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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Posted in Community, Featured, Ministry |
Tags: Christian formation, intergenerational, leadership, youth ministry 
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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.
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Tags: children's ministry, family ministry, intergenerational, Lent, Service Comments Off
This is the perfect time of year to include nature in your formation activity plans. Both church and secular occasions already in place in the calendar offer an easy entry point.
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Tags: adults, children's ministry, Christian formation, curriculum, environment, family ministry, God, intergenerational, resources, social justice, spirituality, stewardship, summer, VBS, young adults, youth ministry Comments Off
Start by being clear about your purpose: the formation of hearts and minds and souls in community. From this will follow intentionality about the content of the service. For me, the “stuff” of Christian family liturgy is hospitality, compassionate loving, mystery, inclusivity, social justice and servant leadership.
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Tags: adults, children's ministry, Christian formation, family ministry, hospitality, intergenerational, parents, prayer, worship, youth ministry 1 Comment »
Think and pray on what you hope for your retreat. Find a short song, hymn refrain or verse that people will be able to learn by heart. Find a piece of artwork for reflection. Tap into those creative resources that surround us.
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Tags: adults, art, intergenerational, music, prayer, resources, retreats, spirituality 1 Comment »
Although Lenten regulations varied with time and place during the Middle Ages, this was the day all households were to use up all milk, eggs and fat to prepare for the strict fasting of Lent. These ingredients were made into pancakes, a meal which came to symbolize preparation for the discipline of Lent, from the English tradition
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Tags: children's ministry, family ministry, intergenerational, Lent, pancakes, Shrove Tuesday, traditions Comments Off
Invest in the future. Mentor a child.
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Tags: children's ministry, intergenerational, Service, youth ministry Comments Off
Spiritually and physically, we are one big family, sharing the earth with an array of other species. Yet for many, nature is left behind on the church doorstep, a missing presence in church life.
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Tags: adults, children's ministry, Christian formation, curriculum, environment, family ministry, intergenerational, resources, social justice, young adults, youth ministry Comments Off
The intention of the weekend was that it might provide resources to people who didn’t think of themselves as having spiritual resources – the folks who say, “Well, I don’t pray every day, and I don’t know that I have a spiritual life.” I hoped to introduce them to things that they already did, or things that they could do, and draw spiritual meaning out of them.
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Tags: adults, discernment, God, intergenerational, Lent, music, prayer, retreats, spirituality Comments Off
That term has come into wide usage in the Church today. Sometimes it serves a synonym for Christian Education, but I would like to suggest that Faith Formation is a great deal more than simply the latest terminology for Church School.
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The feast of Christ’s epiphany or “manifestation” originated among the Christians of Egypt in the third century. The date of January 6 was probably chosen because the Egyptians celebrated their great feast of the winter solstice on that day, in honor of the sun god Horus.
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Tags: Christianity, Christmas, Epiphany, family ministry, intergenerational, Jesus, traditions Comments Off
Whatever the reason, we have an opportunity to engage families in discovering that Christmas is not just December 25th but is a season all on its own, last twelve days.
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Tags: Boxing Day, children's ministry, Christianity, Christmas, family ministry, intergenerational, King Wenceslaus, St. Stephen Comments Off
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