Art, Theology and Children

Ron Rienstra wrote a blog post about a display of children's art work he recently saw while visiting another church. Read more here.

Christmas Gifts for children

What do you give to the children at church at Christmas?
Here are a few ideas from children’s ministry directors in the Grand Rapids, MI area network:

• Last year we gave our kids a Christmas ornament that would remind them of the program. I found some reasonably priced ornaments on-line at Oriental Trading.

• I have been giving ornaments for the past 5 years. I order from CTAinc.com which has nice ornaments for $1- pewter ones for $3. I also order from orientaltrading.com. This gives the children a collection of ornaments and they can remember their growing up years in church.

• Creative Communications for the Parish has wonderful advent calendars—a picture with 25 windows to open. They are cheap and the families love them. You have a choice of several designs and sizes.

• We gave kids Christmas ornament kits to assemble at home, made from brightly colored old Christmas cards. There are directions here.

Faith Formation Committee

The Faith Formation Committee has a new web site. Check out it out: www.crcna/faithformation

Christmas Gifts

Here is an article I recently wrote about Bible Storybooks for our church newsletter. Feel free to copy it!


Bible storybooks or Christian magazines make great gifts for your child or grandchild! Surround children with stories about our God. Here are some ideas for young children:

o The Little Christian is a new magazine coming out in January. Each issue, which comes in the mail, includes a Bible story, a page using sign language, a faith based story and other ways to enrich your child’s faith. A subscription of 10 issues is $24.95. Subscriptions are available at: www.thelittlechristian.org

o The Read Aloud Bible Story Books Volume 1, 2, 3 and 4 by Ella Lindvall and H. Kent Puckett are great for reading to young children or for early readers. The language and large pictures easily engages children. Each book contains 5 stories. Cost: $14.99 per book

o God Love Me series by Patricia Nederveld contains 52 books. Each book includes a Bible story, a prayer and suggestions for activities to further think about the Bible story. The books can be purchased separately or in groups. Cost: $2.95 per book available at Faith Alive Christian Resource (www.faithaliveresources.org or call 1-800-333-8300)

For Elementary children:

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name by Sally Lloyd-Jones and illustrated by Jago. Each story told in this book points toward Jesus. Each story “vividly illustrated as it is portrayed, but also each tale is telling one Big Story—the Story of Jesus. Even the Old Testament stories of ‘The young hero and the horrible giant’ and ‘Daniel and the scary sleepover’ come full circle to Jesus, the greatest Hero, King, Lover and Rescuer the world has ever known.” More to Life Magazine. Cost: $16.99

Is Beth Moore Reformed?

Here is a recent email discussion from people involved in Adult Education:

I've heard that Daniel by Beth Moore is a great study and I am considering using it this fall. Has anyone else gone through it yet, and is there any conflict with our (CRC) beliefs or theology? (My pastor is encouraging caution.) I would appreciate your input! Kerri

Here are the responses: I am sure you will find them helpful. I did!

I did the Daniel Beth Moore study a couple of years ago. Part one was great, no problems. Part two, dealing with the end times, was not reformed. The women did enjoy the study. Sam

Our Thursday women’s Bible study, that consisted of four or five groups combined, used it this past year, as did several co-ed and women’s small groups. We reviewed the material in advance. Our leadership highlighted that the last part of the study didn’t reflect the theology of every denomination, that Beth Moore was explaining one perspective, which Beth Moore clearly states.

We had our pastor join in the last day of class to hear testimonies and provide a reformed perspective and answer questions. The results were a more well-informed group of people who seemed to appreciate the learning experience greatly. Many people had also read the Left Behind series of books without any opportunity to discuss this in light of various understandings of scripture. Offering this study helped follow up on those folks as well. We found it to be very positive. Gina

We had 60 women go through Daniel last year, as some have said the only “problem” comes in the last few lessons on end time theology. I am the leader of that group called WORD and introduced the subject and its differences with the traditional Reformed teaching. I copied a chart I had from a previous class taught by one of our pastors on the 4 views on the millennium and a time line. The Lord also led me to draw one of my own describing the time line of God’s relationship to His People—first Jews, then Jews and Gentiles that make up the Church. It seemed to make things clearer for many. I can send those if you wish. I also ordered 20 copies of The Day by Andrew Kuyvenhoven which sold well. He addresses the very same issues and texts that Beth does. She is very fair and explains all the main views and encourages the student every week to study, read other sources and speak to their pastor about these things. She never says her way is the only way, just how she understands the scripture. Actually since so many have read the Left Behind series without ever being able to discuss the interpretation, we found the study very enlightening and refreshing. You might also note that Reformed theologians Sproul and Ladd are both Historic Pre-millennial adherents. Hope this helps a little.
Judy

Reformed Does Matter

The August issue of The Banner includes an article called “Reformed, Whatever.” by Sandy Swartzentruber (see pages 22 -24). In addition there are four more articles about how Faith Alive Christian Resources are being used in churches through out the North America.

The Christian Reformed Church is blessed to have a Reformed publishing ministry. Over the years the name has changed from the Board of Publications to CRC Publications to the current name -- Faith Alive Christian Resources. In a recent study conducted by Faith Alive only 56% of the CRCNA churches are using Faith Alive materials. Many CRC churches are not using these materials and turning to more evangelical based materials.

I have used Faith Alive materials in my church school programs and grown to appreciate the thoughtful goals and how the materials reflect these goals and good Reformed theology. My teachers also find them easy to use and kids are engaged! I am excited to try the Year 2 Disciples Worship this fall with my church’s adults.

Most Faith Alive materials are not available in bookstores so if you want to learn more about what they offer you need to check out their catalog. You can also go on line to http://www.faithaliveresources.org/ but looking through the catalog can be more fun. The catalog includes Faith Alive products but it also includes products from other publishers that are written from a reformed perspective. If you would like to actually see the materials, you can visit the bookstore in the CRCNA building on 28th Street and Kalamazoo in Grand Rapids. Materials can also be ordered on line or by phone. (1-800-333-8300)

Explore the many great resources at Faith Alive. Help support this Reformed ministry!

Webinars

Faith Alive is offering free webinars for the Kid Connection, Walk With Me and Disciples materials. Check it out. All you need is a computer, internet access and a phone.

What is a webinar? From your computer you display a power point presentation and your phone gives you the oral presentation. It is almost like being part of a classroom but you can do it from your home or office! And in your pajama’s or sweats. It is very easy. Just sign up and the Faith Alive sends you information. Make an appointment to learn more today!

Check out these five advent/Christmas children's bulletins with Joel Tanis' art work. Joel Tanis' art work is well known in Western Michigan. These bulletins are free!

Grants for Network Groups!

ACRE would like to encourage you to start a network group of church educators! A $500 grant is available (through Faith Alive Christian Resources) to help for any ACRE member start a group. This grant can be used in a variety of ways from purchasing books for book discussions or paying for a guest speaker. This is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the educational ministry and to build relationships with other educators in your area. A trip to the APCE (Association of Presbyterian Church Educators) conference in January in San Antonio, TX for the leader is also included!

Why all this emphasis on network groups? Many church educators are volunteers or ministry staff with a heart for ministry but not necessarily a lot of training in church education. A network group can provide support and encouragement for your ministry and build a broader awareness of what church education is all about.

Recruiting Volunteers with Armor On

Summer in Michigan is great for a lot of reasons. But it always goes way too quickly and as it gets to be late July it is time to check the volunteer lists. We always like to give our teachers and leaders a rest before we ask them to commit for another year so every summer we face the same questions: Who will teach again? Who else should I ask? How many calls will we have to make to get all the slots filled?

Of course, it isn’t just filling slots. We try to match people with tasks so that they feel fulfilled in their work and so that the kids are ministered to by someone who has gifts to do what we’re asking them to do but, even with all that, the classes have to be staffed and we need names to go in every slot. I have a very many veterans who return and teach the children and youth programs every year. It is pretty easy to call them – they sometimes wonder why I don’t just assume that they’re going to do it but we both know that I need to ask them anyway. But even for some of those people I hate making the calls. Partly it’s because there are a LOT of calls to make and you can get to the point where you don’t even know who you’re talking to if you do too many in a row. But it is also because you never know when someone will hit you with an unexpected response. I was talking with Kathy, another children’s director, about asking people to volunteer. We both admitted that this is a particularly difficult part of the job. We both find it hard to avoid taking the “no thanks” remarks personally. I find that every time I need to make a call I have to get prepared. I have to somehow gear up for the conversation (which is really strange because I know and like all of these people.) Kathy says that she does the same thing. She calls it “putting on her armor.” I kind of liked that image because it really does describe what I do too. The problem, though, is that I put on the armor for Monday when I make the calls but on Wednesday, when I’m not wearing it, I get the calls returned and I’m not ready.

So, other church educators out there - how do you avoid taking the negative responses personally? Any advise?

Join ACRE Now!

If you’re a staff member or volunteer whose role fits these titles: Sunday school coordinator/superintendent, education director, education committee chair, children’s ministry director, director of discipleship, family pastor, etc., you may want to consider joining ACRE. We believe this organization will be the voice that shapes the future of educational ministry within our denomination!

The annual membership fee of $55 for volunteer educators and $65 for professional educators includes these benefits:

• Copies of three new educational resources from Faith Alive throughout the year (valued at $50), and an opportunity for your input to shape future resources.


• A $45 registration discount for the annual Grow conference.


• Full membership in the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (APCE), including
  a subscription to The Advocate, APCE’s quarterly educator’s journal that features articles and ideas from educators in the CRC, RCA, and PCUSA (valued at $30).


• a $175 discount for the APCE Main Event (the 2009 Event will take place in San Antonio, Texas, January 28-31).


• access to $500 grants for ministry networking groups, and full scholarships (including registration, travel, lodging, and meals) for the APCE Main Event for educators who lead networking groups (five grants and five full scholarships awarded per year).

Most important, access to the wisdom of a bi-national network of church educators connected through e-newsletters, a webpage, and a blog that tracks educational ministries throughout the CRC—from opportunities for continuing ed. to great ideas from educators across North America.

For more information click here

Faithful

The year is winding down but my thoughts are about what the next year will look like. Who will teach? How many three and four year olds will be coming? How much material and supplies should I order? Sometimes my mind gets so caught up in thinking about the details that I forget to think about the people.

Ministry includes so many children. I think about the 3 year old who is allergic to wheat and the child who does not want his mother to leave. I think about the 7 year old who appears to have no friends. I think about the 12 year old who who seems to always be irritated about something. I think about the 15 year old whose parents are getting a divorce. I think about the 16 year old taking on the responsibility of driving. I think about the 17 year old who is making decisions about what do to after high school.

These thought can leave me feeling overwhelmed. How can all these needs be met? Focusing on details is a lot easier.

Then I remember that I really only need to be faithful. This is a word that has meant a lot to me ever since I read Real Kids, Real Faith by Karen Marie Yust. I’m not sure I am using the term the same way she does but I’ve been thinking about that word a lot lately. I have been called to serve the Lord and use my gifts in ministry. This isn’t a vocation I chose. It chose me. My focus needs to change from me to God. It helps me to remember that it isn’t my job to form the faith of the children. My job is a lot smaller than that. It is my job to provide the tools for children and other adults to know God and see recognize the gifts that God has given them to be faithful. I’m merely doing the work that he’s asked me to do – I don’t have to do everything to build up the faith of all the people I work with. I only have to be faithful in that work. And as I am, I have the privilege of listening and watching to see God’s work as I and the people I serve are being formed by God in our faith.