What happens when all ages truly connect in community?
I recently attended the Intergenerate conference in Christchurch where we spent a day exploring the power of hearing and living the story of God’s people together.
It was a beautifully inspiring day as we dove into Scripture and pondered how our story is found within the “big story” – we are woven together with our ancestors because of what Jesus has done and our lives are meant to be deeply woven together in authentic communities of faith.
Colossians 2:2 says, “this is what I have asked of God for you: that you will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love, and that you will have the rich experience of knowing Christ with real certainty and clear understanding.”
This drawing is by Anja Rožen, a 13-year-old student from Slovenia. This piece was chosen from 600,000 entries around the world that were asked to express what peace looks like in the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Anja explained that her drawing represents the earth that unites us. Humans woven together – if someone gives up, others fall. She said:
We are all connected to our planet and each other, but unfortunately we are little aware of it. We are woven together; other people weave next to me, my own story; and I weave next to yours.
Do you remember Cain’s response to God after he murdered his brother? Genesis 4:9 reveals Cain’s brokenness and disengagement with his brother by asking, “am I my brother’s keeper?”
We actually do have a responsibility in community and towards our communities. Galatians tells us to bear one another’s burdens because Jesus himself came to bear the sin of the world – my shame and burdens and yours. Jesus was his brother’s keeper! He cared and he accepted responsibility.
So what does that mean for us as followers of Christ? For our parishes, our churches and ministries?
How can we be more intertwined across generations in our church? We often become familiar with our own peer group, but bearing burdens, praying for each other and processing faith with those outside of that takes creativity. We can create thoughtful spaces that invite people of all ages and backgrounds to weave their lives together, to engage with and to listen to each other.
At Victory Church in Nelson we have a whānau service once a month – this is table Sunday where the round tables come out with activities, snacks and discussion questions. These intergenerational services are about creating space for all where everyone feels they are welcomed to stay and engage in the entire service and where various voices have space to be heard. These are key times for our community to engage across generations as we discuss and process life and faith and pray for each other. We see great beauty in being “knit together by strong ties of love” that move us beyond our siloed groups and into an awareness of the bigger story that we find ourselves weaved into.
Many blessings as you lean into authentic community found within the big story.
Feel free to contact me anytime to kōrero about how intergenerational or family ministry could look in your context.
For more resources on intergenerational ministry check here:
Podcasts:
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
We have invited these writers to share their experiences, ideas and opinions in the hope that these will provoke thought, challenge you to go deeper and inspire you to put your faith into action. These articles should not be taken as the official view of the Nelson Diocese on any particular matter.
What happens when all ages truly connect in community?
I recently attended the Intergenerate conference in Christchurch where we spent a day exploring the power of hearing and living the story of God’s people together.
It was a beautifully inspiring day as we dove into Scripture and pondered how our story is found within the “big story” – we are woven together with our ancestors because of what Jesus has done and our lives are meant to be deeply woven together in authentic communities of faith.
Colossians 2:2 says, “this is what I have asked of God for you: that you will be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love, and that you will have the rich experience of knowing Christ with real certainty and clear understanding.”
This drawing is by Anja Rožen, a 13-year-old student from Slovenia. This piece was chosen from 600,000 entries around the world that were asked to express what peace looks like in the Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Anja explained that her drawing represents the earth that unites us. Humans woven together – if someone gives up, others fall. She said:
We are all connected to our planet and each other, but unfortunately we are little aware of it. We are woven together; other people weave next to me, my own story; and I weave next to yours.
Do you remember Cain’s response to God after he murdered his brother? Genesis 4:9 reveals Cain’s brokenness and disengagement with his brother by asking, “am I my brother’s keeper?”
We actually do have a responsibility in community and towards our communities. Galatians tells us to bear one another’s burdens because Jesus himself came to bear the sin of the world – my shame and burdens and yours. Jesus was his brother’s keeper! He cared and he accepted responsibility.
So what does that mean for us as followers of Christ? For our parishes, our churches and ministries?
How can we be more intertwined across generations in our church? We often become familiar with our own peer group, but bearing burdens, praying for each other and processing faith with those outside of that takes creativity. We can create thoughtful spaces that invite people of all ages and backgrounds to weave their lives together, to engage with and to listen to each other.
At Victory Church in Nelson we have a whānau service once a month – this is table Sunday where the round tables come out with activities, snacks and discussion questions. These intergenerational services are about creating space for all where everyone feels they are welcomed to stay and engage in the entire service and where various voices have space to be heard. These are key times for our community to engage across generations as we discuss and process life and faith and pray for each other. We see great beauty in being “knit together by strong ties of love” that move us beyond our siloed groups and into an awareness of the bigger story that we find ourselves weaved into.
Many blessings as you lean into authentic community found within the big story.
Feel free to contact me anytime to kōrero about how intergenerational or family ministry could look in your context.
For more resources on intergenerational ministry check here:
Podcasts:
Check out other articles in the
series below.
More articles in the
series are to come.
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