Generational Memories & Key Connections

    Summertime around many churches can be almost as busy as Advent and Lent. Summers are characterized by significant changes in the regular routines that become jam-packed with travel, new experiences, conferences, reunions, etc. In addition to preparations for annual conference (I.e., the yearly meeting) in every annual conference (I.e., the geographical areas), most local churches are also preparing for Vacation Bible School (VBS). Because there were many school teachers in the congregations that I served and in my home church (St. Stephen UMC in Yazoo City, MS), many of the adult volunteers who coordinated VBS were active or retired educators. They provided a consistent core of leaders who made it possible to staff VBS during the day when many parents were looking for low-cost, well-designed programs for their school-aged children.  

    For many communities, VBS was a well-coordinated, community-wide effort in which congregations collaborated to stagger the scheduling of VBS to provide activities throughout the day and throughout the summer. Many children and youth throughout the community participated in VBS programs hosted by various churches. Some would use the same curriculum (which provided emphasis through repetition of key concepts), while others used different curriculum resources.  

    VBS truly represented the best in educational environments because it seemed to balance learning, fun and travel with a frequency that was even better than the September through May academic year. I especially recall spending the summer in Ackerman, MS with my maternal grandparents when I was first or second grade. One of the VBS teachers, Mrs. Bonnie Thomas, was a friend of my grandparents. After the morning VBS classes, I would spend time with her in her home admiring her hamsters and the extensive series of tubes called a “habi-trail” that seemed to go throughout her house. (In reality, the setup for the hamsters probably only involved a few feet, but from the perspective of an impressionable child, it seemed “to go on forever!”)

    What I later realized was that my participation in VBS at my grandparents’ church reflected a much larger series of intergenerational networks that included parents, grandparents, their friends, peers and a loving, supportive community. While my brothers and I were spending time being exposed to Christian content through VBS, we were also becoming thoroughly enmeshed in a social, cultural and spiritual network. Our parents were away for a few weeks in the summer enrolled in graduate courses that were not always available to African American teachers in Mississippi and other southern states. As my parents travelled to further their vocational preparation, they were also being enmeshed in expansive professional and social networks.  

    These expansive networks were somewhat complex because of the vast geographical areas that were included, they were also multi-layered, in part, because of the wide range of ages of those involved in the networks. For example, not only were young teachers pursuing additional certifications, some of the older teachers were pursuing these opportunities. There were also both younger and older teachers who were involved in these networks as instructors. This intriguing microcosm of learning and traveling was not limited to teachers, nor was it restricted to VBS. However, because of the VBS connection, the network helped to expand and strengthen religious ties and foundations.    

    The uniqueness of VBS and the church relates to the critical nature of the frequency of the intergenerational connections. Few other institutions seem to rely so consistently upon this well developed network of committed and well-trained volunteers to instruct and support children and youth. In the most recent edition of the electronic newsletter from the Northern Illinois Conference, the United Media Resource Center (UMRC) highlighted several key resources on intergenerational ministries: (1) Faithful Celebrations: Making Time with Family and Friends, by Sharon Ely Pearson; (2) Generations Together: Caring, Praying, Learning, Celebrating, and Serving Faithfully, by Kathie Amidei, Jim Merhaut, and John Roberto; (3) Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community and Worship, by Holly Catterton Allen and Christine Lawton Ross; (4) Inter-Generational Youth Ministry,by Mel Walker; and (5) Messy Church: Fresh Ideas for Building a Christ-Centered Community, by Lucy Moore.  

    As we as a congregation prepare for all the upcoming events over the summer, we are excited about the many opportunities for key intergenerational interactions and growth. During these interactions new connections are discovered and existing connections are strengthened. I am looking forward to hearing more from each of you about your formative Christian experiences through VBS, Sunday school and other ministries of the church. As we also prepare to reach out into the neighborhoods, we’ll all have opportunities to invite others to not only connect with the local church, we’ll also connect with the network of churches.

    We are counting on you. Always remember, the church is at its best when everyone finds their place to serve. We’ll see you in worship, we’ll see you in class and we’ll see you during opportunities for fellowship.  

In Christ,

Jon McCoy