Ideas for
Multigenerational
Holiday
Celebrations
Presented by
Karen LoBracco &
Patricia Infante
Webinar Basics
 Top


Menu Bar:
Emoticons
Message Box
 Right


side of screen:
Attendees
Message Box
 Using
the Mute Button
Lighting Our Virtual Chalice
We light the flame of knowledge;
May understanding be with us.
We light the flame of love;
May caring be among us.
We light the flame of holiness;
May the unifying spirit be within us.
~Edwin Lynn
Introductions
 Please
share (briefly)

your name

The location of your congregation and its
approximate size

your current role
Overview
What is
Multigenerational
holiday worship
and
programming?
Barriers to
multigenerational
worship and
programming
Imagining
Multigenerational
Social Justice
Imagining
Multigenerational
Religious
Education
Overview
Imagining
Multigenerational
Fellowship Events
The question of
Holiday Pageants
Imagining
Multigenerational
Worship
Resources
Definitions
Intergenerational: two or more
age groups.
Multigenerational: more than
three generations; implies that “all
ages” are present.
Why do Multigenerational?
Offer a sense of wholeness
in a culture based in
difference and division.
Traditions
and rituals
connect the
years and
the
generations.
See beyond
to our
common
values.
Create memories and a
sense of belonging.
Patterns of
Inter/Multigenerational
Experiences
In-common
experiences:
• Together looking at the same thing.
Parallel
learning
• In age segregated groups, looking at the same
topic.
Contributive
occasions
• Coming together to build something whole out
of pieces contributed by all ages.
Interactive
sharing
• Intentional sharing between ages.
Barriers to Multigenerational
Events
Status quo: “we’ve never done it that way or we’ve
always done it that way.”
Expectations run high during the holidays leaving less
room to “experiment.”
Worship leaders may not feel equipped to lead worship
that reaches different ages and different learning styles.
Generations have a different world view and expect
different things from “church.”
Response to Barriers
 We
live in a changing world and status
quo may mean we are trading “tradition”
for relevancy.
 We may be missing out on possibilities to
grow the spirit of the congregation.
 We can learn from the successful
experiences of our neighbors.
 Be willing to take a risk.
Fall/Winter Opportunities for
Multigenerational Practice
 Thanksgiving
 Solstice
 Christmas
 Hanukkah
 Kwanzaa
 New
Year’s
 Martin Luther King Day
 Others?
Imagine: Multigenerational
Social Justice
 Collections:


Food, Mittens, Socks, Toys, Adopt a Family
Guest at Your Table, Shared Plate, Heifer
 Community

Nursing homes, prisons, interfaith events
 Shared

Outreach:
Stewardship Experiences:
Greens, plant sale, sell lunch in support of a
chosen cause.
Imagine: Multigenerational
Religious Education
 Re-imagine


Pageant prep, outreach projects
One room schoolhouse
 Be

low attendance Sundays
flexible during holidays
Families are stressed, traveling out of town,
heightened emotional responses.
 Share
a seasonal story among all ages
Imagine: Multigenerational
Fellowship Events
 Tree
trimming
 Solstice events, Santa Lucia
 Holiday dinners & food related events:
Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas
 Craft/Gift-Making events.
 Secret Santa, Shopping babysitters
 Carol Sing
 Story telling
Imagine: Multigenerational
Worship
 Consider
multiple learning styles: this
applies to adults as well as children.
 Invite worship associates of different ages.
 Invite musicians of different ages.
 More music, movement, shorter homily
 Multigenerational choir, band, bell choir.
 Consider the needs of those for whom the
holidays are not as joyful.
The Key to Inviting and
Including All Generations
Everything that makes your worship
service more accessible to children
makes the service more accessible to
adults.
From Worship That Works
by Wayne Arnason & Kathleen Rolenz
Pageants: To do or not to do?
 The
for?
role of tradition: who is the pageant
 Scripted
v. simple story telling
 Performance
 Alternatives
v. worship
to a pageant
Web Resources

Creating Effective Intergenerational Worship Services http://www.uuintergenerational.org – Philosophy, tips
plus downloadable worship services

REACH and other UUA lists – subscription information at
http://www.uua.org/socialmedia/emaillists/index.shtml

Worship Web – Multigenerational
http://www.uua.org/spirituallife/worshipweb/multigener
ational/index.shtml

Blog of Kimberly Paquette, Northern New England
Multigenerational Ministry Director http://www.multigenministry.wordpress.com/

Christmas Pageant in a Box http://uumetrony.org/services/re%20docs/firstxmas.doc
Print Resources






Story, Song and Spirit: Fun and Creative Worship
Services for All Ages by Erika Hewitt (UUA)
Come Into the Circle: Worshiping with Children by
Michelle Richards (UUA)
When Youth Lead: A Guide to Intergenerational Social
Justice Ministry by Jill Schwendeman (UUA)
sUUper plays 2 for holidays and special days by Richard
Kimball (Green Timber Publications,
rkimbal14@maine.rr.com)
You Can Preach to the Kids Too!: Designing Sermons for
Adults And Children by Carolyn Brown (Abingdon)
Would You Like to Hold the Baby and Spirit of the
Christmas Tree by Joyce Poley (jpoley@istar.ca)
Questions?
Upcoming CERG Webinars

Social Media 101 by Beth Casebolt ~ November 16, 2010, 7 pm.

Youth Ministry 102 - by Andrew Mertz, JPD Director for Youth and Young Adult Programs ~
November 17, 2010, 7:30 pm.

Liberal Religious Educator Association Fall Conference Discussion Forum – by Patricia
Infante, CERG Faith Development Consultant ~ November 18, 2010, 10 am.

Youth Ministry 102 - by Andrew Mertz, JPD Director for Youth and Young Adult Programs ~
December 15, 2010, 7:30 pm.

The Safe Congregations Series - Beginning in January, a six webinar series on various
aspects of safety in our congregations will be offered. The series will feature basic
information and some more advanced information on several different aspects of facility
safety, child and youth safety, creating good boundaries, right relations, crisis
management and more.
Check www.cerguua.org for registration information.
Additional topics and dates are added on an ongoing basis.
Closing Words
Do all the good you can,
In all the ways you can,
To all the people you can,
At all the times you can,
As long as you can.
~R. Monckton Milnes