
During the Advent season, it is good to introduce some intergenerational elements into your worship services. This season is a time of waiting for the second coming of Christ and is often seen as preparation for the Last Judgement. To prepare for the coming of Christ, children and young people can be asked to do good deeds, go to the parish church, visit an elderly person, or learn traditional Advent songs.
An Advent Intergenerational Event is a special service that brings the parish family together to celebrate the season. During the event, each generation shares a part of the story of the Nativity, and different generations tell where they have experienced God’s joy.
The Advent Narrative Lectionary moves through the main Gospel stories and the major Old Testament passages. It picks up one Gospel each mid-December and lines up with the major church festivals. It is designed to be used by elementary classroom-style curricula. The Narrative Lectionary is produced by Spirit & Truth Publishing and includes handouts, resources for all ages, and interactive worship resources.
The Scriptural Advent Calendar & Blessings Kit features twenty-five names of Jesus Christ. Each day includes Scripture, a daily prayer, and a daily reflection. It is free and available online. These resources are designed for use with children ages 3-12 and adults.
The Advent Bingo center features a deck of cards that includes questions and symbols that relate to Advent. This resource can be used for learning, or children can answer questions and write about their experience of waiting for special events or birthdays.
In addition to the Narrative Lectionary, families can use the God’s World in Community series of resources to gather generations for intergenerational worship. This resource is based on the Revised Common Lectionary and includes seven sessions. In addition, it includes a free download of the Scriptural Advent Calendar & Blessings kit. It is a short (20 minute) resource that can be used in worship services.
Illustrated Ministry offers a set of posters that correspond with the four weeks of Advent. The posters feature Bible stories and have the word “Emmanuel” in the middle. These posters can be used year-round and can be printed as a calendar or poster for other seasons. The calendar is also included as a PDF and has suggestions for Godly Play stories and ideas for prayer together.
The Intergenerational Epiphany Pageant includes the journey of the Magi, the angel appearing, the presentation in the Temple, and the joy of Anna and Simeon. Children and youth are invited to play roles in this pageant, including ushers, liturgists, sound technicians, and music team members. They are also given age-appropriate interactive bulletins.
For more resources, visit Strong Catholic Family Faith. These resources are available at a discount through Strong Catholic Family Faith. These resources include Advent and Christmas resources, a daily Bible study, and an adult Advent study. These resources include a daily prayer, Advent vespers, and a Lectio Divina for Advent.