Resources

Young men and women alike,
old and young together!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above the earth and heaven.
—Psalm 148:12-13

Why focus on intergenerational worship?
Scripture contains many examples of all people regardless of nationality, race, gender, or age worshiping together, as well as commands for the body of Christ to be all-inclusive. In Nehemiah 8 we read that Ezra preached to "men and women and all who could hear with understanding", in Joel 2 we find the prophecy "I will pour out my spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions", in Galatians Paul teaches that all who are baptized are equal for all have been made one in Christ Jesus.

In the Reformed tradition intergenerational worship receives support due to the import placed on the covenant, that children of believers are holy and therefore ought to be baptized. At baptism God makes a covenant with the baptized but we also make a covenant to each other, young and old alike, to care for each other, "to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom" (Colossians 3:16).

However, in a world where the greatest impulse is to separate the generations, to do niche marketing, in a world where the lives of various generations do not naturally intersect, we have needed to become more intentional about intergenerational worship and intergenerational living.

Intergenerational worship can only occur within the context of a church which practices intergenerational living. We need churches that offer programs related to specific generational needs and that provide multiple opportunities for congregants to get to know each other, to pray for each other, to celebrate and mourn together. Our prayer is that the growing number of resources on this site may help us do just that.