Well I hope that headline caught your attention.
I just wanted to highlight for parishes in the Anglican Diocese, Southern Queensland that one of the services I can offer you is...
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Habits for your Heart
Something revolutionary is happening in the Anglican schools in our diocese....
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Luke: a Hitchhiker's Guide
Like to get a head's up on what is in store through the lectionary in 2016?
St Mark's at Buderim is hosting Luke: A Hitchhiker's Guide, a one day seminaron Saturday 13 February 2016with the Revd Dr Alan Cadwallader.
Read MoreBeing more welcoming...
Most congregations would think and believe themselves to be welcoming. Whilst this may be true to a degree, it depends on one's definition of welcome. Are many congregations who think that they are welcoming just being friendly or superficially welcoming?
Read MoreConnecting parish life with home life
Most churches have websites. Such sites offer basic information like service times, as well as overview information about ministry and mission. But when it comes to Christian formation, and faith resources for households, most church websites are too big and cumbersome to provide that content.
What's the solution?
Star News Bethlehem
St 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.
Read MorePreparation for Confirmation resources: a survey
Over at Ministry Education, we're looking at Preparation for Confirmation resources.
In conjunction with the Anglican Schools Office, we're wondering if it's time to develop something new, or at least find something existing that ticks boxes for most people.
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The Seasons of Adult Faith Formation
Whilst much of the literature on faith development tended to focus on the stages and styles characterised by young people, John Roberto's new book gives us everything we need to draw new insights into the formation of adults in the Christian faith.
Read MoreNew books about St Francis
Celebrating St. Francis through Learning
The feast of Saint Francis of Assisi was celebrated on October 4th. While many churches host animal blessingsSt. Francis Day is also an opportunity for study and education.
Faith in action: The People's Climate March
Dear Friends,
Will you join us to create a vibrant Anglican presence at the People’s Climate March on Saturday 28th November? Find out more...
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Want to help people understand Anglican Christianity?
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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Growing Disciples 21C
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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The model of the Vibrant Faith team...
Innovation! The Youth Ministry Change Project
Anyone who’s been in youth ministry awhile shares some ongoing frustrations: Families are busy. Programs are not attended like they once were. It’s not clear that programs even work. What you have observed at your church is backed up by cross-denominational research: programs don’t build faith.
But now we know what does...
Read MoreChildren's Church - Yay or Nay?
How 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?
Read MoreFormedfaith at Synod
We look forward to seeing many of you at the Ministry Education information booth during Synod this month!
Do come by and check out the resources available through St Francis Theological College and the Ministry Education Commission.
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Nurturing a Spiritual Approach to Climate Change
Here's a note from the Griffith University Centre for Interfaith & Cultural Dialogue...
Read MorePilgrim Author Bishop Stephen Cottrell @ SFC
The Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Chelmsford in the UK, will visit SFC during August for two very special events.
2015 Felix Arnott Memorial Lecture
Bishop Cottrell will present the 2015 Felix Arnott Memorial Lecture at SFC at 2.00pm on Tuesday, 4 August. The topic for this lecture will be:
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Wandering in Michael Leunig's Mind
I enjoyed a reminder of the joys of the work of Michael Leunig this week at the Dialogue Australia Network conference, a regular get together of Religious Education teachers fro around the country....
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Christian education is about small groups. And I like Zebras!
Training in Christian Education
Ever wondered what drives great ideas for ministry across the ages? Knowing how Christian education works, what underpins it and how to do it better is a start! Jonathan Sargeant is coordinating Christian Education (THL366) next semester at St Francis Theological College. Find out more here...
Read MoreA Distributed Church?
Watch the video for the Distributed Church program and then meet me back here. It only goes for 90 seconds or so...
You watched it? What did you think?
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