Responding to God S Word

Worship Experiences for Intergenerational Congregations

Spiritual practices that draw us near to God and help us grow as disciples of Christ.

In the pew practices:

Prayer Sticks

Promotes family prayer

Materials: Large craft sticks and markers

Read: Ephesians 6:18

Families or 2-3 people gather and discuss prayers of praise, thanks, concerns, and names of those who need prayer. Use one stick for each prayer and use the markers to write the prayers and decorate the sticks. For those sticks with names, families may later choose to write the outcomes on the other side of the stick as a future prayer of thanks or lament.

Encourage the congregation to keep the prayer sticks in a cup on their kitchen or dining table so that as they come together to eat each one can pull out a stick as part of their meal time prayer. In subsequent weeks families can add prayer sticks to their cup and perhaps share some answers to prayers.

My Cup Overflows

Encourages Faith/Life conversations using Godly language

Materials: Small paper cups and water

Hand out small cups to each person.

Slowly pour water into your cup until it overflows. As you are doing this ask:

“What do you think will happen?”

Read: The last portion of Psalm 23:5 “My cup overflows”

Explain that this is from a Psalm of David. It’s a song in which David sings of how God guides him, is with him in the deepest darkest valley, comforts him, and fills his cup to overflowing.

Have congregation and or family groups look at their cups and think about the cups as their life. Let them know their cup can be as big as they want to imagine it. Ask: What is in your life/what is in your cup? Ask: What does God put so much of in your life that it overflows from your cup? Ask: What does this tell you about God? This week share each day the things God puts into your cup of life.

God is my Rock

Encourages Faith/Life conversations using Godly language

Materials: Rocks

Dump a pile of rocks onto the table(s) and invite each person both parents and children to select a rock as they enter into worship.

Read: Psalm 18:2 “The LORD is my rock”

Have families look carefully at their rocks and then discuss what they think it means that God is our rock. Next ask a few children to share their thoughts.

Read: Psalm 18:1-2 Note that both the ideas shared as well as those in the Psalm all explain how God is our rock. For example a child may say, “rocks are everywhere and God is everywhere.” This is as true as God is our fortress.

Encourage the congregation to put their rocks on their table at home next to the prayer sticks. During the meal at the end of the day each person can share how God was their rock that day. Offering new rocks in subsequent weeks may help the children think of God in new ways. God is not changeable but our awareness of God and who God is does change.

Breath of Life

Promotes awareness of God’s gift of life and sustaining presence

Materials: Balloons (Bigger balloons inflate more easily)

Have children help pass out balloons.

Explain that today we are going to take something invisible and make it visible.

Have everyone take a deep breath and then blow it out. Ask if anyone could see their breath. Yet each one knows it is there.

Now have each person take a balloon, blow it up then hold on to the end. Adults might have to start it for little ones.

Read: Genesis 2:7

Explain that it is God who gives us breath and the breath we have captured in the balloon is a gift from God. Now that it is in the skin of the balloon it has form and we can see it.

In the bible the same word is used for wind, breath and spirit. God is spirit but when God put skin on God became visible in the form of Jesus.

Read: Colossians 1:15

Now have each person release the air from the balloon toward their face.

When Jesus left earth he breathed into us the eternal breath of the Holy Spirit who is with us always and who guides us daily.

Read: Act 2:1-4a

The life breath that just blew into our faces is a reminder that both our breath and the everlasting breath of the Holy Spirit are in each of us who believes in Jesus. They are both a gift from God.

This week keep these balloons handy. As you pray at night before going to sleep, blow up the balloon. Thank God for each gift of breath God gave you during the day. Then allow the breath to blow against your face. Talk about times when you felt close to God that day and when you experienced God guiding you. In subsequent weeks referencing the wind as a reminder of God’s presence, or the reminder that every breath is a gift from God and belongs to God, can also be a way of drawing attention to God in every situation.

Coins

Encourages reflecting on giving to those in need.

Materials: A small chest or box and coins

Hold the small chest and explain that there is something inside that can help people who are in need. Dump the coins on a table and ask everyone to take a coin. Have congregants and families talk about ways the coins could help others. After a couple minutes of sharing have a few people share their ideas.

Read: Proverbs 14:21

All the things you talked about today are ways of being kind to those in need.

It is a way of showing God’s love to others.

Encourage congregants to:

Give the coins to someone in need
Pray throughout the week for those in need
Pray that God would reveal how they can continue to help and show kindness to others.

Sharing birth stories

Encourages families and congregants to remember and share God’s miracle of birth in their own lives.Many children have never heard their own birth story. Even if they have, they love hearing it again.

Materials: none

Read: Luke 2:1-7

Explain: We have heard the story of our Saviors birth. How God brought Jesus into the world. Today you will share stories of your birth or loved one with someone else. Parents, you are encouraged to share the birth stories of your children. Sharing how God brought them into the world.

Ending: Each day this week as you sit around the dinner table or have your devotion time together,share one unique character trait about each other and thank God for the unique and special way each of you is made.

Epiphany, Season of Light

Encourages faith/life conversations using Godly language

Materials: votive candles

Invite each person both parents and children to select a select a candle from those you have placed on the table. These will not be lit in the worship service.

Explain: We are in the season of Epiphany. Epiphany means: Making something known. It is the season of light.

Ask: Have you ever been in a completely dark room? What was it like? What could you see? What would happen if you lit a candle in that dark room?

Light makes things known. Things we couldn’t see before.

Read: John: 8:12 “I am the light of the world”

Have congregants and families look at their candles and then discuss what they think it means that Jesus is the light of the world.

Encourage congregants to put their candles on the table and light them during a meal together. Then share how Jesus was your light that day. Was there something Jesus made known to you? Did you notice something you were thankful for, someone that need help, did you feel the loving presence of God, or did God help you with something you were struggling with?

Epiphany, Everyone is invited to follow the light.

Encourages persons to reflect on how they are following and worshipping Jesus

Materials: Paper stars

Explain: Last week we talked about Epiphany. Does anyone remember what Epiphany means? Yes, making something known. We also said that Epiphany was the season of what? Light.

At the beginning of Epiphany we also celebrate the coming of the wise men or magi.

Read: Matthew 2:1-2

What kind of light were the Magi following? Star

What had they come to do? Worship Jesus.

The magi came from far away places. What this story makes known is that Jesus loves, and came for everyone throughout the world and everyone is welcome to follow Jesus.

Today in our family groups let’s talk about ways we can follow and worship Jesus.

Ending: This week continue to light your candle each day as a continuing reminder that Jesus is the light of the world and then share with each other how you have followed or worshipped Jesus that day.

Blessing

Encourages the regular act of blessing

Materials: None

Explain: Today we are going to practice blessing. Blessing includes a short prayer, but also touch. Jesus blessed children and touch was an important part of the blessing. Touch is a sign of presence, of love, and identity. Touch makes blessing a memorable experience.

Read: Mark 10:13-16

Ask: How did Jesus touch the children?

Notice that Jesus hugs or embraces the children. He does not lay an authoritative hand upon the head of the child. Today we will embrace and bless one another; parent blessing child and child blessing parent. You may say a simple blessing such as “The Lord bless you and keep you”, “May God’s love abide in you”, May God watch over you and guide you”, or you may bless each other by a prayer of your own choosing.

Encourage families to embrace and bless one another.

Ending: Notice that as children are blessed they lean into their parents. In the same way Christ will bless us if we lean into him each day.

Ending: This week practice blessing one another as well as leaning into the daily blessing that Jesus has for you.

In follow up weeks you can also gather around others and bless them. Invite your pastor, church leaders, teachers etc. and bless them. Then have these same people return for the last week and bless the children.

Journaling

Encourages attentiveness to Christ and sharing faith/life stories

Materials: Half-sheet booklets for each child and parent

You can either do this ahead of time or the children can make these.

You will need white paper, a paper cutter, and coversheets.

Cover sheets can either be construction paper which can be stapled or you can use cardboard, punch a hole in it and tie a piece of twine through it the paper and back cover.

Explain: Today we are going to be sharing something with God. You will have five minutes to either draw a picture or write a note to God on the first page of your journal.

This is a prayer time with God. But instead of bowing your head and closing your eyes you will be writing or drawing what you want to say to God. It may be words or a picture of something you are thankful for, something you need help with or remembering a time when you were close to God. It is quiet time with you and God.

After five minutes have parent(s) and children share their notes and drawings with each other.

Read: Philippians 1:1-4

Ending: Just as Paul and Timothy wrote letters and prayers to others, you too have written or drawn a prayer to share with each other. Each day this week write or draw a prayer to God and then share your prayers with each other.

Coming Forward Practices:

Sacrificial gifts

Encourages greater awareness of giving

Materials: small pieces of paper, crayons, scented oil

Read: John 12:1-7 (Mary Anoints Jesus Feet) Mary of Bethany is always found at the feet of Jesus (Note also Luke 10:39-42). Have children pass out small pieces of paper and a crayon to each member of the congregation. As a response to the story, have the congregation write or drawsomething they wish to lay atthe feet of Jesus. Invite them to bring the paper forward and lay it at the foot of the cross. After they have laid theirgifts or concerns at the feet of Jesus invite them to have their hands anointed withscented oil. You can have several girls kneeling near the cross. Aspeople approach,have the childrenanoint them by making the sign of the cross on the back of their hand. This is to remind themof Mary's sacrificial gift, of Christ's sacrificial gift and of their sacrificial gift to Jesus. It will also fill the sanctuary with an aroma similar to what occurred in the story.

Coming to the Manger:

Promotes wider understanding of giving

Luke 2:7 and Matthew 2:11

Materials: Pieces of cloth, markers, manger, (someone talented in sewing optional)

During the Season of Advent: handout pieces of cloth and invite people write or draw what time, talent or treasure they would like to place in the manger to give to Jesus in the next year. Have each person bring their gift forward and lay it in the manger. Afterwards take the pieces and make a tapestry of them to use at a later worship time.

Thankful Hearts:

Promotes community appreciation for God

Psalm 30:12

Materials: Canvas, markers, crayons, piece of heart shaped paper, adhesive spray. Prior to the worship service spray the canvas(es) with adhesive.

Give each person a heart shaped piece of paper with their bulletin and during the service ask them to write what they are thankful for. As they finish have them come to the mural(s) and press them onto the canvas.

Candle Prayer:

Encourages a lived out pray life

Materials: Tea light for each person, and a Christ candle. Prior to worship set up a station with enough tea lights for the congregation.

Read: John 8:12 and Matthew 5: 14-16

(Works best during communion)During communion invite people to also go to the candle station. Encourage them to offer a prayers of supplication, praise, or thanks and light a candle. As the table is lit up with glowing light, we are reminded of Christ’s light and reminded that we too are called to be the light of Christ in the world. (Note: have this area staffed and encourage people to light candles from the back or middle and work way forward)

Body of Christ:

Emphasizes community and the uniqueness we bring to the body

Materials: Canvas or Tag Board and Colored Markers, can also have an Easel to display.

This practice creates an image of our connection to the Body of Christ. Set up a large sheet of Tag Board or Canvas on a table or easel. As people enter into worship have them trace their hand on the mural. The only rule is their hand has to be touching another hand. Later in the worship service note how each hand outline is unique and different, but we are all connected.

Read: 1 Corinthians 12:18-22

Have families or 2-3 people share:

Something unique about themselves or the others in the group
Who they feel most connected to in the church
Why they think God called chose them to be a part of this body.

Practices of Story and Witness

Encourage the sharing of a story each week. Include a rotation among all generations. This does not need to be long but it is a reminder of the new chapters being written each week in the lives of Christ’s disciples.