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Welcome back to my monthly list of curated resources for faith formation, Weaving Faith. I am Christine Hides and 2022 is the 10th anniversary of my career in ministry and this website – more on that in the coming months!
“What are you doing for Lent?” and “What will faith formation be like after the pandemic?” are the two most common questions I hear right now and so they are the subject of this newsletter.
Lent and Easter:
I am passionate about making Lent meaningful through tangible objects and intentional discussion. My 10 page guide for Lent and Easter contains devotionals, prayer stations, parent articles, children’s time ideas and more. It is free for subscribers to my monthly newsletter. Updates for 2022 include a sample Lenten reading guide to Amelia Richardson Dress’ book The Hopeful Family.
I am excited to read Traci Smith’s new Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection book. We sent her Advent book home to our families along with bookmarks with suggested readings and activities for each week.
Faith Formation Beyond 2022:
The ongoing pandemic is hard on ministry leaders, parents, teachers, healthcare workers, and… everyone. Previously I’ve shared my encouragement and my thoughts about leading faithfully in a pandemic. I’ve also been working on videos to accompany John Roberto’s new book, Lifelong Faith: Formation for All Ages and Generations.
This new book identifies the essentials of faith formation in any church context.
“My efforts to identify these essentials has been inspired by the marvelous book and Netflix series Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat, by Samin Nosrat. The whole idea behind Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat is that if we can learn how to use those four elements—which play a role in everything that we cook—we can learn how, why, and when to use them, and make anything taste good with or without a recipe. The rest, she says, is just a combination of cultural, seasonal, or technical details, for which we could consult cookbooks and experts, histories, and maps. For her this insight was a “revelation.”
What if we took the same approach in lifelong faith formation? What if we could develop lifelong faith formation by using several essential elements that could be contextualized and customized in any setting? These elements would need to reflect the best thinking and practice in faith formation and education. They would also need to address the challenges we are facing today.” – John Roberto
Be sure to check out the new Lifelong Faith Training website for the new videos in the coming week or two. I am so grateful to be a part of these important discussions. https://www.lifelongfaith.com/
A Prayer for the Continuing Surge by Christine V. Hides
Holy God,
Bless the normal days where school and activities go as planned.
Bless the messy days when we are at our wits’ end.
Give strength to the exhausted healthcare workers.
Give rest to all who are weary.
Bring healing to the sick.
Protect the vulnerable.
Though much is uncertain,
We are grateful, for through you,
God of Impossible Possibility,
We know hope, joy, love, and faith.
Amen.
Christine V Hides 