Worship Weblog

Holland Book Group – Second Meeting

Posted by cicw

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Book Groups

We invited 34 book groups across the U.S. and Canada to meet and discuss The Church of All Ages and its implications for their worship, and to share their notes here.
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Creating a Culture of Intergenerational Relationships

As we continue our weekly meetings, we focus more and more on how we can create a culture where intergenerational representation at the worship service is not even noticed; it just exists and is just assumed.

At our fifth meeting, Jacki brought to our attention a paragraph which spoke of “fostering a climate conducive to intergenerational worship.” We agreed that this fostering includes “valuing, nurturing, and employing the gifts of every person.” We took special note of the verbs that described a congregation’s behavior when it experiences intergenerational worship: celebrating, waiting patiently, listening attentively, rejoicing, weeping, gasping, feeling awkward, empathizing with embarrassment. (p. 79). Creating an atmosphere all those actions and feelings are natural is part of creating a culture of intergenerational relationships.

The power of telling a story was cemented in our minds forever when Gary opened a book club meeting by saying, “Tell me a story.” Jacki responded with a story of a neighbor who asked her if she had “Jesus in her heart” and how that question prompted an experience with Jesus and her giving her life to him. When Gary asked how we reacted to Jacki’s story, Karen said “with tears and a reminder of my own story.” And she shared her story. We learned that we remember stories, identify with the stories themselves and with the storytellers, develop compassion for the story teller, and want to hear more. We agreed that telling stories is a way to encourage an intergenerational culture because stories reach every age and every stage in a powerful and memorable way

Because Tim Brown was a pastor of Christ Memorial church for many years, we have been exposed to “chatting” and “gossiping” and “daydreaming” and realize what a gift we have received through Tim’s preaching. Krista particularly remembered feeling included in every sermon as a college student. Perhaps Tim’s awareness of and gift in speaking to every age has created the atmosphere at Christ Memorial where building a culture of intergenerational relationships is not only possible but is a joy.

This possibility and joy were demonstrated recently when the kindergarteners and first graders sang a song that involved walking, jumping, hopping, and sliding in praise. Gary asked the kids if they wanted to see their parents do the song and they laughed delightedly. The choir sang the song again and hundreds of kids and teens and adults of all ages joyfully walked, jumped, hopped and slid. Kids of all ages were united in praise and I’m sure God delighted in our song.

Tags: bgholland, Book Groups 2009, intergenerational