This story comes from the work of Bill Swinford, the Children's Ministries Director of a local Methodist church and coalition member...
Aldersgate United Methodist Church has a history of trying new things in its worship services. The Children's Ministry Director is Bill Swinford (Mr. Bill to the kids). Bill came to an asset training our coalition did several years ago and really took these concepts to heart. Bill has always been known by his friends as being fun, creative and having a serious burden for kids.
Bill took this idea of asset building and worked with the other pastors at the church to develop a family centered worship experience. This service would become a periodic Sunday evening feature at the church called "Family Time". Family Time was an hour long service themed like a television sitcom. Mr. Bill and his real life wife Kim play the parents and the rest of the cast is made up of children and teens from the church. A typical "episode" of Family Time has a message around the importance of family, friendships, loyalty, service to others, etc. Not only are the skits funny and sharp, there is plenty of multi-media with videos that have been created by young people in the church. The evening usually opens with little kids getting up and telling their favorite jokes and then a children's choir dancing and leading the congregation in worship songs. At some point there are game show segments with audience participation and about three or four times per night the audience is given a question to discuss. At that point, people are free to move around in their pews and huddle with friends, family or older congregation members to talk about favorite memories or what it was like growing up.
This multi-generational worship service is an incredibly asset-rich time for all members of the congregation to interact with kids, laugh, share stories, enjoy the incredible creativity of the youth and explore the different values that make us solid citizens.
For more information on Family Time you can e-mail Mr. Bill at: