"Putting away the Alleluia for Lent is like putting away a favorite toy for a while – to appreciate it better later." The Etymology of Lent “Lent” comes from the …
Ancient Future Now: The Roots of the Emergent Church
"Mainline church folks and evangelicals find a common language to sing, pray and become disciples in love with Jesus and his calling to embody and serve the reign of …
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10 Tips for Preventive Discipline with Children
Helping Teachers Help Children Most teachers in our churches are volunteers. We can help them provide positive experiences in our churches by equipping them with …
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On-the-Spot Christmas Pageant
"Whether you only have a few children or you’ve got a small group to present a Christmas play, it is not difficult to hold an impromptu Christmas …
Blue Christmas: Descrption and Service Outline
God, let all of us find some peaceful forgettings and peaceful rememberings, a good friend to listen to our story again, and, at last, a still place within …
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The Real Saint Nick
"Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to …
Digging Deeper: Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany
"Into this darkness the twenty-fifth of December comes as a celebration of the invincibility of the Light." What is Advent? The time of preparation for Christmas, …
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Recognizing Disabilities: Creating an Inclusive Church Culture
A Lesson from Sesame Street In 1969 Sesame Street introduced a cast of everyday neighbors to carry minor plotlines as teaching tools for millions of American preschoolers. The …
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Why Start a Children’s Chapel?
Children can be familiarized with the order and flow of a worship service, even if they're not in church with Mom and Dad. Then, when young people do join their parents in …