Now is the time to start thinking about Lent for next year, especially if you need to order books or consult with others...Remember, 10th of February is not that far way factoring in holidays and the like...
So here's a few ideas to throw into the mix. Click on the images to see purchasing info...
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You might have come across the controversy surrounding this new video which launches the Just Pray campaign in England. Apparently someone in charge thought it would be offensive to have this add played during sessions of the new Star Wars film that opens around the world on the 18th of December.
Read MoreLeonard Cohen's great song 'Hallelujah' has taken on a life of its own these days. It's likely you've never hear his version because so many people have performed it since!
Here's a young artist who performs as Cloverton with a version of the song that features Christmas-focused lyrics.
Read MoreSt Pauls Church in Auckland, NZ have a great history of releasing innovative videos to celebrate the birth of Jesus. This example is actually from a year or two ago but would be terrific to show at a crib or children's service this Christmas.
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Launched now at www.formedfaith.org is the new Exploring Anglican Identity material.
Archbishop Phillip is the star of five short videos, each dealing with a different aspect of Anglican identity. Each video has discussion questions aimed at provoking conversation, whether you use them at a confirmation class, a bible study/other small group or even play one a week at morning tea after church. Archbishop Phillip has summed up nuanced ideas concisely and with humour.
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If you are interested in having a stroll through the ideas of someone who has been working in the field of faith formation for a long time, and who has significant runs on the board of encouraging people towards discipleship then the blog of UCA Education specialist Craig Mitchell is a great place to start.
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Sue Hinderlider is a Pastoral Associate and Christian educator at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Johnson City, TN and in this article she shares a wealth of experience in the field of ministering with young people with special needs.
Read MoreAfter much discussion about how good the Archbishop’s address to Synod was this year, here’s the terrific section on Anglican identity, shared again with the PAX group at St Thomas’ Toowong a few weeks ago.
If you’ve ever wondered about the origins of the Anglican Church, have a look!
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You’ve already heard about the new modules in the BIBLE360 series coming your way. That’s Introduction to the Prophets and Exploring Anglican Spiritualities, in case you missed that news. Both of those are dynamite and manage to combine learning and personal faith growth material too.
But on the way is some big news about the expanded “360” family of learning experiences for your parishes.
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In the journey of being faithful Anglican communities, objectivity is sometimes hard to come by. It's easy to get so into the groove of doing what we do that getting an outsider's point of view can be helpful. How welcoming are we? What is it like for a new person to walk in our doors?
Read MoreHow we construct our worship so that it enables people to interact with God and God's story is a vexed question these days. Is it better to worship with all ages together? Is it better to arrange for separate educational activities for the young which match the purpose of the sermon for adults, but in another location? Or are the arguments for such bi-locational worship more about expediency for the adults left behind?
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Question and answer sessions are an essential part of any state school Religious Education teachers methodology. They tend to allow us get to the point. The itch gets scratched!
With Episcopalian Questions, Episcopalian Answers, Ian Markham (Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary) has written a slim volume that does just that. He provides brief answers that manage to
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Since the Eucharist is so central to what we do as Christians, it stands to reason that people in our pews should have a good understanding of what is going on as they participate, right?
This 24 page booklet aims to enable that good understanding.
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