Explore the strategies of intergenerational faith formation.

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

2. +
Reading
Brothers and sisters: I pray always with joy in my every
prayer for all of you, because of your partnership for the
gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this,
that the one who began a good work in you will continue to
complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. . . .
And this is my prayer: that your love may increase ever
more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception,
to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and
blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory
and praise of God. (Phil 1:4-6, 8-11)

3. +
As the flame of faith is carried,
as the torch of faith is passed,
Reaching ‘cross the generations,
each receiving from the last,
So the promise to God’s people is received,
then handed down,
In the light of our baptism,
through our fam’lies, faith is found.

4. +
As the seasons spin and follow,
as our stories long endure,
Like an ever-flowing river,
so the covenant is pure.
In our span of earthly living,
as the great or as the least,
Still we find in book and table
Christ the Word and Christ the Feast.

5. +
May we learn to tell the story,
keep the flame of faith ablaze;
May we strive to keep the Gospel as the
center of our days
As we keep the faithful Spirit brightly
burning, lifted high,
May each generation follow with Christ’s
light to journey by.

6. +
Schedule (estimate)
 1:00 pm - Gather, Pray, Overview of Session
 1:10 pm - Introduce the Five Practices
 1:20 pm - Practice 1: Caring Relationships
 1:45 pm - Practice 2: Celebrating Together - interview with Tracey
 2:15 pm - Break
 2:30 pm - Practice 3: Learning Together - interview with Barbara
 3:00 pm - Practice 4: Praying Together
 3:15 pm - Practice 5: Serving Together
 3:35 pm - Digital Strategies
 4:00 pm - Conclusion & Depart

7. +
Part 2 Practices: Weeks 10-16
Week 10. Caring Relationships
Week 11. Celebrating & Praying Together
Week 12. Learning Together
Week 13. Serving Together
Weeks 14 & 15. Application: Connect, Infuse, Create
Intergenerationality (Project)
Week 16 - Live Presentation #3

8. +
Books

9. + Online Resources

10. + Part 1: Five Practices

11. + 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

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

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www.messychurch.org.uk

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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

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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.

17. +
Messy Church Report

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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.

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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

20. +
Mt. Vernon Baptist Church
Columbus MS
Pr. Josh Daffern: 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.

21. +
MTV Joy Prom

22. +
Faith Webbing:
Gary Pecuch

23. +
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.

24. +
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

25. + Intergenerational Worship

26. +
Zion Lutheran - Houston

27. +
 Birth / Baptism
 Starting School Year
 First Communion
 Receiving a first Bible
 Confirmation
 Graduation (HS, College)
 Engagement
 Wedding
 Retirement
 Death / Funeral
Celebrating Milestones

28. +
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

29. +
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.

30. +
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

31. +
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

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

33. +

34. +
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

35. +
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

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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

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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)

38. +
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

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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)

40. +
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.

41. +
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

42. +
Core Curriculum Theme
Prayer
Call to Prayer: Forms and Expressions
The Lord’s Prayer
Denominational expressions
Common Devotions and Prayers
Praying through the Year: Advent-Christmas
Praying through the Year: Lent-Easter

43. +
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)

44. +
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.

45. +
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

46. +
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.

47. +
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.

48. + 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

49. + Intergenerational Mission Trip

50. +
Designing Service Programming
The
Pastoral
Circle
Process
Experience
Social
Analysis
Biblical &
Theological
Reflection
Action

51. +
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?

52. +
Part 2
Digitally Connected

53. +
Digitally Connecting
Intergenerational Faith Formation

54. +
Church Event
or Program
At Home &
Daily Life
Digitally Connecting
Intergenerational Faith Formation

55. +
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

56. +
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

57. +
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