Did you notice many of our young musicians wearing black on the first Sunday in March? They looked good and, if you spent any time with them, you know they felt good. Black is the color the Sewickley UMC Clocktower Ringers traditionally wear on the Sundays they perform in worship. On this day, bell choir directors Mr. Erik and Miss Grace created an opportunity for their groups to perform together. The youth felt invited and included to share the chancel and the opportunity to wear black, the varsity color. And I’m sure all the musicians, young and less young, felt valued to share in the Thursday rehearsal and the Sunday performance. The border between age groups was blurred. That’s the goal. Jesus smiles when borders are blurred.
In January, our Leadership Board challenged us all to blur borders and respond to a God-sized goal. The board asked us to create new opportunities for “intergenerational engagement.”
As often happens, music ministry opened the first door. The bell choirs came together. Later in March, the Tuesday Night Growth Group accepted an open invitation to join our youth group to discuss the “Tell Me Something Good” Lenten devotional. Two members of the Growth group joined Felicity, Johnathan, and the youth in the second week of the devotional to discuss “Jesus feeds the 5,000” from the sixth chapter of Mark. In the story, Jesus taught for hours, then multiplied a few fish and loaves into a meal for all. He directed the disciples to break the crowd into small groups to eat. On our Sunday in March, we were also a small group, and young Orion offered to take a microwave popcorn packet and multiply it into food for everyone.
Later in March, two different members of the Tuesday group joined the youth as they gathered on the SUMC lawn on a warm, windy afternoon. Gusts caused the tarp to billow and flap, but the conversation persisted. And the intergenerational engagement—which included two members of the Leadership Board, our Lay Leader, and our Education chairperson—drew an intergenerational witness as children on bicycles, families, seniors, and couples passing by could see that Sewickley UMC is a place where generations come together.
It is now early April, and there is room for continued intergenerational engagement in 2026. If you want a simple way to blur borders, find the puzzle table in the Simpson Room. Or volunteer to serve at VBS in July.
Children’s ministry pauses between late May and late August, but any generations who wanted to engage the children on Sunday mornings through the summer have an open invitation. The Education Committee tries to provide programming Sundays in the 10:00 am hour at least once a month, but we are willing to share that opportunity. Games, activities, crafts, food… all are welcome by children and youth. See Mr. Bill, Felicity, or Education Coordinator Mandy Williams to book a date.
Be creative. Be bold. A God-sized goal is a forgotten line in a newsletter until we start praying into it and responding to Divine nudges. And They will nudge if we ask for it.