Mennonite Weekly Review

When Mennonite Publishing Network integrated its congregational worship resources and “Gather ’Round” Sunday school materials around a unified theme this summer, Bonita Howard found an answer to her prayers for connecting the generations.

Howard, superintendent of Christian education for junior and senior high youth at Eden Mennonite Church in Moundridge, Kan., had been searching for ways to help youth and adults be less segregated.

When Sunday worship suggestions in Leader, a magazine for congregational leaders, connected with “Gather ’Round” Sunday school curriculum for ages 3 through senior high and adults, it was just the push she needed for taking a risk.

For the first time, Howard formed two intergenerational Sunday school classes to focus on the unified theme, “The Things That Make for Peace” based on Matt. 5:43-45. Up to 40 adults and youth participated in a class for senior high and one for junior high. When summer ended, Howard surveyed participants, and many felt as positive as she did.

“I heard kids and adults talk about how separate they felt from each other,” Howard said. “So when these resources were offered, I knew that it would be a wonderful intergenerational curriculum. Peace happens when connections are made that help people value others who are different from themselves.”

Survey responses showed the classes helped youth value their elders in new ways. One senior high participant wrote, “I loved hearing opinions from people wiser than me.”

David Stevens — one of Eden’s pastors, with Mike Bogard and Gail Graber — and pastors of other MC USA congregations said the unified materials were good for entire congregations. The resources brought cohesion and depth to a summer season disjointed by vacation schedules.

“Gather ’Round” Sunday school materials (available all quarters) include a Bible study guide for parents and caregivers, Connect. Many adult Sunday school classes used Connect this summer as their study guide to correspond with worship and their children’s instruction.

Another key “Gather ’Round” family resource is the “Talkabout,” which includes tips for applying weekly Bible themes through reading Scripture, doing family activities, reflecting on and discussing suggested topics and praying together.

“It’s tough to sustain a series for an entire quarter, but this summer we didn’t lose much attention,” Stevens said. “The consensus of all three pastors here was that the materials examined peace from angles that we hadn’t considered, or needed to reconsider.”