Riverbank 2025: Mind the Gap Session

• Arrange to tell members in advance that they will be invited to share who has been influential in teaching them about Jesus

• Organise some Generation Game activities– see below for more details – plus a prize, eg 

  • Invite special guests to give a demonstration for members to copy

  • Play a ‘conveyor belt’ memory game from a video or do a DIY version

• Print out the quiz questions or provide members with paper and pens if reading the quiz aloud

• Learn more about how parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and church family can help to raise God-connected children: 

• Research the website Parentingforfaith.brf.org.uk

• Explore the Grandparenting for Faith book by Becky Sedgwick, Bible Reading Fellowship – your corps leader has been gifted this book by the Family Ministries Department so may lend it to you

• Prepare to share the video What is Parenting for Faith? Children connecting with God in the everyday by BRF Ministries (optional)

Additional resource

• Quiz questions 

Riverbank is an annual women’s conference run by the Family Ministries Department. Its name has its origin in Scripture:

‘On the Sabbath we went a little way outside the city to a riverbank, where we thought people would be meeting for prayer, and we sat down to speak with some women who had gathered there.’ 

(Acts 16:13 NLT)

When Paul and Timothy landed in the city of Philippi, instead of finding a group of men with whom they could share the good news of Jesus, they encountered the first women’s fellowship recorded in the New Testament. They met Lydia, a businesswoman dealing luxurious purple cloth, together with a group of women. As a result of this encounter with Paul and Timothy, Lydia and her household were converted!

We want to invite you to the Riverbank to meet with other women and discover a place to:

• encounter God in worship
• engage in Christian teaching
• explore our God-given potential

The theme for 2025 is ‘Mind the Gap’.

‘One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.’ 

(Psalm 145:4)

The word ‘mind’ in this context means ‘to pay attention to’. The first step in ‘minding’ is to notice where the gaps are, then to consider how we might play a part in bridging these gaps – to act as we feel called. 

In this session we will consider how we might develop relationships that enable us to share the good news of Jesus Christ across the generations, learning and growing with one another.

For more information about the Riverbank Women’s Conference visit: www.salvationist.org.uk/events/riverbank

PLAY

The Generation Game

The Generation Game was a British TV quiz show. Couples, who were a generation apart, played a variety of games including copying a skilled performer or craftsman while they demonstrated a skill. At the end of the show there was a memory game: a conveyor belt of prizes is paraded before the winning pair – they just have to remember the items to win them!

Pair up participants across the generations – remember a group of more mature members probably incorporates at least two generations – and invite members to participate in some fun challenges. There are plenty of Generation Game episodes to view online for inspiration; or invite special guests who can demonstrate a simple dance, ice a cake, draw or paint a picture, and then invite the pairs to join in or copy the challenge. 

You could also include the Conveyor Belt Challenge – for example 

Generation Game Conveyor Belt Challenge by Christopher Frost (1:21) where participants memorise items on a ‘conveyor belt’ before they disappear. Or ask two members to simply push across and remove objects on a table! 

Award a prize to the winning pair!

Thought

This activity will remind us of the fun we can have across the generations.

QUIZ

Enjoy this fun quiz together in teams. It teaches us that we need people of different ages and stages of life, as they may know different things from what we know.

1. What is Harry Potter’s middle name?                                                       

  James

2. What is a baby kangaroo called?                                                                 

Joey

3. What is the most eaten food in the world?                                                   

Rice

4. Which singer’s real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta?      

Lady Gaga 

5. Which fairytale character has really, really, really long hair?                

Rapunzel

6. What is the chemical symbol for iron?                                                            

Fe

7. What kind of animal is Blue from the TV show Blue’s Clues?                          

Dog

8. Prior to the introduction of the euro, the lira was the currency of which European country? 

                                                                        Italy and Malta

9. What does the acronym YOLO stand for?                                

You only live once

10. What is Taylor Swift’s favourite colour?                                                   

Purple

SHARE

Invite participants to share with the group those who have been influential in their faith journey and who reinforce the importance of different generations teaching one another.

LEARN

Parenting for Faith / Grandparenting for Faith

Share what you have learned about how parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and church family can help to raise God-connected children.

Things to think about:

• How can you play a unique role in a child’s spiritual development?
• What practical tools might be helpful?
• What challenges do parents face today when raising God-connected children?
• How can we create a supportive environment for children to explore their faith?
• How can the church family support parents in their faith journey with their children?

Perhaps share the video What is Parenting for Faith? Children connecting with God in the everyday by BRF Ministries (3:06) 

Thought

Even if we think we aren’t strongly connected to younger generations, we can learn how to join in with their faith journey wherever we encounter children and young people.

Psalm 145

‘Mind the gap!’ This is a warning we may commonly hear and see at train and underground stations, reminding us to take care when stepping from platform to train or vice versa. Failure to do so can lead to serious injury, so it’s a warning it makes sense to heed.

The verb ‘to mind’ has multiple meanings, but it generally implies taking care of, paying attention to or being concerned about something.

Psalm 145, a beautiful hymn of praise attributed to King David, is known for its rich expressions of worship and adoration for God’s greatness, goodness and faithfulness. Throughout the verses we are encouraged to be mindful of God: of who he is, his majesty, sovereignty, compassion, mercy, faithfulness, provision, justice, protection and salvation. 

In verse 4 we are reminded of the importance of passing down the knowledge of God, who he is and his great deeds from one generation to the next, fostering a continuous cycle of praise and faith. We are asked to be mindful of the generations gap and to share our understanding and experience of who God is with others. 

‘One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts.’

 (Psalm 145:4)

The psalm concludes in verse 21, with a call for everyone to bless God’s holy name for ever and ever, reminding us of the eternal nature of God and of our praise and worship to him, throughout all generations.

‘My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord. Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.’ 

(Psalm 145:21)

So we are called to ‘mind the gap’ to ensure all generations hear about God and have the opportunity to get to know him. But how can we work this out in practice? 

It’s important to remember that, while passing on a legacy of faith to younger generations is important, so is sharing our testimony with those older than us and our peers too. There are so many ways we can do this in our everyday lives:

• Share with others stories of faith and God’s work in your life. 
• Explore helpful Family Ministries resources like Faith@Home and Family Prayers and Graces
• Explore and consider Side-by-Side, one-to-one intergenerational discipleship – make sure to ask your corps leader for help with this
• Incorporate prayers and worship songs that recount God’s deeds into family routines, such as mealtimes or evening devotions
• Keep a journal of your experiences and reflections on God’s work in your life – share these insights with others when appropriate
• Use social media platforms to share inspirational stories and verses that highlight God’s deeds, reaching a broader audience

These are just a few suggestions, but there are many more and we can probably come up with and share some good ideas. By actively engaging in these and other practices, we can help ensure that the knowledge of God’s mighty acts and unconditional love is passed around and celebrated across generations, fostering a strong and vibrant faith community. We can ‘mind the gap’ and enjoy all that journeying and learning with others from different generations can bring us.

• ‘Lord you are good (and your mercy endureth for ever)’ by Israel Houghton

  • Lyric video by IsraelNewBreedVEVO (5:13)

• ‘Holy forever (A thousand generations falling down in worship)’ by Chris Tomlin

  • Official lyric video by CeCe Winans (5:07)

  • Acoustic lyric video by Chris Tomlin (4:34)

• SASB 363       ‘Forever (Give thanks to the Lord)’ by Chris Tomlin

  • Lyric video with actions by DCCDiscipleland (2:30)

  • Official lyric video by Christomlinmusic (5:26)

  • Lyric video feat Robin Marks by Samuel Hill (4:07)

• ‘Faithful one, so unchanging’ by Brian Doerksen

  • Lyric video feat Vineyard Music by Worship Videos (6:05)

  • Lyric video feat Keswick Praise by Chet Valley Churches (3:34)