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Home > > Christian Worshipers > Intergenerational Worship| General books | |
| Worship Not for Adults Only: Issues in Christian Living Edith Bajema (Grand Rapids: CRC Publications, 1990). Good resource for a small group at church (or worship planning team) with helpful practical suggestions. |
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Forbid Them Not: Involving Children in Sunday School Carolyn C. Brown (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994). A great resource that integrates children in the worship service without being childish or having specific "child" time. This series offers specific suggestions for prayers, litanies, sermon illustrations, and ways to present Scripture that will include children without offending adults. Although it is based on the texts of the Revised Common Lectionary, those who do not follow that lectionary can use the index to locate suggestions related to any Scripture passage. |
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You Can Preach to the Kids Too! : Designing Sermons for Adults and Children Carolyn C. Brown (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997). In this book Brown argues for making the "main sermon" more child friendly thus negating the need for children's sermons. Though she offers some valid critique of children's sermons she also provides helpful advice on how to do them well. |
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Making Worship Real: A Resource for Youth and Their Leaders Aimee Wallis Buchanan, Bill Buchanan, and Jodi B. Martin (Louisville: Geneva Press, 2001). takes each part of the worship service, gives a short explanation and then offers several game/activity options to "teach" the topic |
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Parenting in the Pew: Guiding Your Children into the Joy of Worship Robbie Castleman and Ruth Bell Graham (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002). |
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Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings for New Generations David Crowder, Dan Kimball, and Sally Morgenthaler (Zondervan, 2004). |
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Is It a Lost Cause? Having the Heart of God for the Church's Children Marva Dawn (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997). |
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Children at Worship: Congregations in Bloom Caroline S. Fairless (New York: Church Publishing, 2000). not a typical church situation. this book might stretch you a bit but it does make one think. |
| 45 Ways to Involve Children in Worship: Ideas for Worship Planners, Worship Leaders, and Parents Dorothy Henderson (North York: The Presbyterian Church in Canada, 1997). a helpful list of ideas |
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Get Ready! Get Set! Worship!: A Resource for Including Children in Worship: For Pastors, Educators, Parents, Sessions, and Committees Sue Lou, Jean Floyd Love, Mickey Meyers, and Sylvia Washer (Geneva Press, 1999). a fabulous resource for helping teach children about worship and including them in worship |
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Including Children in Worship: A Planning Guide for Congregations Elizabeth J. Sandell (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1991). The first half of the book which develops the philosophy, reasons for, and how to's of children's worship is great! It also includes some good practical suggestions for ways to include children in the worship service. |
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Sunday Morning Live: How and Why We Worship Mary Sytsma and Jane Vogel (CRC Publications, 2003). a great curriculum for teaching teens about worship |
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A Child Shall Lead: Children in Worship
John D. Witvliet (Choristers Guild, 1999). a sourcebook for Christian educators, musicians, and clergy, with a great mix of both teaching and practical ideas |
| Books to Aid in Understanding Generational Differences | |
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Bridging Divided Worlds: Generational Cultures in Congregations Jackson W. Carroll and Wade Clark Roof (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2002). a helpful book-particularly the epilogue which gives the "blessing and bane" of various types of generational churches (traditionally rooted, gen-focused, or blended). In the end they argue for an intergenerational church as being the best testimony of our beliefs though they admit that such a church does not come easily. |
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Generations: The History of Neil Howe and William Strauss (New York: William Morrow, 1991). a key text |
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One Church, Four Generations: Understanding and Reaching All Ages in Your Church Gary L. McIntosh (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002). excellent overview of the various generations in the church |
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The Multigenerational Congregation: Meeting the Leadership Challenge Gilbert R. Rendle (Bethesda, MD: The Alban Institute, 2002). helps leaders understand the generations they are leading and the dynamics caused by the presence of multiple generations in the church. |
Others Books to Consider |
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| Worship: A Congregational Life/Intergenerational Experience John Ambrose (New York: United Church Press, 1979). |
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Best of Blessings: Lent, Holy Week and Easter Ginny Arthur (Toronto: Anglican Book Centre, 1998). |
| Children's Time in Worship Arline J. Ban (Judson Press, 1981). |
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| The Ministry of the Child Dennis C. Benson (Group Publishing, 1985). |
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| Children in Worship: Lessons from Research Peter M. Becker, Gary L. Bertels, and Shirley K. Morgenthaler (River Forest, IL: Pillars Press of Concordia University, 708-209-3173). |
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Godly Play: An Imaginative Approach to Religious Education Jerome Berryman (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1995, 1991). |
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An Introduction to the Liturgical Year Inos Biffi (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995). |
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Making Room at the Table: An Invitation to Multicultural Worship Brian K. Blount and Leonora Tubbs Tisdale, eds. (Westminster/John Knox, 2001). |
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Gathered and Sent: An Introduction to Worship Karen G. Bockelman, with illustrations by Nicholas T. Markell (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1999). |
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The Religious Potential of the Child: Experiencing Scripture and Liturgy with Young Children Sofia Cavalletti (Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications, 2002). 2nd ed. |
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Sharing the Banquet: Liturgical Renewal in Your Parish Douglas Cowling and Paul MacLean (Anglican Book Centre, 1993). |
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Family-Based Youth Ministry Mark DeVries (InterVarsity Press, 1994). |
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Boredom Busting Ideas to Involve Children in Adult Worship Lisa Flinn and Barbara Younger (Group Publishing, 1996). |
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The Family Friendly Church Ben Freudenburg and Rick Lawrence (Group Publishing, 1998). |
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Family Friendly Ideas Your Church Can Do Ben Freudenburg (Group Publishing, 1998). |
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Through Children’s Eyes: 52 Worship Talks for Children Ben Freudenburg (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1996). |
| Changing Hearts, Changing Lives Jane L. Fryar (Concordia Publishing House, 1995). |
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Celebrating the Church Year with Young Children Joan Halmo (Liturgical Press, 1988). |
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Sharing Faith with Children: Rethinking the Children's Sermon Sara Covin Juengst (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1994). |
| Working with Children and the Liturgy Paul F. Larose (Alba House, 1981). |
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Homemade Christians: A Guide for Parents of Young Children Nancy Marrocco (Ottawa, ON: Novalis, 1995). |
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Children in the Worshiping Community David Ng and Virginia Thomas (John Knox Press, 1981). |
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1, 2, 3, Church Gail Ramshaw (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 1996). |
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The Spectacle of Worship in a Wired World: Electronic Culture and the Gathered People of God Tex Sample (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998). |
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Out on the Edge: A Wake-Up Call for Church Leaders on the Edge of the Media Reformation Michael Slaughter (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1998). |
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Soul ‘Tsunami: Sink or Swim in New Millennium Culture Leonard Sweet (Zondervan, 1999). |
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Growing Up Digital: The Rise of the Net Generation Don Tapscott (New York, London: McGraw-Hill, 1999, 1998). [Also available in Korean, Chinese and Japanese]. |
| Advent: A Congregational Life/Intergenerational Experience Trudy VanderHaar (RCA Office for Education). |
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Celebrating Our Faith! (Department of Child Ministry via Concordia Publishing House #S28003). |
| Children Are Members (Department of Child Ministry, 1998). |
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| Developing Children's Ministry for the 21st Century (Department of Child Ministry via Concordia Publishing House #S28026). |
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| Family Bible Hour: A Sunday Morning Educational Program (Department of Child Ministry via Concordia Publishing House #S28030). |
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100 Creative Teaching Techniques for Religion Teachers |
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Touch the Water: 30 Children's Sermons on Baptism (Pilgrim Press, 2003). |
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Taste the Bread: 30 Children's Sermons on Communion (Pilgrim Press, 2003). |








































