The More, the Merrier!

,Church is one of the rare places where people of all ages are welcomed and encouraged to form strong relationships.  However, many pews are filled with older adults and few young families, despite our best efforts to build kid’s ministry. Instead of trying to create new children’s programs, why not offer opportunities for intergenerational activity, such as a musical?
Multi-age drama intentionally gathers adults and children together to benefit both groups.* Christmas is a great time for an all-church production! Not only does this solve the problem of too few children, it also provides positive outcomes for everyone involved. 
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Benefits for kids:

• Build nurturing relationships with seniors, particularly for kids whose relatives live far away
• Gain empathy for adults and understanding of their needs
• Learn new skills and receive positive feedback

And for adults:

• Enjoyment of a creative endeavor
• Social involvement with children and other adults
• Opportunity for skill development and cognitive challenge

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A Christmas Musical for All Generations

Merry Birthday?, a 25-minute Christmas musical from Musicals for Change, could easily be performed by a multigenerational cast.  The story is set in an unlikely place: a bus station on Christmas Eve. Eleven-year-old Elijah and his family are snowed in, jeopardizing their holiday AND Elijah's birthday, a celebration he shares with Jesus every December 25th. While he grumpily relates the many disadvantages of a Christmas birthday to Abby, a foster child on her way to a new home, fellow travelers quietly prepare a memorable surprise! 
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To perform the show intergenerationally:

• Ask church choir members (adults and/or children) to fill the role of carolers.
• Cast two kids, ages 10-14, to play the leads.
• Recruit adults (who probably know a thing or two about frustrating travel) to play fellow travelers.

Make It An All-Church Mission

Merry Birthday? is partnered with Foster Love, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting kids in foster care (10% of the cost of each musical is donated to Foster Love).  Additionally, “big impact” activities found in the Director’s Guide can rally your entire congregation to serve disadvantaged kids whose birthdays may be overlooked.
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Relationships between different generations don’t just happen – they have to be nurtured.  This Christmas, build your church community AND share Christ’s love with a performance for everyone.

Diane Beckstead

Diane Beckstead is a composer and founder of Musicals for Change, a publishing company producing quality kid's musicals which partner with nonprofits to teach kids empathy and the power of their own voices. 
​https://www.musicalsforchange.com/

*Translating Knowledge: Promoting Health Through Intergenerational Community Arts Programming
Sharon Anderson, MSc, MEd [email protected], Janet Fast, PhD, […], and David Barnet, BAHons, March 1, 2016
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/1524839915625037
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