Milestone faith formation is based on the idea of marking both small and significant events in a person’s life. By acknowledging them and remembering them, we take note of how God is active in our lives. Some milestones are significant events in a person’s life. Some are smaller things that happen during our day. Some are occasions and events that happen in the Church year or within our congregation.
There are three basic types of milestones:
- Routine/core milestones are a daily experience that one chooses to remember. It may be something that happened during the day or it may be something one wants to signify in their life. These milestones are marked throughout the week in family devotions. Routine milestones are remembered every time the family does devotions.
- Individual milestones are a significant event in the life of an individual. It may be the first day of school, getting a driver’s license, or one’s first job. These events are celebrated in the family with a special liturgy and some are also acknowledged in the congregation. Individual milestones are marked occasionally when they happen and may be remembered on anniversaries.
- Congregational milestones are marked by special gatherings and events. They may also be events that are significant to an individual, baptism for example. These gatherings give an opportunity to talk with other families and individuals about faith and share experiences. Congregational milestones are offered periodically throughout the year.
The foundation of Milestones is household devotions. This is where milestones are most often remembered, celebrated, and discussed. These devotions are supported by the congregation through weekly resources and occasional events.