All In: Imagine Worship Differently
by Keli Boyer
In April 2025 Mennonite Health Services Association and Anabaptist Disabilities Network received a grant from the Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative to launch the “All In: Immersive Worship for Everybody” Project.
With the All In project we are inviting 12-20 churches on a journey to reimagine Sunday worship. Together we will be exploring intergenerational worship and tools to make it accessible to people of all ages and abilities.
But what exactly is intergenerational worship?
Dave Csinos, one of our project collaborators, defines intergenerational worship as being mutual and reciprocal, where power dynamics are considered and everyone has a voice. In this vision, the young aren’t just being taught and cared for by the old but are also teaching and caring for their elders.
Imagine this: It’s Sunday morning and today’s scripture is Luke 14, the parable of the Great Banquet. As you begin, the whole congregation sings together. Some stand, others sit or rock gently in their chairs. A child runs across the front waving a ribbon in time with the music.
When the story is read aloud, an image appears on the screen, helping everyone connect with the text. Seated in a circle, you’re invited to wonder together: “I wonder what it felt like to be the poor who were invited?” One by one, voices young and old share: “There was room for everyone.” “I imagine it was noisy.” A member pacing the edges suddenly chimes in with joy, repeating a line from the story: “Come! The dinner is ready!”
To respond, a large sheet of paper with a banquet table drawn on it is brought out. One by one, people add themselves around the table along with the names of those they hope to invite. To do this, some use words, others draw pictures.
The service closes with prayer and song. Every person has been given space, every voice honored, every gift welcomed.
This is the vision of All In: worship where the whole church is learning with and from one another.
We are excited to invite congregations to take part in turning this vision into reality. ADN is now accepting applications to be a part of the All In project. If you think this could be the right fit for your congregation, we encourage you to head to our website to learn more and apply today! Applications will be open through October, and the project is anticipated to kick off in April of next year.
If you have questions and would like to discuss please reach out, we’d love to meet with you.
Keli Boyer is the All In Project Director at Anabaptist Disabilities Network. She has 10 years of experience in nonprofit and church leadership, including directing respite camps for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and serving as a Children’s Pastor. Most recently she was the Director of Mission and Culture for the L’Arche community in Chicago. Keli is passionate about seeing the church become a place where people with disabilities are welcomed and fully included in the life and work of the church. She holds a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. She grew up attending First Mennonite in Middlebury, Ind. and currently lives in Chicago with her husband and teacup Yorkie, where they attend Missio Dei Church.
