Exploring Intergen – Congregation Stories
This is part two of our Revive story on Being Intergenerational where we hear directly from two Uniting Church congregations who are being intentionally intergenerational in their approach to congregation life. Thanks to Star Street Uniting Church and South Perth Uniting Church for sharing your stories.
We know there are many congregations finding ways big and small to be inclusive across generations. As we explore what it means to be an intergenerational church it’s helpful to recognise that congregations don’t necessarily need to have big youth groups or run craft programs to be thriving across generations. An example is the Pinjarra Uniting Church who have created an inclusive and nurturing environment for their younger people by integrating them into the life of the church and worship. They have a couple of regular younger attenders who read the bible, share prayers, help to serve communion, and take the lead in a 5th Sunday family service supported by other members of the congregation.
Kerrie Birch, lay member of the Pinjarra congregation said, “Children are always included. They feel a part of it.” She went on to explain that the young people not only feel part of their community of faith, but they also feel loved and accepted to be themselves.
Revive approached a number of congregations who have been intentionally intergenerational in their approach to congregation life.
Star Street Uniting Church
Jeanette Pryor
What approach is your congregation currently taking with intergenerational ministry?
At Star Street we see ‘all ages’ as part of who we are. We aim to be intentionally intergenerational every Sunday, especially in the parts of worship services where children are present. The congregation knows that all members, whatever their age, are welcome to participate in any activity. So you might find adults coming to sit on the floor around the Godly Play, or young children reverently bringing the Communion elements forward before receiving Communion along with their parents.
Has this approach changed over the years?
Our approach is an ongoing and flexible process, with no set way of doing things. It has changed in the last few years in that we have more frequent full intergenerational worship services – every month now instead of four times a year. Plus, all the special days on the church calendar (Easter, Pentecost, Advent etc) are Intergen celebrations as well. We are careful that these are not ‘children’s services’ – everyone is invited to join in and engage with someone from a different generation.
Are there any resources you have found helpful?
The Seasons of the Spirit resources were a good starting point before they ceased production. We use all sorts of resources, including some ‘off the top of our heads’ ones. There are a lot of children’s books that fit well with the Lectionary readings, can often generate ideas for activities, and appeal to every age. We also re-use and tweak ideas that have worked well in the past.
What are some of the ways in which your congregation is being intentionally intergenerational?
In worship we try to choose hymns and songs with lyrics that everyone can understand, which say something meaningful, and which are singable for everyone. We use a lot of visual elements, most of which are created by the congregation, especially around the special seasons of the church year. We try to engage all the senses in ways that suit different abilities and ages – there might be art, animals, discussions, games, craft, food and other activities along with stories, reflection, prayer and singing.
We sometimes have a weekend afternoon session of activities, worship time and food, which is advertised to the wider community. This has developed into an intergenerational time where the adults get to play too.
Once a month we have Sunday afternoon board games; this brings people of different generations together.
Do you have a positive story to share (big or small)?
Some of our best times in Intergen worship have been the quiet conversations and sharing around the tables as people paint, use clay, trace labyrinths or do other activities relating to the theme of the day. Or seeing children learning a new skill alongside older people that they ‘kind of’ knew but didn’t normally talk to.
It’s great to see how happy and confident the children are in all spaces in the church buildings; they claim it as their space!
What have been the biggest challenges in this area of ministry?
This area of ministry is an ongoing challenge and an ongoing joy. It can take a lot of effort. It’s not always easy to keep the focus for all generations, especially young children. Another challenge is finding material that connects with all ages.
Do you have any new intergenerational ministry activities or approaches planned for 2025?
We are working on a new ‘natural’ outdoor space which will be suitable for everyone.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
At Star Street we believe everyone, including our children and teens, has their own valid ministry to offer. Young ones are invited, encouraged and genuinely included as participants, servers or helpers in any scenario which is safe for them – be it worship or other jobs or events where they work alongside older/other members. They are listened to.
Intergenerational ministry keeps our leaders and the congregation aware of the varying ages and needs within our church family. All ages being part of who we are.
South Perth Uniting Church
Rev Mark Illingworth
What approach is your congregation currently taking with intergenerational ministry?
Five years ago, in 2020, our Church Council set some goals. Our one- year goal was to “orientate our thinking and practices to enable all four living generations to journey together in our faithful following of the ways, works and words of Jesus”. Our three-year goal was that “South Perth Uniting attendance demographics match the City of South Perth”.
One impact of this goalsetting is that the Church Council average age has moved from 64 years old to 49 years old. The demographics for the regulars on a Sunday is also changing with more 14 to 28 year olds, but nowhere near the South Perth city demographics which is highest in this age-group.
Are there any resources you have found helpful?
We haven’t found a particular best- source for resources so we use things from a variety of different places. We have benefited from material from Roots on the Web which provide an all-age worship resource every week following the lectionary. I also have resources that I’ve gathered over the years for a number of different ‘all-age’ services on different themes.
During January we use animated videos Torchlighters: Heroes of the Faith from the Christian History Institute. These are designed for children, but adults highly appreciate them. The videos come with a lot of resources, so we watch the 20-25 minute video and then engage with the material together as a church family.
Please outline some of the ways in which your congregation is being intentionally intergenerational.
Our Sunday morning gatherings are always intentionally intergenerational, and being intentional is crucial as it’s very easy to drift into focusing on one age group or another. We seek to have a wide selection of music. Our music teams are ‘all age’ including the oldest, one of the drummers who is in his eighties, and the youngest, again a drummer, who is a teenager.
Rather than have a ‘children’s talk’ we have two reflections on the Bible Reading or theme. The first is based around a lesson that all- ages can engage with, while the second, when the Primary school and younger children are in their age-appropriate groups, is more ‘speech’ based. A recent change is to have Year 8’s and above stay in for the sermon, which means that it needs to be engaging for their age group too!
All ages are invited to participate in Bible Reading. Children are invited to sit up the front so they can engage more easily with what is happening – we use smaller chairs to encourage this. The middle school children and above are included in serving morning tea and a couple are involved regularly in the tech team.
We also have special all-age Sunday gatherings during the school holidays when we don’t offer a separate children’s program, to give the leaders a break. These gatherings often involve craft, engaging all the five-senses, and people moving around and interacting with each other. They are like ‘Messy Church Lite’.
The general expectation when coming to South Perth Uniting is to expect the unexpected! This has meant that people accept that they won’t necessarily be ‘passive’ in any gathering. We encourage laughter!
Other activities are also aimed at all ages including a Craft and Games Workshop, where we see 80+ year olds playing and learning together with primary and secondary students, and Fellowship Morning Tea.
Do you have a positive story to share?
One thing we do is prepare and print a sheet of headshot photos of the regulars and provide a copy of that to each family. This is a helpful way for people to learn each other’s names (we also use name badges) and helps the older folk connect the children to their parents – the photos are ordered according to household groups.
What have been the biggest challenges in this area of ministry?
The people of South Perth Uniting have been extra-ordinarily willing to do whatever it takes to experiment with new ways of meeting as well as make tough decisions to enable the congregation to flourish. The hardest decision was to close the 28-year-old ministry activity of running a Childcare. There were many reasons for this. One benefit of closing was releasing more spaces for the congregation to use for a variety of activities.
Do you have any new or different intergenerational ministry activities or approaches planned for 2025?
We hope to re-start the after- school club for primary age kids. This will be intergenerational as the parents are invited to stay and socialise together. We are also considering a mid-week ‘grandparents’ playgroup.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers on this topic?
We want South Perth Uniting to be an extended family where everyone is welcome and effort is made to include all-ages and all temperaments – from the loud and noisy ones to the quiet and shy and to the grumpy and whatever else makes up the diversity of a family.
Our value statement is “We want people to experience a full, healthy life as offered by Jesus (John 10:10). This means financially, intellectually, physically, relationally and spiritually”.
We aren’t afraid to ‘pilot’ something new and to have a go. It might work or might not, but the congregation is willing to have a go for the sake of ‘being alive’ together.
Exploring Intergen is part two of an original feature story ‘Being Intergenerational’ in the December edition of Revive magazine.
Click here for part one on our blog – Being Intergenerational