Intergenerational Church Service: The Good Shepherd

Our church has a monthly practice of hosting an intergenerational service, welcoming all ages to engage in active worship, learning, and connection. When planning these services, we thoughtfully consider some of the following elements:

• Connection: How does this service deepen our relationships with one another and with God?

• Participation: How does this service encourage active involvement, empowering everyone to take ownership of their faith journey?

• Storytelling: How does this service draw us into the living story of God’s Word?

• Faith Foundations: How does this service engage with core faith topics that resonate across all generations?

• Faith Formation: How does this service inspire, equip, or challenge us to live as disciples of Christ in our daily lives beyond church?

  
  

Some elements of our service remain consistent. We gather around tables to foster easy connections and encourage active learning from one another through shared conversations. Tables provide a space where everyone can contribute and grow together. Each intergenerational service also includes a potluck, offering a tangible way to participate in God’s gift of hospitality. This shared meal creates extra time to enjoy each other’s company and deepen relationships. Other aspects of our service—such as singing, storytelling, learning, and praying—are also present but take on fresh, creative expressions each time. Let me share a little about one of our recent intergenerational services.

This year, we’ve been focusing on the theme of Jesus’ parables, practicing together the skills needed to listen to Jesus, understand His teachings, and apply them to our lives. Last month, we explored the story of the Good Shepherd. As we prepared, we brainstormed different ways to teach this powerful parable. Should we focus on the role of a shepherd, helping us better understand the title and perhaps relate to Jesus in a new way? Or should we delve into the nature of sheep, reflecting on our own need for a shepherd? Each approach opened up its own possibilities for service planning!

This time, we decided to explore the theme of shepherding throughout the Bible. Shepherding is a thread woven all through scripture—from Old Testament figures who were literal shepherds to the imagery of the people of Israel as sheep in need of a shepherd. Jesus’ declaration of Himself as the Good Shepherd directly connects to these earlier conversations in the Old Testament.

With this broader context in mind, we chose to teach the parable in a way that highlights its place within the grand biblical narrative. This approach helped us see the parable not just as a standalone story but as part of a larger story that reveals God’s character and His relationship with us.

Once we establish our main focus, the creative planning truly begins. For me, both the deep scripture study and the imaginative planning are equally exciting and energizing. The challenge is this: How do we teach the grand biblical narrative in a way that invites participation, fosters connection, stays true to the story, and encourages growth and a heartfelt response in our faith?

The fun began with a hands-on, collaborative art challenge. Each table group in the church received a small kit of art supplies and a single sheet of instructions to create an artistic masterpiece in just 10 minutes. The challenge: depict a person from the Bible. What the groups didn’t know was that each person they were assigned would later connect to the theme of shepherding.

Excitement filled the room as each table got to work. Some sculpted with tinfoil, others painted, a few crafted with plasticine, and some created intricate paper collages. The space buzzed with chatter and focused effort as each group worked to bring their masterpiece to life.

The atmosphere was joyous and participatory—older folks helping younger ones, laughter echoing as creations turned out as planned (or hilariously not). It was a delightful and engaging start to the service, setting a tone of connection, creativity, and community.

At the ten-minute mark, whether the masterpieces were complete or not, we photographed each one and quickly added them to a slideshow. While the images were being compiled, we sang songs about God as our shepherd. If you’re wondering whether we included the kids' classic "I Just Want to Be a Sheep," the answer is obviously yes!

Once the slideshow was ready, we settled in to learn together. The images created by the congregation were woven into a presentation that guided us through the grand narrative of shepherding in scripture. These artistic creations became a vital part of our storytelling—they helped us connect with one another and drew us into the unfolding story.

As each slide appeared, it captured the attention of kids and adults alike. Laughter and joy rippled through the room as we admired each artwork, regardless of its artistic merits. The images provided a refreshing pause between teaching segments, making it easier for everyone to stay engaged and absorb the connections between the biblical characters and the theme of shepherding.

By the end of the service, I think all of us walked away with new insights into the stories shared and a deeper appreciation for how shepherding is woven into the grand biblical narrative.

After the slideshow, we transitioned into a time of open reflection. Together, we pondered: If we already knew Jesus’ parable, how does viewing it through the lens of the grand narrative change our understanding? Did we learn anything new? Do we see Jesus’ words in a fresh light?

From there, we moved into a group response activity using Psalm 23 (The Lord is My Shepherd). Each table was tasked with reflecting on one line from the psalm. In light of what we had just learned, they rewrote their assigned stanza in their own words. The process was simple yet profound, with all ages actively participating. To close the activity, one representative from each table brought their rewritten lines to the front. Together, we read our new version of Psalm 23, turning it into a collective prayer to end the service.

It’s always a joy to see a carefully planned service come alive in such a meaningful way. People shared positive feedback on what they had learned, with some even suggesting additional stories that could have been included in the slideshow—what a blessing to learn with and from one another!

After years of refining our intergenerational services, I'm excited to begin sharing ideas and resources with others. Planning a service like this can be a significant time investment, and I know the value of having ready-made resources to build from. If you’re interested in hosting your own “Good Shepherd” service, I’ve compiled all the materials into a comprehensive service-building kit that’s easy to customize for your congregation. Check it out in our resource section—I'd love to support you in creating meaningful worship experiences for all ages!