Children and Families Ministry
APRIL 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!

CHILDREN & FAMILIES MINISTRY – APRIL

Messy Discipleship Zoom Book Launch         April 22               1.30pm AEST

Not just for those involved in Messy Church, the NEW Messy Discipleship: Messy Church perspectives on growing faith book is relevant for anyone interested in the discipleship of people of all ages. This very special FREE Zoom launch event will include the opportunity to find out more about the book, engage with a number of the number of the contributors and connect with others interested in discipleship. Click here for more information and to register.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday (BRF Ideas Hub)
Palm Sunday (Strandz – Year B)
Palm Sunday (Mustard Seeds – Year B)
Passion Sunday (Worshiping with Children – Year B)
How to make a Palm Leaf Cross – easy tutorial (YouTube)

Holy Week

Holy Week in the home (SU NZ)
Holy Week art project (Build Faith)
Holy Week at Home (The Purposeful Mum)
Interactive Holy Week for children (Build Faith)
Holy Week and praying in colour (Praying in Colour)

Easter

Lent & Easter Resources (UCA Moreton Rivers)
Easterriffic Faith Adventures (Dema Kohen)
Easter Family Faith Trail (UCA SA)
Resurrection Biscuits (God Vine)
In search of Easter (SU)

ANZAC Day

ANZAC ideas (Strandz)
ANZAC Day with children (SANZ)
Sharing ANZAC with children (PCNZ)
ANZAC Day and the Lectionary (Loader)
Through the Roof: ANZAC version (Lost Sheep)

via Fuller

Listening can fuel creativity (Kara Powell)
Church traditions and innovation (Teesha Hadra)
Innovation that sparks faith (Abigail Visco Rusert)
Teamwork and the innovation process (Yulee Lee)
When people don’t like your great ideas (Jake Mulder)

Highlighted Articles

Learning during a pandemic: reflection and evaluation (Roberto) 
Five Matters of Children & Families Ministry (PC NZ)
The Spiritual Practice of Rest (Grow Ministries)
Recharge, Renew, Refocus (GenOn Ministries)
Becoming “Future Anticipators” (Roberto)

Highlighted Books

Generation Alpha: understanding our children and helping them thrive (McCrindle)
Nurture Shock: what we thought about children was wrong (Bronson & Merryman)
We Shall Be Changed: questions for the post-pandemic church (Edington)
Making Room for Everyone - a collection of folktales (Gordh)
Stories of God at Home (Berryman)

Some home-grown UCA resources

Deeper Water: resources for immersive worship (Craig Mitchell)
Found in Translation: the Basis of Union in Heart Languages (UCA)
Introducing the Uniting Church (UCA)
Assembly Worship Resources (UCA)
Build Back Better Resource (UCA)

Nb. On Apr 29 at 7pm AEST we will be hosting our first fb Live Event - Preparing for Pentecost. Keep an eye on the Children and Families Ministry fb page for more info.

Highlighted 2021 events

Mar 27                GodSend Downunder App Launch

Apr 22                 Messy Discipleship Book Launch (On-line – 1.30pm AEST)

May 22               Stories of Childhood Playgroup/Pre-school Ministry Conference

May 25-27          Children’s Spirituality Summit/InterGenerate (On-line – dates AEST)

Jul 27, 28             InterGenerate AUS (Sydney, Brisbane, Christchurch + On-line)

Aug 7                   Make it Messy! (Parkville, Melbourne)

Sep 10-12           Leaders to Go (On-line + Hub model)     

TBC                      A national conference is being planned to take place in Manly (NSW) in September 2021 to celebrate 10 years since the launch of Godly Play Australia. Interested people are invited to save the date of the first weekend in September 2021 and watch out for more information.