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For All Generations
Nathan Bierma
Reformed Worship 77: September 2005

Summary: Princeton CRC in Kentwood, Mich., worships with a vision for intergenerational unity; its outreach to youth is interwoven with the practice of worship.
Key Points
. Princeton's worship leaders credit their congregation's patience and curiosity for worship that engages different age groups.
. One of Princeton’s most innovative attempts to engage youth is the practive of showing PowerPoint presentations of youth testimonies to accompany their professions of faith.
. Princeton encourages broad participation in worship varying the lay leaders of the praise team and the scripture readers.
Full Text

Introduction
Kristy Ruthven has two titles at Princeton Christian Reformed Church: youth director and director of worship and music. In the eyes of Ruthven and her congregation, the two jobs are integrally linked. Princeton worships with a vision for intergenerational unity, and the task of reaching out to youth cannot be separated from the practice of worship.

Ruthven credits the congregation’s patience and curiosity for worship that is both varied and consistent,
engaging members of different age groups. “Princeton is a very kind congregation, very willing to learn new songs, and sometimes old songs in new ways,” Ruthven says. “There’s such a huge variety of musical styles in our church, with so many generations represented.” Continued...

Key Statements
. “It’s important for [children] to share something of their faith story. Otherwise the only ones who get to hear that are the elders. It’s great for people across generations, and for peers, to hear it—to say, God is doing something here.”
-the Rev. Dave Poolman, Princeton CRC
. “The personal stories sort of spring from the creeds. The creeds are those fundamental, foundational truths about God, his church, who God is, and the way he works. The stories are our response to the creeds: This is how God is working specifically in my life. This is what I can see about God’s nature in this situation. It’s sort of like teaching, and then asking, how is it being applied?”
-Kristy Ruthven, Princeton CRC
. “When we look at our children, our young people, our young adults, they are often told, either specifically or by implication, that they’re the church of the future. That’s true, but we want them to know that they’re the church already.”
-Dave Poolman

Used with permission

Related Resource
After this article appeared, Princeton opened a five-week series on worship by using this introduction on worship in the New Testament.

Members of the choir read these words between songs to teach about worship from Scripture and song.

Song: “Majesty”

There is much attention given to corporate worship in the New Testament. This morning, interspersed with our congregational singing, we will look at several aspects of public worship. When we gather here in this place week after week, it is important to understand that these worship elements are not just blind ritual, but valuable and purposeful. God uses them to sharpen our understanding of Him, our application of His Word in our daily lives, to build us up in fellowship, in order that we may show the love of Christ to both believers and non-believers.

Scripture reading and preaching: 1 Timothy 4: “Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching…Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and your doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

Singing songs: Colossians 3:16: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.”

Song: “He is Exalted”

A Confession of Faith: 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” Let us all do this together now with the words of the Apostles’ Creed saying “I believe in…”

Song: “In Christ Alone”

Prayers: 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “I urge then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone-for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

Offerings: 1 Timothy 6:18-19: “Put your hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

Provided by Princeton Christian Reformed Church and used with permission.