Sometimes the easiest thing to do is plan a one-off event to introduce and experience a new concept.
This can work in any intergenerational ministry setting, such as family ministry, small groups, youth group, etc. Below is a suggested schedule for a two-hour gathering that includes a meal or snack. The event covers all three central actions of worship: remember, wonder, and adore.

Gather, Eat, and Discuss (40 minutes)

As people arrive, have them sit at tables. If it’s an intergenerational group, make sure there are multiple generations at each table. In my experience, people naturally gravitate toward their peers or friends, so you may assign people to tables as they enter, or have different colored nametags for different age groups (eg. 0-22, 23-49, 50+), and ask that each table have people from all three groups.
Serve a meal or snack, and display or print copies of the “Table Conversations” for them to read and discuss together as they eat.

Read and Wonder: Joshua 3-4 (20 minutes)

Read the story of Joshua and the Stones of Remembrance (Joshua 3-4) and use the following wondering questions to imagine and process together. Depending on the group, you may read the story straight from the Bible, or have someone tell a narrative version. If you have younger children present (I hope you do!), I suggest using the “The Promised Land” story from the book, Young Children and Worship.

Wondering Questions:

• I wonder how the Israelites felt when Joshua told them to get ready to go into the promised land… I wonder if they were afraid to enter the promised land…
• I wonder what it was like to approach the Jordan River… how it felt when God led them through the water into the promised land…
• I wonder how it felt to mark that spot with stones… I wonder what they remembered when they looked at those stones… if they remembered that God rescued them from Egypt… that He parted the Red Sea… that He fed them in the wilderness… that He was with them all along the way…
• I wonder what you think of when you look at these stones… what God has done that you want to remember…

Free Response (30 minutes)

Give everyone time to respond to the story in different ways. Set up stations with supplies and instructions for the practices listed below. You may also put out paper, pencils, and coloring supplies for those who just want to process the story by drawing or writing. Instructions and required materials for all of these practices are linked.

Response Station Suggestions:

• Individual Art Practice: Ebenezer Stones
• Community Art Practice: Ebenezer Stones
• Kinetic Prayer: Stacking Stones
• Poetry: Look Up, The Gift of God’s Earth, or Group Poetry
• Psalm Writing

Regather (15 minutes)

Regather at tables, and give people the opportunity to share what they did as a response, and how they experienced worship. If you had a meal earlier, this is a great time to serve dessert.

Closing Worship (15 minutes)

End with singing and prayer. Check out our suggested song list. For prayer, you may try a “popcorn” Concert of Praise, opening it up for anyone who’d like to say a brief prayer of adoration. Use the simple prompt, “God, you are…”

Encourage people to “look up” as they pray and worship, using the posture prompts here.