Practices of Intergenerational Faith Formation & Ministry

1. +
Practices of Intergenerational
Faith Formation & Ministry
Vibrant Faith University - Course #2

2. +
Part 2 Practices: Weeks 10-16
Week 10. Learning
Week 11. Rituals & Milestones
Week 12. Worship & Prayer
Week 13. Service
Week 14. Application: Infuse Intergenerational into
Existing Ministries/Programs (Project)
Week 15. Application: Create Intergenerational
Initiatives (programs, activities, events, etc.) (Project)
Week 16 - Live Presentation #3

3. +
Books

4. + Online Resources

5. + Part 1: Five Practices

6. +
Intergenerational Faith Formation
1. Caring Relationships
2. Celebrating Together
3. Learning Together
4. Praying Together
5. Serving Together

7. + Core Strategies for Becoming
Intentionally Intergenerational
Caring
Relationships
Celebrating
Learning
Praying
Serving
1. Create -
Intergenerational
Experiences
2. Infuse -
Intergenerational
Experiences &
Relationships into
Existing Ministries
& Programs
3. Connect -
Generations

8. +
Integrated Models: LOGOS
1. Bible Study
2. Family Time
3. Worship Skills
4. Recreation
GenOn Ministries
www.genonministries.org

10. +
www.messychurch.org.uk

11. +
Messy Church
1. A flexible, relaxed arrival time with drinks and snacks
2. Creative exploration of a Bible story/theme through
creative experiences for people of different learning
styles and of all ages. Children and adults are not
separated and are encouraged to explore the
story/theme together
3. A short but explicit time of worship with story, music
and prayers that builds on the creative exploration.
4. A generous welcome and hospitality is expressed
through a delicious home-cooked, sit-down meal
with others

12. +
Messy Church Values
 Christ-centered: Messy Church is a church, not a craft
club, that helps people encounter Jesus as Lord & Savior.
 All-age: It is for adults and children to enjoy together -
every element should be relevant and accessible to all.
 Creativity: It uses hands-on activities to explore Bible
stories, to reflect a God of creativity and to give people a
chance to play together.
 Hospitality: It reflects a God of unconditional love and is
a church for people outside church, providing an oasis of
welcome and a safe space in which to thrive.
 Celebration: It reflects a God of joy who wants his
people to have life in all its fullness.

13. +
Messy Church Program

14. +
Caring Relationships
Cultivating caring relationships across generations
in the congregation and community—becoming a
life-giving spiritual community of faith, hope, and
love—through intergenerational relationship-
building in all ministries and programs, storytelling,
mentoring, community life events, and more.

15. +
Caring
Cultivating caring relationships across generations in
the congregation and community, becoming a life-
giving spiritual community of faith, hope, and love.
 Intergenerational Caring Conversations
 Intergenerational Community Building
 Intergenerational Relationships in Existing
Programs
 Intergenerational Storytelling
 Intergenerational Relationships through Mentoring

16. +
Mt. Vernon Baptist Church
Columbus MS
For the past decade, I’ve been a part of a very special event that you
wouldn’t expect to see in a Baptist church: a prom.
Baptists and dancing have had a long and storied history, but this is
different, I assure you.
Every spring for the past decade the church I’ve had the privilege of
serving at has thrown a Joy Prom, a prom for the special needs
community.
It’s an opportunity for folks from all ages in the special needs
community to come together and have a night where they are the
kings and queens.
Other churches and businesses throughout the community partner
with our high school students (who serve as dates) to prepare this
incredible event. (Josh Daffern)

17. +
MTV Joy Prom

18. +
Faith Circles:
Katie Christensen

19. +
You’re Invited!

20. +
Faith Webbing:
Gary Pecuch

21. +
Celebrating Together
Worshiping God together through
intergenerational Sunday worship—engaging all
ages in worship and leadership roles, whole
community rituals and sacramental celebrations,
milestone celebrations, and church year feasts and
seasons that involve ages and generations.

22. +
Celebrating
Worshiping God together through Sunday worship,
rituals, sacraments, and the liturgical seasons that
involves all of the ages and generations.
 Intergenerational Sunday Worship
 Whole Community Sacramental Celebrations
 Milestones throughout Life
 Church Year Feasts & Seasons

23. + Intergenerational Worship

24. +
Zion Lutheran - Houston

25. +
 Birth / Baptism
 Starting School Year
 First Communion
 Receiving a first Bible
 Confirmation
 Graduation (HS, College)
 Engagement
 Wedding
 Retirement
 Death / Funeral
Celebrating Milestones

26. +
Celebrating Milestones
1. A ritual celebration or a blessing marking the
milestone with the whole church community
2. A home ritual celebration or blessing marking the
milestone
3. A learning program, often for the whole family or
intergenerational, that prepares the individual and
the whole family for the milestone and for faith
practice at home
4. A tangible, visible reminder or symbol of the
occasion being marked
5. Resources to support continuing faith growth and
practice after the milestone

27. +
Learning Together
Engaging all ages and generations in
intergenerational learning experiences that teach
scripture and the Christian tradition, informing and
forming disciples of all ages in Christian identity.

28. +
Learning
Engaging all ages and generations together in learning
experiences that teach scripture and the Christian tradition,
informing and forming disciples of all ages in Christian
identity.
 Intergenerational Learning (James White)
1. In-Common All Ages Experiences
2. Parallel Learning
3. Contributive Occasions
4. Interactive Sharing
 Weekly, Bi-Weekly, and Monthly Models
 Small Group & Large Group Models

29. +
Intergenerational Learning
1. As the faith formation curriculum for the whole
community
2. In Lectionary-based catechesis
3. In sacramental preparation
4. In Vacation Bible School
5. In parent-child and parent-teen programs
6. In milestone celebrations
7. In intergenerational service projects
8. In liturgical season celebrations
9. In a retreat experience or parish mission

30. + Core Curriculum
Core
Curriculum
Children
Youth
Adults Family
Missional
Online /
Digital
For the Whole Community

31. +

32. +
Intergenerational Learning Process
Meal and Community Building
Part 1. Gathering and Prayer
Part 2. All Ages Learning Experience
Part 3. In-Depth Learning Experience
Option 1. Whole Group (together)
Option 2. Age Group (parallel)
Option 3. Activity Center
Part 4. Sharing Learning Experiences and
Home Application
Part 5. Closing Prayer

33. +
Intergenerational Learning Themes
1. Seasons of the Church Year
2. Scripture
3. Christian Beliefs
4. Liturgy & Sacraments
5. Morality
6. Justice
7. Prayer
8. Christian Practices

34. +
Example: Church Year
Oct: Feast of All Saints
Nov: Advent Season
Dec: Christmas Season
Jan: Baptism of the Lord
Feb: Lenten Season
Mar: Good Friday
April: Easter Season
May: Pentecost

35. +
Example: Creed
Sept Church (Parish Ministries Fair/Stewardship Sun.)
Nov Resurrection of the Dead, Life Everlasting
(Feasts of All Saints and All Souls)
Dec Jesus Christ, Son of God (Incarnation, Christmas)
Mar Death & Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Triduum)
May Holy Spirit (Pentecost)
June Trinity and God the Father (Trinity Sunday)

36. +
Core Curriculum Theme
Justice
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
Call to Family, Community and Participation
Rights and Responsibilities
Option for the Poor and Vulnerable
Solidarity
Peace
Care for God’s Creation

37. +
Example: Justice
Sept Dignity of Work (Labor Day)
Oct Dignity of Human Life (Respect Life Month)
Nov Saints of Justice (Feast of All Saints Day)
Nov Option for the Poor (Thanksgiving)
Dec Peace (Christmas and World Day of Peace)
Jan Rights & Responsibilities (Poverty Awareness Month)
Feb Solidarity/Option for the Poor (Lent)
April Care for God’s Creation (Easter/Earth Day)
May Solidarity (Feast of Pentecost)

38. +
Praying Together
Nurturing the spiritual life of the whole community
through the congregation’s prayer services, rituals,
and blessings throughout the year that bring
together all ages and generations and engage
people in spiritual formation.

39. +
Praying
Nurturing the spiritual life of the whole community
through the congregation’s prayer services, rituals,
and blessings throughout the year.
 Intergenerational Formation in Spiritual
Practices
 Intergenerational Prayer Stations
 Intergenerational Prayer Partners & Spiritual
Guides
 Intergenerational Prayer Groups

40. +
Core Curriculum Theme
Prayer
Call to Prayer: Forms and Expressions
The Lord’s Prayer
Lutheran expressions
Common Devotions and Prayers
Praying through the Year: Advent-Christmas
Praying through the Year: Lent-Easter

41. +
Example: Prayer
Oct Luther on Prayer (Reformation)
Nov Prayers and Devotions (Feast of All Saints)
Dec Prayer in Advent and Christmas Seasons
Jan Call to Prayer (World Day of Prayer)
Mar Prayer in the Lenten and Easter Seasons
May Lord’s Prayer (Easter Season)
Jun Praying with Scripture and the Lectionary
(Summer)

42. +
Serving Together
Involving all ages and generations in service and
mission to the world, especially to the poor and
vulnerable, in caring for creation, and in the works
of justice and advocacy through local and global
projects.

43. +
Serving
Involving all ages and generations in service and
mission to the world, especially to the poor and
vulnerable, and in the works of justice and
advocacy.
 Intergenerational Mission Trips
 Churchwide Service Day
 Intergenerational Monthly Project
 Intergenerational Service Nights
 Intergenerational Service Projects

44. +
Designing Intergenerational Service
1. Make the activities meaningful, so that every
person, regardless of age, can contribute in a
significant way.
2. Supply mentors to individuals or families that have
had little or no experience in service.
3. Offer various options to suit individuals and
families with different ages, interests, time
constraints, and locations.
4. Include preparation and reflection as part of any
church-sponsored service activity.
5. Hold a service fair for all generations.

45. +
Designing Intergenerational Service
6. Provide service resources (books, media, websites)
for families and all generations; include children’s
books that focus on caring for others.
7. Becoming a clearinghouse for local and global
service opportunities.
8. Organize regular intergenerational service days and
events.
9. Organize an annual intergenerational mission trip.
10. Celebrate what church members are already doing.

46. + Community Service Day
St. John Bosco Parish in Parma Heights, Ohio, held its first Community Service Day on May
14, 2016. 240 volunteers worked at 17 different sites. www.sjbosco.com

47. + Intergenerational Mission Trip

48. +
Designing Service Programming
The
Pastoral
Circle
Process
Experience
Social
Analysis
Biblical &
Theological
Reflection
Action

49. +
Pastoral Circle Steps
1. Insertion/Experience
2. Social Analysis
 What are the “facts” of the situation? Why does this
condition exist? What’s causing it?
3. Theological Reflection
 What is the Bible telling us?
 What is our Christian tradition telling us?
4. Action
 How can we serve those in need?
 How can we act for justice to alleviate the causes of
the situation?

50. +
Part 2
Digitally Connected

51. +
Digitally Connecting
Intergenerational Faith Formation

52. +
Church Event
or Program
At Home &
Daily Life
Digitally Connecting
Intergenerational Faith Formation

53. +
Digitally Connecting
Intergenerational Faith Formation
Event or
Program
TALK
Conversation
Activities
LEARN
Read
Listen
Watch
ACT
Practices
Service
Projects
PRAY
Devotions
Bible Reading
Daily Prayer
SHARE
Blog
Facebook
Video
Projects

54. +
Digitally Connecting: Sunday Worship
Church Life  Daily & Home Life  Online Life
Experience of
Worship in the
Congregation
• Sunday worship
and lectionary
• Church year
feasts and
seasons
• Church rituals:
baptism,
communion,
funerals, etc.
Experience of
Sunday worship,
rituals, and church
year seasons in daily
life
• Reflecting on the
sermon and
readings at home
• Practices: Lectio,
etc.
• Application to
daily living
Online worship,
church year, and
lectionary resources
on the church’s faith
formation website
• Lectionary
commentaries
online
• Video reflections
and commentary
• Online activities
and projects

55. +
Digitally Connecting: Lent
Church Life  Daily & Home Life  Online Life
• Ash Wednesday
• Lenten Sunday
liturgies
• Stations of the
Cross
• Lenten prayer
• Lenten retreat
• Lenten service
• Lenten soup
suppers
• Fasting
• Praying
• Service/Almsgiv
ing
• Lectionary
reflection
• Family activities
• Lenten learning
resources
• Lenten
calendar
• Daily Lenten
prayer
• Weekly table
prayer
• Video
resources
• Online retreat
experience