HIGH VISION: Say "Yes" to success by nurturing intergenerational relationships

GenOn's bimonthly newsletter featuring insights, ideas, events, resources and announcements.

March/April 2016

www.genonministries.org

Say "yes" to success: Build relationships through worship

Rev. Chris Denny, Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church, Elizabethtown, N.C.

"Can we lead in worship more often?" asked the middle school LOGOS Bible study class. "What do you mean by more often?" I asked. "How about every week!" So began our youth liturgist ministry.

They had led in worship before on the annual Youth Sunday. But now, through LOGOS, they became personally involved in weekly worship and took responsibility for their participation.

Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church had a history of strong ministries with music, children, youth and Wednesday night meals. But each ministry stood isolated and alone. Could the ministries be linked and relationships built across generations?

In other congregations, I'd seen LOGOS build bridges among generations and church ministries. I thought the same could happen at Elizabethtown. After a year of discernment with the congregation's leadership and an additional training period, we launched LOGOS.

We're now into our third year of LOGOS at Elizabethtown. I see success each Wednesday when more than 40 youth and children and 80 adults gather for Bible study, great fun, serving God and a shared meal.

I see success when a retired banker shoots hoops with an energetic second grader or when a rambunctious boy kneads the communion bread with Ann, a 70-year-old who helps prepare for each Lord's Supper. I see success when new families join the church because their children were welcomed on Wednesday nights.

I see success as relationships are built among the Children of God of all ages. I see success when the middle school Bible class asks meif they can lead in worship "more often." And we say, "Yes! Every week!"

What's your "LOGOS success story?" Please share it with us via the LOGOS Ideas group on Facebook or GenOn's website.

A ringing success: Preparing for worship across the generations

Liz Perraud, Executive Director, GenOn Ministries

I'm in the church hand bell choir because a friend asked me to join. Carrie is our LOGOS director, and she got bells switched to Wednesday nights to follow LOGOS so that more people might join. And they have.

We are a mix of LOGOS volunteers with a history of ringing (so patient with newcomers), veteran ringers who arrive after LOGOS (so patient with newcomers), musically talented youth (so patient with newcomers), and me (the newcomer). We also have a patient and encouraging director.

I'm not "musical" - unless spoons count. But I love music. And if I concentrate really hard on the beats, I can play music! In worship!

I've always known (and have taught in LOGOS training) that working together preparing for worship leadership grows relationships. We depend on each other - even showing up is incredibly important in the bell choir. We help each other, though I'm still more the receiver than the giver - unless you count my helping the sweet middle-schooler next to me pay attention. But then he helps me count beats. We encourage one another. I wanted to clap for us after we rang during Advent. We did it! God was glorified! I didn't mess up!

I love that we have a wide range of ages. It's not the youth or adult bell choir. It's just the bell choir. We span about 50+ years - about five generations! At GenOn we define intergenerational ministry as:

Bringing together at least two generations in planned and purposeful settings (check)
Investing in one another and in their faith community (check)
Intentionally encouraging Christian relationships (check)

I was ready to say "no" after my Advent trial run. But I'm already heavily invested in the relationships and don't want to give it up. On to Palm Sunday rehearsals!

In Christ,

Liz Perraud

Executive Director

GenOn Ministries

cell: 443-255-8492

Toll-free: 877-937-2572

Parents Corner: Faith is stronger when all ages worship together

Shirley Carlson, La Crescenta Presbyterian Church, California

An awesome task for parents is to raise children who love the Lord with a life-long faith. Studies show that when children grow up in a faith community and develop strong relationships with Christians of all ages, the chances are greater that they will seek a community of faithful believers wherever life takes them.

However, if they have been in a church that segregates the youth and children from the adults in worship, they are much less likely to attend church in their young adult years and may never become active in a church again.

GenOn strongly encourages congregations to involve everyone in ways that allow all generations to value and learn from each other - especially worshiping together. Intergenerational sharing has proven to be the most impactful way of stimulating faith development.

Does your church need a little push toward intergenerational ministry? Then parents should speak up about their desire for children to develop strong life-long, intergenerational Christian relationships.

Not only is it important to help your child understand the importance of worship, but you also need to form relationships with other children and youth in your church to help them belong to the whole family of God.

Although my children are grown, I deliberately interact with the younger ones in our church. And when I call them by name, I see their delight at being recognized and known. It's extremely important to them. I like it too- especially when they call me by name.

Consider these resources to help your church include all generations: