Ideas for Multigenerational Holiday Celebrations

Presented byKaren 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 ChaliceWe 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

Overview

Definitions

Why do Multigenerational?

Patterns of Inter/Multigenerational Experiences

Barriers to Multigenerational Events

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 Outreach:

Nursing homes, prisons, interfaith events Shared Stewardship Experiences:

Greens, plant sale, sell lunch in support of a chosen cause.

Imagine: Multigenerational Religious Education Re-imagine low attendance Sundays

Pageant prep, outreach projects One room schoolhouse

Be 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: MultigenerationalWorship 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 role of tradition: who is the pageant

for?

Scripted v. simple story telling

Performance v. worship

Alternatives 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/multigenerational/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 WordsDo 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