Most people who find meaning in a faith tradition hope that their children will also value that tradition. It's only natural to want to pass on the things we love and cherish. At Pilgrim, we will spend the weekend of September 21 and 22 learning about how children's faith is most likely to be formed.
Wade Zick,, who works for the Minnesota Conference of the United Church of Christ, has studied and researched Faith Forming Communities. Faith (Christian or otherwise) is most often shaped in the intimate community of the home. That faith can be reinforced and strengthened by a larger community of faith such as a congregation or synagogue or mosque.
On Saturday, September 21, Wade will facilitate a discussion with parents, grandparents and others who are directly involved in raising children. He will urge parents to think about their own faith and values and to examine the ways in which those values are woven into the fabric of life at home. "Faith Forming Families" will meet from 9:30-noon. Child care will be available and there is no charge for participants.
On Sunday, September 22, Wade will address the congregation in the morning worship service. At 11:20 he will meet with adults for a question and answer session and further discussion about Pilgrim as a "Faith Forming Community." Both the service and the discussion afterwards are open to the public and those of other faith traditions.
Faith Forming Congregations tend to have five characteristics:
1. Adults and children participate in worship together.
2. Parents and grandparents engage in faith practices at home.
3. The faith community practices intergenerational ministry.
4. There is conversation and reflection on the meaning of service and mission.
5. Lay and clergy leadership continually are engaged in leadership development.
Pilgrim is looking forward to learning from and with Wade Zick.
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