Children and Families Ministry
DECEMBER UPDATE

These resources are compiled by Chris Barnett from the Intergenerational Ministry - Children & Families team at equipping Leadership for Mission (eLM) in the Synod of VIC/TAS. Thanks Chris for this valuable resource!

Welcome to the DECEMBER Children & Families Update!

Especially for those who follow the liturgical calendar, “Happy New Year”! Also let me highlight The Merchant’s Talents in Item 3 (possibly the best storytelling I’ve seen in years).

As always, feel free to share the links below amongst your congregation, region and networks, and please encourage individuals to like/follow the Children and Families Ministry fb page to see the great resources being posted daily throughout December. 

Advent Resources

Advent Faith at Home (UCA)

Advent Outdoor Worship (UCA)

Christmas Family Faith Trail (UCA)

Advent 2020 Engage Together (UCA)

2020 Multi-Age Advent Resource for Households (UCA)

More Advent/Christmas Resources

Roots Advent Material (Roots)

Advent Calendars fb (or website)

Road to Bethlehem fb (or website)

2020 Advent Series (Common Grace)

2020 Christmas Bowl resources (Act for Peace)

2020 Covid-safe Christmas activities for Playgroups (CPN)

Nb. More Advent/Christmas resources can be found in previous Updates and via the Children and Families Ministry fb page.

Intergenerational Resources

The Merchant’s Talents: a telling of Matthew 25:14-30

Faith at Home: the Incarnational Tradition fb (or website)

Ten Intergenerational Podcasts: the complete series (UCA)

Engaging all Generations (Cory Seibel – webinar recorded Nov 10)

UPCOMING Intergenerational Church webinar (Church of Scotland – Dec 2 AEDT)

Dave Csinos Books (maybe some holiday reading?)

Little Theologians: Children, Culture and the Making of Theological Meaning (NEW)

Faith Forward Vol.2: Re-imagining Children’s and Youth Ministry

Children’s Ministry in the Way of Jesus

Children’s Ministry That Fits

Nb. Visions of Old, Dreams of Young: Preaching and Teaching Gospel for All Ages (Due 2021)

From CRCNA

35 Tech-free faith forming fun activities (CRCNA)

Three models for navigating change (CRCNA)

Helping children express gratitude (CRCNA)

Justice in community and at home (CRCNA)

Prayer and seeking justice (CRCNA)

From Fuller

Sticky faith innovation (Fuller)

Innovating your way forward (Fuller)

Overcoming the empathy gap (Fuller)

Sparking family conversations (Fuller)

Partnering with parents – podcast (Fuller)

A Miscellany

 Investing in your most valuable resource (UCA)

Just giving or giving justly at Christmas? (CRCNA)

A framework for intergenerational worship on-line (Build Faith)

Bridging the intergenerational gaps in immigrant churches (CCC)

Five culture shifts for ministry with younger generations (Oxford Diocese)

Covid Corner

UPDATED Frequently Asked Questions (UCA)

When decision making seems murky (Ministry Matters)

The kids are not fine: engaging the pandemic generation (CRCNA)

Christmas for the whole church: socially-distanced options (ReFocus)

Performativity in a pandemic: faith development and lockdowns (Youthscape)

Highlighted 2021 Events (for your diary, watch out for more)

Feb 20                Messy Church National Conference (On-line – 3.30pm AEDT)

Mar 6                  Amplify (On-line + Hub model – watch out for more State-specific details)

Apr 22                 Messy Discipleship Book Launch (Online – 1.30pm AEST)

May 24-26          Children’s Spirituality Summit/InterGenerate (Online)

Jul 26-28            InterGenerate AUS (Sydney + On-line)

TBC                      Leaders to Go (Online + Hub model)