Generation2Generation is one of the Christian Life and Nurture Ministries supported through the Parish & Diocesan Services office of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa.

Generation2Generation activities include an annual workshop and resource fair, a monthly children's ministry column called Seedlings in Crosstalk and an e-mail list.

The overall goal is to find ways to support, equip and empower:

1. 1. the front line people who work with children of all ages in parish-based ministries

   • Clergy

   • Christian educators

   • Sunday School and children's ministry leaders

   • volunteers, helpers and resource people

2. and those engaged in Christian formation in the home

   • Parents, guardians & families

   • Godparents, extended family and friends

Annual Workshop and Resource Fair

2008

By all accounts the fifth annual diocesan Children's Ministry workshop and resource fair held Saturday, April 12, 2008 at Christ Church, Bells Corners was a wonderful day. It was the largest ever with 80 people for lunch including Bishop John Chapman and participants from 22 Diocese of Ottawa parishes, two Lutheran churches, Almonte United Church and the Parish of Merrickville from the neighbouring Diocese of Ontario. One participant who had been on the waiting list was very happy to be called back because of a cancellation and said she would remember next year to register right away. For the first time the food was singled out for particular praise and participants even asked for recipes!

Highlights of this year's program included the delightful Pentecost Pageant presented by members of Christ Church Bells Corners as part of the "Pageants for Dummies" plenary session; a workshop on puppetry led by the Ven. Chris Dunn; and a panel discussion on "Sports & Spirituality: No Guilt Required" chaired by the Ven. Peter John Hobbs.

Featured Resource
What People Are Saying

Here's what participants in this year's event said they learned and valued:

• Lots of new ideas

• Inspired to try new things, get excited!!

• Excellent forum for sharing and learning.

• Crafts for kids- very interesting.

• The variety of Children's ministry across the Diocese.

• Good mix of topics covered - different aspects of children's ministry and different age groups.

• Some great ideas on making boys stay interested.

• Some things we can do easily to start engaging our aging parishioners toward changes necessary to expand child/ youth ministries.

• I got some great ideas for activities that are fun and creative to do with the Sunday school children.

• Not alone in the "Sunday school" world.

• Puppets in the pulpit! Or in the Sunday School room! What a fun way to share the message!

Past Events

Seedlings

Each month in Crosstalk a monthly children's ministry column called "Seedlings" serves as a year-round way to encourage children's ministry leaders across the diocese. Veteran Christian educator, Carol Kauk, who writes the columns is always looking for new ideas and issues to address. A binder with past columns is available on loan through the diocesan resource centre (contact 613-233-6271 ext 222 or resource-centre@ottawa.anglican.ca).