In our world, where justice is supposed to be dispassionate and unbiased, where we are to be rewarded and punished according to our deserving, a Christian community of faith is called to an alternative way of seeing life and an alternative identity. We are called to be a community that displays a biased passion for the outsider, the stranger, and the estranged and gives people what they need, not what they deserve.
John H Westerhoff in `Living the Faith Community’ (p. 78)
- Someone like Sam
- The best book to read?
- Real Life, Real Children, Real Church
- Manifesto for Children
- Takeover Day 2009
- Off the Bookshelf
Someone like Sam
Based on a book called The Godmother, Someone like Sam develops the story to explore the themes of love, identity, relationship, strength, vocation and more. The pack contains a set of full-colour pictures with conversation starters on the back of each one. The accompanying CD has 12 downloadable sessions for use with children and adults in churches which explore baptism, belonging to the faith community, vocation and more! The pictures and full story text are on the CD, so they could be projected if you wanted to use the material with a large group or as part of an all-age service. There are also lesson plans for use with KS1, Year 3 & Year 6 linking in with RE, PSHE and SEAL. A very versatile, imaginative resource.
The best book to read?
According to this article from The Independent, Bible knowledge in Britain is decreasing, even though most people own a Bible! How Bible literate are the children in your group? Here are some resources which are designed to help children and families read and think about a small part of the Bible each day:
Snapshots from Scripture Union
TOPZ from CWR
XTB from The Good Book Company
Must Know Bible Stories from Scripture Union
Real Life, Real Children, Real Church
The European Conference of Christian Educators (ECCE) is held every three years, bringing together people from denominations across Europe to share experiences and good practice in nurturing children’s faith. If you’re interested in attending the 2010 Conference (which will be held in Paris) all the details are on the ECCE website.
Manifesto for Children
The Children’s Society continues to develop its work based on the findings of the Good Childhood Inquiry. The latest is to publish a Manifesto for Children which calls on all the political parties to make a clear commitment to improving children’s lives in any new administration they form. Click on the link to read more and view a copy of the document.
Takeover Day 2009
Takeover Day is an initiative of the Children’s Commissioner for England. The idea is to invite children into workplaces and organisations to `takeover’ for a day – and those who been involved in the past two years have found it an eye-opening and beneficial experience. The official date for this year is Friday 6th November, so why not invite children to `takeover’ one of your church services or activities that weekend?
Off the Bookshelf
The All Age Service Annual
Scripture Union has just published the third volume of their All Age Service Annual. Divided into two sections, it has a series of 52 `service starters’, designed to use when children are with the whole church community before going to groups and 15 fully worked out all-age services. The service-starter themes fit with SU’s LIGHT curriculum.
The All Age Service Annual
Pub. SU ISBN: 978 1 84427 381 2 £11.99
Teaching Godly Play
Teaching Godly Play – The Sunday Morning Handbook was my first introduction to the theory and practicalities behind Godly Play. Jerome Berryman has now completely revised and expanded it to provide an essential handbook for people who have perhaps only experienced taster or introductory sessions of Godly Play. Starting with an introduction `Why Play?’ It goes on to look at each section of a Godly Play session, giving practical, adaptable advice. It finishes with two chapters exploring the how both children and leaders can grow spiritually through Godly Play. I’m enjoying the chance to revisit these basics (though I’m not over-keen on some of the line drawings!).
Teaching Godly Play
By Jerome W. Berryman
Pub. Morehouse Education Resources ISBN: 978-1-60674-048-4 £16.81
The Book of Books
Trevor Dennis retells the story of the Bible for adults and children to read together. Each of the 12 chapters contains stories woven together and told to fire the imagination. Introductions link the chapters showing the sweep of Scripture and the thread of God through it all.
The Book of Books
By Trevor Dennis
Pub. Lion ISBN: 9-780745-969121 £9.99