Have you ever wondered about sharing stories as part of intergenerational worship?
It was a joy to have this conversation with Ann Pettigrew Nunes about how Cincinnati Friends Meeting (Wilmington Yearly Meeting) is using stories for the message in worship — with all ages together.
In our conversation, Ann shares the story of how Cincinnati Friends Meeting started to integrate stories as the message occasionally in their semi-programmed worship, in the place of the message shared by their minister most Sundays. The message is preceded and followed by waiting worship; there is the opportunity to center before hearing the story and wonder out of the communal silence afterward. Ann describes the experience of wondering with all-ages in a congregation setting, and reflects on the children’s experience of the stories and wondering being moved beyond their religious education program and into the space with everyone together in worship.
There is so much joy in what Ann shares about her experience as a storyteller, and the experience of the meeting. Throughout the conversation, we touch on the need to prepare everyone for intergenerational worship and the story as part of that time — preparing the children, the adults, and families helps to get the community “ready.” Under the recording below, you’ll find resources to support Friends exploring intergenerational/all ages worship in their meeting and church communities.
Ann lifts up questions for consideration — like who in the meeting community decides how and when to schedule intergenerational worship and how often to include a story for the message? We wonder about this as an opportunity to break down the “silos” that often exist between committees and their areas of focus, so that planning for intergenerational spaces aligns with the intent of those spaces — that “everything is available for everyone,” not a grafting for children on to an adult experience, but all ages participating together. How could committees with care of worship, spiritual growth, religious education for adults, and RE for children collaborate to plan intergenerational worship? The conversation also touches on Faith & Play stories as a teaching tool about Quakerism for both adult newcomers and children (also discussed in a previous vlog!).
Gratitude to Ann for her candid and thoughtful sharing on this topic of interest to many Friends. Religious education is a public ministry, which we see in the sharing of stories in this way — in children’s programs, in worship for all ages.
“I have held it very tenderly over the last few months as we’re doing this. I want everyone to have a positive experience. I really hope for that. And our meeting is generally so receptive when the children are part of the main meeting for worship because it happens very infrequently and when it does there is absolute joy and welcome.” – Ann Pettigrew Nunes
RESOURCES for planning & participating in Intergenerational/All Ages Worship:
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All Ages Together Worship Guide (from West Chester Meeting, PhYM)
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Children in Intergenerational Quaker Worship Guide (Melinda Wenner Bradley)
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Powerpoint presentation (PDF) — Children in Worship for Friends (Melinda Wenner Bradley)