A Care Package for Intergenerational Worship

One gift we may receive in Quaker worship is the way that one person’s experience of the Divine expands another’s.  A gathering of Friends in worship brings many glimpses of the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. Like the many colors in a quilt, each person’s experience alongside the others creates the whole, and the pattern changes each time we worship together.  Worship that is engaging for Friends of multiple generations is a kaleidoscope of the experience of Spirit.

Intergenerational meeting for worship is a way of allowing our faith to be welcoming and inclusive. It is inviting to families and seekers. It’s also deeply meaningful and fun. Intergenerational ministry is about building and deepening relationships, and is about all ages, not just children, and is grounded in mutuality and reciprocity.

It’s exciting to share with Friends that several intergenerational worship opportunities are on the horizon for our community, as part of a “Worship & Care Package” for PYM. The Care Package is a recently announced endeavor to support worship and pastoral care in our yearly meeting. It includes a collection of resources and opportunities that expand our capacities for healthy and vibrant worship and pastoral care practices.

The intergenerational worship element of the package includes:

• An invitation into yearly meeting-wide meeting for worship for all ages together.
• A mini care package for every meeting that provides supplies, guidance, and support for local meetings to create and share their own intergenerational worship.
• A gathering together of Friends in PYM with gifts and experience in how to open a door to worship that is truly meaningful for children, youth, younger and older adults. They will anchor and support our intergenerational worship opportunities. The care package includes stipends to support releasing the ministry of these Friends who have gifts and experience with intergenerational worship and community nurture.