Description
A creative and comprehensive collection of church activities to engage people of all ages across generations and cultures.
From seasonal worship services to holiday-centered celebrations, each activity in this practical program book includes time for worship, fellowship, and faith development.
Among the 30 celebrations are:
• Liturgical days such as Epiphany and Maundy Thursday
• Traditional church events including Volunteer Sunday and Homecoming
• Hallmark holidays like Valentine's and Grandparents Day
• Outreach-oriented programs for Earth Day and Bread for the World Sunday
• Cross-cultural celebrations such as Las Posadas and Kwanzaa
Features sidebars with even more holidays or themes to celebrate. Also includes material for a weeklong Dr. Seuss-themed VBS!The book also directs readers to a related website offering additional free programs and resources!
View the Rachel's webinar "Engaging All Ages with Church Programs & Celebrations," and listen to her podcast on the topic of intergenerational church programming.
Reviews
"Users of this manual will appreciate the background information and other helps for leaders, and participants will benefit from the worship emphasis, appropriate scripture passages, prayers, music, and other touches such as faith station ideas and fellowship extension projects. Simple in format and without illustrations, this book will be useful for church or home educators or volunteers wishing to commemorate holidays in unique and worshipful ways." —Congregational Libraries Today, Issue 1, 2011
"The activities are interactive, engaging and entertaining for everyone. The lessons have been designed for application to ones particular audience, situation and time constraints with special emphasis on worship and fellowship. This book is a good read for anyone who is tired of watching the widening generational gap but never has had a good tool to pull it back together." —YouthWorker Journal, January/February 2011
"Church Programs & Celebrations for All Generations is a guide for making the Church a cultural center...A must for any church leader who also wants to be a community leader." —Midwest Book Review & Library Bookwatch: September 2010
"This is a really handy, small volume that packs a big punch. There is a lot of information in this book that will help you plan exciting activities for your church throughout the year. There are special sections on holidays and liturgical days that were wonderful. I think this is a must-have resource." —reviewed by Pastor Pat C. on Book Bargains & Previews.com
"This book is a gold mine for any pastor, educator, or youth leader who seeks to recognize Christian and secular holidays as a congregation. Each holiday becomes an event with these fresh, thorough, and insightful celebrations." —Rev. Lynn Barger Elliott, Professor of Youth Ministry, Calvin College, Youth Ministry Consultant, Youth Ministry Architects
"The intergenerational learning idea is brilliant, because the kids get the attention they are hungry for from their elders and learn at the same time. I also like the mix of music the author offers. If kids don't get to sing some of the hymns and older choruses, they don't see the value in them. The Dr. Seuss VBS program is especially fun for kids and adults alike. All of these programs are very good!" —Laura W., Chippewa Lake, MI
"At a time when churches are deluged with a variety of rehashed and recycled resources, Rachel Gilmore offers us something new. Even better, she offers something that is both practical and fun, useful and user-friendly. Church Programs & Celebrations for All Generations is a great addition to the toolbox of any Christian educator." —Sam O'Neal, managing editor, SmallGroups.com for Christianity Today International
Author Bio
Rachel Gilmore, MEd, has twenty years experience working in nonprofit settings in the areas of Christian education and youth ministry (including retreat ministry), as well as volunteer management, program/event planning and facilitation, and public relations. A prolific writer, Rachel writes for Christianity Today's SmallGroups.com website and previously wrote a weekly column titled "Intersections...of Faith and Life" on frankfort.patch.com. She has had more than 200 articles published in local newspapers and national magazines such as Chicago Parent, Christian Parenting Today, DevoZine, Leader in the Church Today, Church Educator and Group magazine. She is a contributor to Best of Try This One: Most Popular Ideas from the #1 Youth Ministry Resource and Plugging in Parents: 200 Ways to Involve Parents in Youth Ministry, both from Group Publishing. In 2012, her story "Gracefully Grateful" will appear in The Magic of Mothers and Daughters, a new edition of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.