In spring 2025, the Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Training Collaborative grant team conducted a literature review. As part of this literature review, the team identified five characteristics, or “hallmarks,” of intergenerational worship: intentionality, relationality, dignified reciprocity, flexibilityAnd empowerment.
In this series, “Characteristics of Intergenerational Worship,” I will explore each characteristic in turn with particular attention to practical steps for increasing that characteristic in public worship. If you would like to assess which areas of intergenerational worship are already strengths in your context and which need more support, I invite you to take the Roots & Wings course. Investigating the Characteristics of Intergenerational Worship.
Relationality in the context of worship
Relationality, at its core, describes how people relate to each other through meaningful connections. In intergenerational worship, relationality is not simply about being in the same space, but about cultivating genuine interactions that foster belonging and caring across generations. Researchers and practitioners emphasize this in various ways: Joe Azzopardi and Kayle de Waal emphasize “positive interactions” And “connectivity» as essential to thriving intergenerational ministry (“The Generating Church“). John Roberto names “emotional security” And “caring relationships» as marks of an intergenerational culture (“A permanent faith“). Holly Catterton Allen, Christine Lawton and Cory Seibel discuss the benefits of intergeneration that include a deep sense of “membership» for people of all ages (“Intergenerational Christian Formation“).
Building on these ideas, I use the term “relationality” to describe the depth and quality of interactions within a worship community. Do people greet each other by name? Do they offer genuine hospitality to newcomers? Do they pray for each other, sharing the joys and burdens of daily life? Do they reach out to each other – before worship, during the peace exchange, and after the blessing – to connect across age and experience?
When relationality is woven into the fabric of worship, worshipers experience much more than just participating in a liturgy; they encounter a culture of belonging and solidarity as full members of the body of Christ.
Practical steps to increase relationality
Each church context is unique and there is no single “right” way to practice intergenerational worship. The list of ideas below is not prescriptive, but intended to inspire your imagination to help worshipers connect more deeply as members of the body of Christ in a specific worship community.
- Name tags: Offering name badges to members and visitors of all ages helps people deepen relationships by calling each other by name.
- Train receptionists to welcome all ages: When training ushers and greeters, include a conversation about how to provide hospitality to visitors of different ages. If you offer a welcome bag or packet, include materials for children and youth as well as adults.
- Prayer Partners: Choose a liturgical season and invite members to sign up to become a prayer partner. Create intergenerational pairs and have partners check in for specific prayer requests when they see each other on Sundays. (Thanks to Shivaun Wilkinson for this idea! Check out his article Building Faith, “Prayer Partners: Building Intentional, Intergenerational Community.” »)
- Liturgical mentors: Invite experienced liturgical leaders (e.g., acolytes, torchbearers, lectors) to train and mentor newcomers in this role. (Thanks to Johannah Myers for this idea! For more information, see her chapter, “Apprenticing Faith Together” in “All ages in the making: intergenerational practice in the formation of the people of God.“)
- Pairs of readers or intercessors: Invite two people from different generations to serve together to lead the psalm or prayers of the people. For example, one person may lead the right side of the congregation in reciting the odd verses of the psalm while the other leads the left side of the congregation in reciting the even verses. Likewise, one person can read the intercession and the other can lead the response.
- Combine choirs: If you have choirs of different ages (for example, a children’s choir and an adult choir), invite them to prepare a piece of music together.
- Listen to each other’s prayers: Provide opportunities for people to join in the prayers of others in their faith community. For example, invite people to speak during people’s prayers so the congregation can join them in prayer or have slips of paper on which people of all ages can write intercessions that will be read aloud. (Thanks to Lisa Fischbeck, author of “See what you are: becoming the Body of Christ”, for this idea!)
- Biblical drama: Invite people of all ages to play a role in the annual Christmas pageant or other dramatic presentations of Scripture (Epiphany pageant, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, etc.). (Thanks to Miranda Hassett for this idea! Check it out related articles on Building Faith.)
- Preaching Tour: If your congregation is open to lay preachers, consider increasing the age diversity of your rotation.
- Community-created sermons: Explore preaching methods that provide opportunities for the congregation to share out loud with one another (e.g., Living History Sermons).
- Encourage movement during “Peace”: Be sure to allow plenty of time for people to move around during The Peace and/or encourage some movement in the space during this time.
- Create or update your image directory: A church directory with pictures helps people greet each other by name.
Do you have another idea for increasing relationality in intergenerational worship? Let us know! Contact Sarah Bentley AllredProject Director, Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Training Collaboration.
The image shown is of Ryan Stephane on Unsplash
-
Sarah Bentley Allred (she/her/hers)
Sarah Bentley Allred is Project Director for Roots & Wings: Collaborative Intergenerational Education through Lifelong Learning at Virginia Seminary. Prior to joining Lifelong Learning, Sarah served as Director of Children and Youth Ministries for four years, then completed the M.Div. program at VTS with an emphasis on Christian formation. She is passionate about children’s spirituality, intergenerational worship, and small church formation. She loves local cafes, board games, the beach, and exploring new places with her husband, Richard, their daughter, Eleanor, and their dog, Grace. To learn more, visit sarahbentleyallred.com.