Childrens Chapel Program adds a new dimension to intergenerational programming

Lutheran Life Villages and Children’s Village in Fort Wayne have taken intergenerational programming to a higher power with the new Children’s Chapel Program, which began Thursday, March 4.

At 10:45 a.m. every Thursday, Children’s Village preschool students ages 3, 4, and 5 will join Lutheran Life Villages residents in Memorial Chapel for worship services led by Chaplain David Griebel. The program begins with a message children can relate to. The children’s portion of the service lasts only 15 to 20 minutes, a developmentally appropriate time frame for children that age.

“I’m very excited about the way this service will bring together all the people whom we serve,” Griebel says. “It’s wonderful to see the joy that the children bring to the residents when they come to Memorial Chapel.

“Staff members, both at Children’s Village and throughout Lutheran Life Villages, have done a great job in preparing the children for these weekly services,” Griebel adds. “We all will look forward to these opportunities to share God’s love.”

The Children’s Chapel Program is a new facet in an already-strong collaboration. Many Lutheran Life Villages residents participate in intergenerational programming at Children’s Village. Intergeneration programming joins students and residents for a variety of activities that strengthen the connection between generations, foster education and understanding, and enhance the lives of both groups.

Located on the Lutheran Life Villages Fort Wayne campus and administrated by Lutheran Social Services of Indiana, Children’s Village is a state-of-the-art early-learning center serving children 6 weeks to 5 years old.

“With this new Children’s Chapel Program, we want to nurture in our students a different wellness beyond educational,” says Kathy Lehman, director of Children’s Village. “We want to nurture their spiritual and emotional well-being as well.”

Participation in the program is optional, and permission slips were sent to students’ families. “This program may be an introduction to chapel services for some of our students,” Lehman says. “Or it may be something they’re accustomed to doing every Sunday.”

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