this invitation because your voice, your presence, and your perspective matter deeply to me — and because I believe you are exactly the kind of reader this story has been waiting for.
I am writing to invite you to a private table read of Cabin Creek: Volumes One and Two — a novel, play, and podcast (Link Below) that has been years in the making and is at last ready to be heard out loud for the very first time.
This is not a performance. There are no rehearsals, no memorization, no pressure. You will simply be asked to sit down, pick up the pages, and read — as yourself, or as one of the characters whose voice feels closest to your own. What you will be giving me, without even trying, is something no writer can give themselves: the experience of hearing their own words spoken aloud by someone encountering them for the first time.
Your honest reaction — the moment you laugh, the moment you go quiet, the moment something lands — that is the gift.
Here is what Cabin Creek is about.
It begins in the present day, on a farm in Randolph County, Indiana — a place that has been in the same family for over two hundred years. Ryan Tucker has just inherited it from his Uncle Buck, a man he barely knew and now cannot stop thinking about. Ryan arrives with his husband Jeff expecting a fresh start. What he finds instead is a house full of secrets, a dry creek bed that holds more history than any county map acknowledges, and the unmistakable feeling that someone — or something — does not want them there.
What unfolds is a story that moves across generations: from the Lenape people who called this land sacred, to the freedom seekers who traveled the Underground Railroad through its dry creek beds, to the Quakers who sheltered them, to the freed Black families who settled and stayed. And at the center of it all — two men named Buck and Trevor, who believed in love. They spent fifty years loving each other in the quiet, stubborn way of people the world never quite made room for. They left notes under white-painted rocks. They kept a light on in an upstairs window. They ran across a dry creek bed in the dark, for fifty years, because that was the only world they were given and they chose to live fully inside it anyway.
And then there is Lady Grace — eighty-five years old, purple caftan, garden shovel in hand, and the most magnificent presence in any room she has ever been in. A descendant of a little girl who loved dandelions and learned to read in a one-room schoolhouse. Neither and both. Always.
This story is about devotion — between husbands, between siblings, between neighbors and chosen family, and between a people and the land they refused to let forget them.
I hope you will come and be part of bringing it to life.
TABLE READ DETAILS
Saturday, October 31st — 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM
5811 Racine Street Oakland CA
This session will be a hybrid experience, if you cannot join us in person you are welcome to be apart of our virtual audience. Light refreshments will be offered for those who will be joining us in person.
IF you would like to be one of the readers let us know on the RSVP form. Character assignments will be shared in advance so you have a chance to get comfortable with your voice before you arrive. No preparation is required beyond showing up and being willing to read.
Please RSVP using this link by October 18th so I can reserve your place at the table. [ Click here to RSVP]
Link to Premier Podcast Episode [Link Here]
I cannot wait to hear what you think.
With gratitude and great anticipation,
Jack Elliott
Author, The Cabin Creek Anthology
Also, This Fall At ElderPride
As we begin the 2026 academic year, we’re excited to share what’s happening at ElderPride this fall. Everything we’re doing now is preparing us for what’s coming this spring. It truly is a season of transformation.
Our Foundation
We begin with our foundation: our affiliation with the Centers for Spiritual Living (CSL).
The Centers for Spiritual Living is an inclusive, diverse spiritual community with nearly 400 spiritual centers worldwide. Some are recognized as spiritual centers, some are focus ministries (like ElderPride), and others are teaching chapters.
To learn more about the faith, philosophy, and teachings of the Centers for Spiritual Living, visit CSL.org.
ElderPride is a focus ministry of the Centers for Spiritual Living. This means we serve a targeted demographic: spiritually engaged adults age 60 and above who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community.
At ElderPride, our focus is providing tools that support aging forward with grace and ease.
Do you have to be part of the LGBTQIA+ community to participate in ElderPride activities?
Absolutely not. We welcome allies, advocates, and anyone who wants to learn more about living a fully authentic life.
Our goal is to offer wisdom, inspiration, and community to support you in living your best life at this stage of your journey.
Here’s what’s happening this fall at ElderPride, along with a sneak peek at Spring 2027.
Inspiration
What Is the Science of Mind Philosophy?
Science of Mind teaches that thought, faith, and spiritual practice can work together to help us shape our lives with greater awareness, intention, and purpose.
Imagine the principles of science, psychology, and theology working together to help you understand how your life became what it is—and then giving you tools to move toward the life you want.
That is what ElderPride offers.
Whatever your faith tradition—or even if you have none—what you learn here is designed to complement, not replace, your existing spiritual practices.
SageTalk
Each week, Rev. Jack Elliott delivers an inspirational message illustrating how Science of Mind principles are available to us at any moment.
He’s folksy, empathetic, and a great storyteller.
This fall, he will speak most Sundays at CSL Visalia in Visalia, California. Join him live virtually Sundays at 10:30 a.m. or watch the replay on YouTube or Facebook. Find the links at cslvisalia.org.
Let’s Talk Science of Mind
Also on Sunday mornings, Jack offers a live class via Zoom from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. PST.
This class dives deeper into Science of Mind. Jack facilitates a town-hall-style discussion based on an inspirational reading from Science of Mind Magazine’s Daily Guides. The group then discusses what is relevant and meaningful to them.
Community
Mastermind Groups
ElderPride encourages community members to form Mastermind Groups. For many, these groups provide accountability and support.
Participants may set goals, create plans, and serve as allies who help one another succeed. Others may use a Mastermind Group simply as a place to pray together.
Each group defines its collective intention based on the individual intentions of its members.
When a group is ready to begin, Jack works with participants to explain the format. Once approved, the group is free to run itself.
Wisdom
Adult Education
ElderPride offers virtual adult education classes designed to enrich your spiritual journey and connect you with like-minded fellow travelers.
Classes may include offerings from the Centers for Spiritual Living, including CSL-certified courses, as well as classes designed by ElderPride staff and volunteers.
Most classes are offered on a love-offering basis, while others require a non-refundable registration fee.
Engagement
Your Story Matters
You have a story to tell, and we want to provide a place for you to tell it.
As an elder in the LGBTQIA+ community, you are a survivor. No doubt, you’ve learned how to turn setbacks into setups for something better.
We invite you to share your story through a new feature: the ElderPride Community Blog.
Each month, we’ll publish a variety of essays from you and others within our community. These are stories of transformation.
What We’re Looking For
In 300 to 700 words, tell us how you got over—and how you turned a setback into a setup for something good.
We want to hear the entire range of your experiences:
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How I survived the loss of my partner.
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How I found my purpose for living at 70.
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How I learned to use a driving service after losing my driver’s license.
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How I turned a side hustle into a career at 60.
You get the idea.
We don’t just want to know what happened to you. We want to know how you transcended what happened to you.
The editors at ElderPride will group essays by theme, and we’ll begin publishing your stories in October.
Send your submissions to elderprideinfo@gmail.com.
Looking Ahead to Spring 2027
Oh, do we have some exciting news for Spring 2027!
Here are two things we can tell you about now.
This Is SageTalk!
Beginning January 6, 2027, you’ll be able to join This Is SageTalk Live at 8:30 a.m. PST via Zoom.
Imagine a town-hall discussion built around an empowering SageTalk from Rev. Jack. Jack is a master storyteller and motivational speaker.
Join the live discussion or listen to the podcast on YouTube or wherever you get your favorite podcasts.
The SageTalks will follow the monthly theme offered in Science of Mind Magazine. If you haven’t subscribed to the magazine, visit the Science of Mind Magazine subscription page.
Each session begins with an affirmative prayer, followed by a reading from the day’s lesson in Science of Mind Magazine’s Daily Guides, a motivational talk from Rev. Jack or a guest contributor, and a facilitated discussion around the day’s topic.
And it’s all free!
This Is SageTalk is offered without charge. At the end of each session, attendees will be invited to make a love offering to support the work of ElderPride.
And Speaking of Supporting ElderPride…
Introducing The Cabin Creek Anthology
ElderPride is pleased to announce The Cabin Creek Anthology.
Rev. Jack has just completed Cabin Creek, Volumes One and Two: Devotion. This is the first of six volumes telling the story of a very special place, a very special time, and the very special people who live and love at Cabin Creek.
Imagine a whodunit with a transgender heroine.
Imagine a love story between two men living in a time when it was not safe for fellow travelers to speak their devotion aloud—but they did anyway.
Imagine a two-spirit Indigenous tribal leader who empowered her people to live—and love—in harmony with freedom seekers traveling along the Underground Railroad.
Imagine a story of Quakers, abolitionists, and their allies who loved unconditionally, regardless of ethnicity or whom or how they loved.
These are the people of Cabin Creek. This is their story of turning setbacks into setups for transformation.
Inspired by true historical events, this fictional anthology, written by Rev. Jack, will arrive in Spring 2027.
Three Ways to Experience Cabin Creek
The anthology will be offered in three distinct formats:
The Novel
The first two volumes will be available through Amazon.
The Cabin Creek Play
The stage production is scheduled to premiere in February 2027 as part of ElderPride’s Black History Month celebration.
The Cabin Creek Podcast
A dynamic new podcast will bring the stories of Cabin Creek to listeners through the ElderPride Substack platform.
Starting October 31st ElderPride Presents will launch their first Podcast episode.
You’ll find exact dates for podcast releases, as well as the Call for Auditions for the play, at cabincreekanthology.com .
Links & Resources
At the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline,
we understand that life's challenges can sometimes be difficult. Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, our caring counselors are here for you. You are not alone.