‘God’s guide to getting along’ -all ages together during August
We always gather on Sundays as the church family, but most weeks we tend to meet to experience and encounter God in our different age groups. However, as with all families, there are times where we ‘do our own thing’ that is appropriate to our age - and there are times to join together to celebrate as all generations together! Across the month of August, instead of hosting our separate adult, children’s and youth meetings, we will be instead join together as one church family on Sunday mornings, as we delve into our new series ‘God’s guide to getting along’.
Intergenerational ministry is not new - First-century churches were multigenerational, with children present for worship, healing and prayer meetings. Throughout Scripture, from the Old to the New Testament, we see examples of this. You can read more about the biblical mandate for intergen ministry at a previous Families Team blog, here.
Now let’s be real - if you’re a parent of younger children, we know it’s an effort to leave the house at all at times, and you possibly enjoy the hour you get in church on a Sunday morning, knowing they are also enjoying church in their own way! We know that young children wriggle and make noise, and we want to say to you that’s ok - we will embrace the beautiful chaos that all ages together may bring. Research shows that involvement in intergenerational church is linked with a stronger faith in teenage years, as children see faith modelled in the generations older than them - and so of course it’s something we want to encourage. Even in the mess, even if children and teenagers don’t always look like they are engaged (like us adults don’t always!) – important seeds are being sown and we trust that God is at work!
However intergenerational moments don’t just benefit the young – if you’ve ever watched a child dancing lost in worship and wonder, you’ll no doubt have been encouraged and challenged by their freedom and love for Jesus! We all get to glimpse God’s love for us demonstrated across the generations.
Perhaps you’re someone who doesn’t have children, or you attend church alone – these meetings are also for you and aren’t designed just for those in earthly families. We are all adopted into God’s family and at church we celebrate His family coming together.
In our ‘God’s guide to getting along’ series, this Bible-based content will explore what we learn from the Bible to love one another better, and build long lasting, strong, healthy relationships. Based loosely on the popular ‘Emotionally Healthy Relationships’, God is going to speak to us and help us – whether that’s on how we can get on better with our siblings, nurture great friendships and working relationships, or developing our communication with our spouse - this series will help all ages in our connection with others.
Each week will have a specific focus, from discovering how to really listen to someone else, to speaking up and stopping guessing what people are thinking, learning how to deal with our emotions, to discovering how to actually argue (in a healthy way!). With games, worship, preaching, as well as practical activities and conversations - We’re looking forward to what will be a fun, fascinating and foundational Sunday series throughout the summer holidays. If you’re heading away, we pray you have an amazing time - but if you’re staying home, make sure you’re at church this summer!