Something revolutionary is happening in the Anglican schools in our diocese....
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?
Ideas for lent
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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Just Pray Campaign
Bishop Stephen Cottrell spent much of his recent visit here talking about prayer as the central skill Christians should work on in order to bring new life to the church. This campaign gives you some tools to get working on this in your parishes.
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Just Pray...
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 MoreStar 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 Spirit of Advent
Free reflection booklet invites you into the spirit of Advent
Anglican Overseas Aid has launched a new, pocket-sized reflection booklet based on the
weekly themes of Advent. The booklet had been inspired by the agency’s Gifts of Light
Christmas gifts catalogue, which last year was redesigned around the themes of Advent.
After realising that charity Christmas gift catalogues often don’t emphasise the central story of the Christmas season, the agency redesigned its Gifts of Light catalogue to follow the traditional
themes of Advent – hope, love, joy and peace - and the Advent lectionary readings.
The Advent Booklet can be ordered in bulk for use by churches and other groups, or as part
of orders of Christmas gifts from the Gifts of Light catalogue. To find out more about the
Advent Booklet, and download a pdf version, visit
www.anglicanoverseasaid.org.au/donate/gifts/free-advent-reflections-booklet
Interactive worship? How would you do that?
Sociologist tell us that one of the changes n the social aspects of humans in the last 25 years is an increasing desire to be interactive in social and educational situations. The rise of phone voting on TV shows, for instance, demonstrates the desire for networksto try to retain their audiences being lost to online entertainment by introducing interactive elements. But can worship be interactive?
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Humanising the "other"
Something about us as humans means it's easier to have compassion for those who are like us. And, correspondingly, it's harder to care about those who are different. Because Jesus calls us to rise above that 'tribal nature', resources which help to do that are super useful!
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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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First Communion for Children with Special Needs
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.
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Free Resources for Freedom Sunday
There are estimated to be between 21 and 30 million people caught in slavery in the world today - suffering cruel and brutal treatment in every part of the world. The Freedom Sunday resource has been designed for local churches and can be adapted for use in different contexts around the Anglican Communion...
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COMING SOON – Big BIBLE360 news
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.
Read MoreThought about Christian Meditation?
How much time do you spend a week being still? How much time in actual intentional prayer?
Maybe you’ve wondered about experimenting with Christian Meditation but didn’t know where to start...or maybe you enjoy it and could use some new resources?
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Marks of Mission conference
The Common Life Missions Conference looks like it will be a good one. I've heard of a few people from our diocese (Southern Queensland) who will be heading across, including people from ABM and others.
With more than 50 workshops focusing on all aspects of the Marks and keynote speakers from New Zealand, Ireland and more it'd be hard to come away feeling like you'd had anything other than a great learning experience.
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Abbey of the Arts
A website about contemplation, reflection and the expressive arts, Abbey of the Arts is staffed by experts in Christian spirituality.
With resources on offer both free and paid, the website is a treasure trove of programs, materials, videos and the like to enable us to get in touch with what might be a quieter side of our spirituality.
You can register for retreats here or even become part of a virtual online retreat. Wonder how that would work? Have a look and find out. It might just be possible!
New Lifelong Faith Journal - FREE!
You've heard me talk before about John Roberto's Lifelong Faith website. The new journal is out this week and features 82 pages of expert practitioner advice about parish faith formation in all its forms.
Find out more...
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?
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