Like the adult swans, we adults in the congregation are too quick to chase out youth from the church by making the Sunday worship unwelcoming and largely irrelevant to our young people. Okay, so we don’t bloody our youth or physically evict them from the Church, but we instinctually find means to demonstrate the ways they don’t measure up to our goals for them.
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Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry |
Tags: Christian formation, family ministry, parents, youth ministry 
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In Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Paul says that “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”
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Tags: adults, Bible, Christian formation, communication, God, teacher training Comments Off
As I lay there in the gentle rocking of the hammock and stared up into the canopy of leaves above, I soon forgot that I was mad at my father for making me be alone. The voice of anger quieted and I’d begin to notice the quietness of the day and the warm rays of sun making their ways through the leaves. Soon, I noticed a voice inside of me and I listened.
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The “Common English Bible Change Your Heart and Life” tour extends from February through May, honoring the Christian observances of Ash Wednesday, Lent, Holy Week, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter, the Ascension of Jesus, and Pentecost.
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Inevitably, the call comes. “Do you have someone, fresh out of college, who could do our youth ministry for us? We can pay for seven hours a week. We’d prefer a male (so we can attract boys to our group), and if he plays the guitar that would be even better.”
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Tags: Christian formation, intergenerational, leadership, youth ministry Comments Off
We all have stories of toddlers learning to express themselves at the altar rail. When receiving a communion wafer a whisper is heard, “Are you God?” They know whose bread they eat! Or a little boy stating after receiving communion, “Every time I go to the altar to eat the bread of Jesus, he just makes my heart go thump.”
| Posted in Community, Featured, Spirituality |
Tags: Baptism, blessing, Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, children's ministry, Christian formation, Holy Communion, prayer Comments Off
Lent is the time in the church calendar when we remember how Jesus was “led by the spirit” into the desert to face the devil’s temptation and to experience personally the power of the living God. It is a time to consider our own “desert experiences,” when we take risks and commit our plans to God.
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Tags: desert, discernment, Jesus, Lent, meditation, spirituality Comments Off
Today we begin our season of pilgrimage with Jesus. First into the desert, then into Jerusalem. May this season be one of spiritual renewal for you and those you share ministry with.
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Tags: Ash Wednesday, Lent, meditation, prayer, resources Comments Off
Crones listen to their intuition, listen to their guts, and integrate that intuition into wise choices and actions. Sometimes we see the beginnings of the crone archetype in young children who appear wise before their time. “She’s an old soul,” we sometimes say when a child shows glimpses of crone wisdom.
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Tags: adults, Christian formation, discernment, Lent, spirituality, wisdom Comments Off
Jesus had disciples. He did not found an organization – he proclaimed and showed forth the present Reign of God, said “Follow me,” and then set people loose to do the same.
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Tags: Baptismal Covenant, Christian formation, leadership Comments Off
Mite boxes are one of the many wonderful traditions of Lent. They engage children in the values of compassion and charity through the daily act of praying and giving; and the funds collected help the most vulnerable in our communities.
| Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry, Service |
Tags: children's ministry, family ministry, intergenerational, Lent, Service Comments Off
In the early centuries of the Church, Lent was dedicated in particular not only to the preparation of catechumens for Baptism, but also to the preparation of penitents for reconciliation and re-admittance to the eucharistic assembly of the Church.
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Tags: catechumenate, Christian formation, Christianity, Easter, God, Holy Week, Lent 1 Comment »
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