Welcome to Christ Episcopal Church

Dear Friends in Christ,

I’ve been thinking a lot this year about “Intergenerational Communities” – where people of all ages are not simply in the same room, but are actively engaging with each other. This month I’d like to write to you about two things we’re doing to make Christ Church a more intergenerational community.

Intergenerational Formation. Some of my most important learning experiences came from the questions my kids asked me. Maybe you’ve had the same experience. A child asks you a seemingly simple question – often involving the word “why” – and you realize they’ve gotten right to the heart of a challenging topic. These questions can challenge our assumptions or make us think deeply about a topic. Our capacity for learning is enhanced when we mix generations together. That’s why I’m excited to announce that Heather Flueger and I are teaming up to offer Intergenerational Formation one Sunday a month during our 2026-27 program year! The reality is that Intergenerational Formation creates space for people of all ages to grow together in faith, to become a more spiritually connected congregation, where our shared life reflects God’s love for all people. Churches are one of the few places in modern American society that offer opportunities for meaningful intergenerational activities. As generations mix, our children find trustworthy adults who will hear their hearts, their hurts, and their concerns. I encourage you to come to as many formation activities as you can at Christ Church. But I hope you’ll make a special effort to be part of our Intergenerational Formation!

Praygrounds. In the last 20-30 years, churches across the spectrum have moved away from putting children in nurseries or “cry rooms” during worship. Instead, churches are creating “praygrounds” – designated areas within worship spaces where young children can sit with family members and engage respectfully with age-appropriate, worship-centered activities during church services. These spaces work best when they are located at the front of a sanctuary because it makes it easier for children to see what is happening. Praygrounds are not play spaces, they are more than play spaces. They are tangible and visible expressions of a church’s commitment to children as full participants in worship. By offering safe and engaging spaces within the sanctuary with clear expectations and norms, congregations affirm that children’s curiosity, energy, and presence are gifts to be celebrated. Young families walk into a new church and look for a place where they will feel welcome. Having a space that is dedicated for a young family is vital. One of the best indicators that a young person will grow up to be a person of faith is not whether they have attended church, but whether they have felt welcome and accepted there. Your Vestry and I approved experimenting with a prayground at Christ Church for one year. We’ve determined that it will be at the front of the sanctuary on the lectern side of the church. If, after a year, we determine that the experiment is not worth continuing, we’ll remove the prayground and return the area to the way it looks now. We ask for your patience during this time of experimenting and, as always, welcome your constructive feedback - positive and negative.

Change is never easy. Yet from different editions of Prayer Books and Hymnals, to livestreaming, to direct deposit giving, our patterns of worship and of “being church” have always adapted. Giving youth and young families opportunities to participate more fully in our shared life in Christ – will help us do just that.

Thank you for sharing your worship with us. 

May the peace of God fill your heart and mind, and the Blessing of God Almighty—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—be with you, and remain with you, always.