What are your first memories of church? I remember the words of the songs we sang during the opening time before we headed down the hallway to Sunday school. I remember sitting at little tables with kid-sized chairs in a linoleum-tiled classroom, the smell of rubber cement we used for crafts, and the Bible story leaflets we took home every week.
And, while I have fond memories of Sunday school, what comes to mind when I think about the congregation where I grew up are the faces of people who were there. Mrs. Lehman, an older woman who spoke softly, greeted me Sunday mornings with a warm smile. Mrs. Byler, our children’s choir director, helped us pull off a joyful cantata each year. The youth sponsors patiently helped us make chili for our annual fundraiser and opened their homes for social gatherings. There was also one college student who offered a listening ear to me. We talked often about life and faith, and I remember great conversations as we made chocolate chip cookies together in her home.
These and other relationships in my church community helped form my faith and shaped my understanding of what it means to love God and be a follower of Jesus. Even as a child, I had a sense that I belonged in my congregation.
We often think of faith formation happening in age-specific Sunday school classrooms. It makes sense to group children, youth, and adults with similar learning abilities and stages of faith. However, in addition to learning in age groups, people of all ages can benefit from faith formation experiences that bring different generations together to worship, serve, read the Bible, and learn about God.
In order to grow in faith, we need to cultivate relationships with people of all ages in our faith community and engage in shared experiences. Why not try something new this summer? Consider planning one or two events for people of all ages in your congregation with a goal of forming and building relationships. You might want to plan an evening of sharing favorite Bible stories, organize a game night, involve children and youth in leading a worship service, or plan a service project that provides opportunities for young and old to work alongside each other.
By bringing people of all ages together, you will be creating a space where the young and the old and everyone in between can encourage one another on their journey of faith and learn together how to be disciples of Jesus.
Stay tuned! Next week we’ll dig deeper into the biblical roots of intergenerational faith formation!
Joyce Peachey Lind, Curriculum Editor
Illustration by Shelly Dieterichs