In the spring of 2025, the Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative grant team conducted a literature review. As part of that literature review, the team identified five characteristics, or “hallmarks,” of intergenerational worship: intentionality, relationality, dignified reciprocity, flexibility, and empowerment.

In this “Hallmarks of Intergenerational Worship” series, I will explore each hallmark in turn with special attention to practical steps for increasing that characteristic in public worship.

Relationality in the Context of Worship

Relationality, at its core, describes the way people are bound together through meaningful connection. In intergenerational worship, relationality is not simply about being in the same space, but about cultivating genuine interactions that foster belonging and care across the generations. Scholars and practitioners emphasize this in various ways: Joe Azzopardi and Kayle de Waal highlight “positive interactions” and “connectedness” as essential to flourishing intergenerational ministry (“The Generative Church“). John Roberto names “emotional safety” and “caring relationships” as marks of an intergenerational culture (“Lifelong Faith“). Holly Catterton Allen, Christine Lawton, and Cory Seibel discuss the benefits of intergenerationality which include a deep sense of “belonging” for people of all ages (“Intergenerational Christian Formation“).

Drawing from these insights, I use the term “relationality” to describe the depth and quality of interactions within a worshipping community. Do people greet one another by name? Do they extend genuine hospitality to newcomers? Do they pray for one another, sharing the joys and burdens of daily life? Do they move toward one another—before worship, during the exchanging of peace, and after the benediction—to connect across age and experience?

When relationality is woven into the fabric of worship, congregants experience more than participation in a liturgy; they encounter a culture of belonging and solidarity as full members of the body of Christ.

Practical Steps to Increase Relationality

Every church context is unique and there is not one “right” way to practice intergenerational worship. The list of ideas below is not prescriptive, but meant to inspire your imagination for helping worshippers connect more deeply as fellow members of the body of Christ in a specific worshipping community.

• Name tags: Offering name tags for members and visitors of all ages helps people draw deeper into relationship through calling each other by name.
• Train greeters to welcome all ages: When you train ushers and greeters, include a conversation about how to offer hospitality to visitors of different ages. If you offer a welcome bag or packet, include materials for children and youth as well as adults.
• Prayer partners: Pick a liturgical season and invite members to sign up to be a prayer partner. Create intergenerational pairs and ask the partners to check in with each other for specific prayer requests when they see each other on Sundays. (Thanks to Shivaun Wilkinson for this idea! Check out her Building Faith article, “Prayer Partners: Building Intentional, Intergenerational Community.”)
• Liturgical mentors: Invite experienced liturgical leaders (for example, acolytes, torch bearers, lectors) to train and mentor those new to the role. (Thanks for Johannah Myers for this idea! For more information, check out her chapter, “Apprenticing Faith Together” in “All Ages Becoming: Intergenerational Practice in the Formation of God’s People.“)
• Lector or intercessor pairs: Invite two people of different generations to serve together in leading the psalm or Prayers of the People. For example, one person can lead the right side of the congregation in saying the odd verses of the psalm while the other leads the left side of the congregation in the even verses. Likewise, one person can read the intercession and the other can lead the response.
• Combine choirs: If you have choirs of different ages (for example, a children’s choir and an adult choir), invite them to prepare a piece of music together.
• Hear each other’s prayers: Offer opportunities for people to join the prayers of others in their faith community. For example, invite people to speak up during the Prayers of the People so the congregation can join them in prayer or have slips of paper where people of all ages can write intercessions that are read aloud. (Thanks to Lisa Fischbeck, author of “Behold What You Are: Becoming the Body of Christ,” for this idea!)
• Scripture drama: Invite people of all different ages to play roles in the annual Christmas pageant or other dramatic presentations of scripture (Epiphany pageant, Palm Sunday, Pentecost, etc.). (Thanks to Miranda Hassett for this idea! Check out her related articles on Building Faith.)
• Preaching rota: If your congregation is open to lay preachers, consider increasing the age diversity of your rota.
• Community created sermons: Explore preaching methods that offer opportunities for the congregation to share aloud with each other (for example, Living Stories Sermons).
• Encourage movement during “The Peace”: Be mindful of allowing enough time for people to move around during The Peace and/or encourage a bit of movement around the space during this time.
• Create or update your picture directory: A church directory with pictures helps people greet each other by name.

Do you have another idea for increasing relationality in intergenerational worship? Let us know! Reach out to Sarah Bentley Allred, Project Director, Roots & Wings: Intergenerational Formation Collaborative.

Featured image is by Ryan Stefan on Unsplash