The Goodness of God in Community
An Intergenerational Journey to Niagara Falls
Submitted by: Tanya Kantner, Licensed Lay Minister (LLM)
This June, thirty‑two individuals from several congregations within the Pretzel City Parish — led by Christ Lutheran Church, Reading— participated in an intergenerational trip to Niagara Falls with individuals ranging in age from three to eighty‑three. Over four days, we shared meals, travel, worship, and fellowship. What began as a simple trip quickly became a reminder of how deeply God works through shared experiences. The experience offered a meaningful opportunity to deepen relationships across congregations and generations, and to reflect on the goodness of God through community.
Buttermilk Falls
Beginning in Faith Our journey began at Buttermilk Falls, where a heavy downpour on the drive raised real questions about whether our plans would hold. Yet even in the uncertainty, a shared spirit of faith emerged among us. Together, we chose to keep moving forward, trusting that things would unfold as they needed to. Only a few miles from our destination, the rain cleared, the sun broke through, and we found ourselves enjoying a picnic beside the gentle cascade of the falls. It became an early reminder that God often meets us when we take the next step in faith — even when the path ahead is unclear.
Parkside Lutheran Buffalo NY
A Living Example of Christian Welcome Thursday evening, we were welcomed by Parkside Lutheran Church in Buffalo, whose hospitality offered a powerful example of Christian welcome. They opened their building, prepared space for us to sleep, and treated us like family. Pastor Jeremiah even gave one of our travelers the shirt off his own back after a long, rainy day — a simple act that spoke clearly to the heart of loving our neighbors.
Niagara Falls
Awe and Shared Joy The next day brought us to Niagara Falls, where we experienced the awe and joy of creation together. Generations stood side by side on the Maid of the Mist, soaked and laughing as the mist rose around us. At the Cave of the Winds, some who thought they might miss the chance to get close to the falls found themselves standing on the Hurricane Deck, water pounding all around them, faces lit with joy. These shared moments of wonder reminded us that God’s power is often felt most deeply when we experience it together.
After experiencing Niagara Falls together, we continued our journey with a two‑hour drive to Canandaigua Lake, where the next part of our trip unfolded.
Canandaigua Lake
Rest, Fellowship, and Community Our final stop was Camp LeTourneau on Canandaigua Lake, where the water stretched out calm and steady. There, we worshipped outdoors, shared communion, and rested in the quiet presence of God. Afternoons were filled with simple joys: conversations over meals, laughter during games like Bible Guess Who, and friendly competitions to see how many “animals” (or pennies) it would take to sink Noah’s Ark. Strangers became friends. Friends became family. And the pace of the days allowed us to slow down long enough to notice the beauty around us and the people beside us.
Carrying the Goodness of God Home
While we began the trip intending to reflect on three bodies of water and how each reveals something about God, what we carried home were the memories made with one another — the conversations, the laughter, the kindness, and the shared moments of rest. These experiences reminded us that the goodness of God is often found not only in dramatic landscapes, but in the quiet, steady presence of community.
Our time together demonstrated the value of intergenerational ministry and the ways shared experiences can nurture faith, strengthen relationships, and reveal God’s goodness in everyday moments. We hope our story encourages other congregations to be bold — to gather across generations, to travel together, to rest together, and to trust that God’s goodness will meet them along the way
Thank you, LLM Tanya Kantner, for allowing us to share your story
Do you know of a ministry partnership that's making a difference in your community? We'd love to hear about it. Contact the synod communications office to share your story.
Every congregation has a story to tell
Explore more Faith in Action stories or submit one from your congregation to inspire others across the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod.
