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Year-long lesson planning calendar for ministry.
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Arts and Crafts / Children's Sermons / Faith Formation (formerly Sunday School) / Intergenerational activites / Uncategorized / Welcoming All Families
Prayground Activities for the September Lectionary:
Praygrounds, or dedicated areas in the worship space for children, are a wonderful new development many churches have added. But, what if you don’t have a dedicated space? We share our small sanctuary with another congregation, so a permanent area with furniture or baby equipment wasn’t an option for us. Instead, we use the empty … Continue reading
Faith Formation (formerly Sunday School) / Intergenerational activites / Prayer / Welcoming All Families
Teen Friendly Back to School Blessing:
I have noticed that the youth are less enthusiastic about backpack blessing tags than the younger kids. This year I decided to try to come up with a something that appealed to a wider age range. The blessing reminder needs to be: Youth friendly. Visually appealing. Budget-friendly. Reflect our church’s commitment to inclusion. Be a … Continue reading
Cairn Building: Thoughts from Spring Break
One of the highlights of our spring break travels to Arizona and Utah was an unplanned trip to a lesser known canyon. Away from the lines and well worn trails of the national parks we visited, we were able to explore at our own pace. My nephew enjoyed the freedom to discover “hidey holes” in the … Continue reading
Youth Ministry 15 Minutes at a Time: Free Webinar and Giveaway!
Thursday, September 7, 2017, I will be presenting a youth ministry webinar focused on practical, imaginative and creative activities grounded in HOPE. Click here to register (webinar will be recorded). As a fun surprise, I will be giving away a copy of one of my favorite youth ministry books: Organic Student Ministry by Stephen Ingram through … Continue reading
Rocks and Water…
The waves on Lake Michigan are especially high today, bashing against the breakwater, roaring across the beach. I choose a spot near the lifeguard chair to sit and reflect. Rocks dominate the foreground. Whitecaps peak all the way to the horizon. Rocks and water create an energetic roar. I ponder the scripture I will be … Continue reading
#pictureHOPE
A simple prayer station for times like these #pictureHOPE Continue reading
Using Google Classroom: An Experiment in Online Faith Formation
Many subscription-based services are out of our budget range and don’t offer content flexibility. We’ve tried Facebook groups for Bible study, but they tend to fizzle out. Last Spring, Google made it possible for anyone with a Gmail account to launch a class in their free app, Google Classroom. Wanting to experiment with potential uses, … Continue reading
Inviting children to pass the peace
Since hearing Diana Butler Bass speak at CEF last October, I have been pondering her four-part “Agenda for Christian Formation.” Inspired by her book, Grounded, she suggests where and how people are searching for God: Spiritual Peace and Well Being Sense of Awe and Wonder about the Universe Deep Sense of Gratitude Engaging Meaning and Purpose of … Continue reading
