"Compassion Camp: What Every Living Thing Needs" by Illustrated Ministry is a forthcoming Vacation Bible School and summer camp curriculum for 2023. Because the complete curriculum …
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New and Recent Lent Resources for 2023
If you’re busy organizing children’s, youth, adult, or parish-wide programs for Lent and Holy Week, we’ve got you. We have compiled a list of new and relatively recent resources …
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Ideas for Epiphany Adult Formation
Advent formation is underway. Lent is on the horizon. But what are formation leaders to make of the season between them?The season after Epiphany can be a planning challenge. Its …
New Advent Resources for Adult Formation in 2022
A number of new resources that can help adults explore Advent are available this year. If you are interested in formation resources to use or share with adults in your community …
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Five Back-Pocket Games For “Non-Game” People
As we continue our transition back to in-person work, ministry, and gatherings of all kinds, creating opportunities to foster connection in our communities is critical. The …
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21st Century Faith Formation Trends
In Fashion Me A People: Curriculum in the Church (1989), Maria Harris writes, "Now we are in a time of movement toward a broader, more inclusive, and more …
The Pleasures and Perils of Reading Aloud to Children: Tips From A Children’s Book Author
Every year at our Maundy Thursday service, I told the story of Jesus’ Last Passover. Usually, the children joined me at the front of the sanctuary, where I told the story on the …
Backward is Better: Create Impactful Congregational Programming with Measurable Results
How many times have you sat down with your leadership team to plan a program and the first question posed is, What’s our theme? This is usually where the program planning …
Creating A “Thank You” Video: A Unique End-Of-Year Gift
As the church program year draws to a close, many of us will begin to consider end-of-year gifts and recognition for teachers and other lay leadership. I faced this tradition down …
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Beyond Item Collections: 15 Outreach Ideas To Engage Children (& Everyone Else Too!)
As someone who has a heart for service, I make that a big part of my own family and my ministry at church. One of the most common outreach activities for children (especially young …