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Two Mega Training Events - Saturday March 20
For those living throughout Western VictoriaGeelong “Refresh” is suitable for those in involved in local congregations or local schools (eg. through CRE, Kids Hope or Chaplaincy), electives on offer include “Using Music with Children”, “Responding to Story through Art”, “Engaging All Ages in Worship”, “Growing Faith at Home”, “Creative Puppetry“ and “Children, Death and Divorce”. “Click here to register.
Gippsland Training Day – Saturday March 20 (Moe)
For those throughout Gippsland involved in ministry with Children and Families, this event features “Games with a purpose”, “Behaviour Management”, “Using Technology” and “Using Puppets”. Click here for a link to the brochure. It would be fantastic if you could pass this information on to others from your congregation, local network and/or CRE team. (nb. this replaces the event originally scheduled for Traralgon on March 27).
- Max 7 and Easter
We are called both to attend to the sacredness of Creation and to respond to it by active participation in the protection of Creation. This list uses the metaphors of feasting and fasting to invite both these elements of caring for Creation into our Lenten observance. This article is adapted from the “Living for Lent, Caring for Creation” resource written by Presbyterians for Restoring Creation. Their website is at www.prcweb.org
- Easter Ideas from Barnabas Resources
In addition to the new ideas prepared with Lent in mind…
…Barnabas also has the following resources in under 'Christian Year' in the Ideas section of their website...
Lent and Easter ideas to use at home
Easter - the foot-washing story - a dramatic presentation- Some Stimulating Reading
From the UK, Going for Growth is a challenge to churches to rethink their ministry with, among and by children and young people. It offers a theological framework and principles which meld with the five marks of mission.
Whilst papers from the most recent European Conference for Christian Educators – with the theme Real World, Real Child, Real Church - are not yet available, you may be interested in the Papers from the previous Conference held in 2007 - Between Traditions? New directions in children's ministry.
More and more traditional congregations are admitting children to communion before confirmation. For a particular perspective, see this Children & Communion article.
- FairWear School uniform project
Recently the Victorian FairWear campaign was funded for six months to undertake a study into the barriers preventing schools from acquiring their uniforms through the accredited Ethical Clothing Australia label (formerly the No Sweatshop label). FairWear is also available to present to school councils and parent groups. If you know of any schools that would like to have FairWear provide a presentation on Ethical Clothing Australia uniforms and the impacts for homebased outworkers in the textiles and clothing sector Mark Riley via fairwear@fairwear.org.au. For more background information click here.
- “Question Mark”
- “Children and the Theologians”
- “Multi-Sensory Worship”
For more information on these resources, please click here.
- Some Interesting Reading
The latest e-news from Beth Barnett contains an interesting article on learning, an excellent resource for commissioning and an encouragement to overcome some common barriers to engaging in study.
From Barnabas in the UK, this article explores ways to ignite and nurture faith in children, unpack what spirituality might mean and relates all this to working with children week by week.
From The Guardian newspaper, this item prompts thinking in relation to children and technology. Taken from The Wall Street Journal, this item highlights the importance of imagination in helping children develop. It also acts as a reminder of the need to allow children to enter imaginatively into Bible stories so that they can "become" part of the narrative.- Manna Gum
Following the launch of the Manna Gum website, all their newsletters and other publications are now more readily available. Items off particular relevance to families include their Household Covenant and the Supermarket Checkout! Five Principles for Ethical Shopping article.
- New Resources for 2010
As the year begins, many new resources are being discovered, uncovered or even re-discovered. If you have a favourite resource for ministry with Children & Families that you would like to draw to the attention of others, feel free to e-mail the details to chris.barnett@ctm.uca.edu.au.
Three new resources that you might like to check out are…
“Multi-Sensory Worship”
The 10th resource in Scripture Union's Multi-Sensory series, Multi-Sensory Worship is packed with lots of ideas for prayer of all kinds. Although it's aimed teenagers/adults there many of the suggestions could easily be used or adapted to work with children.
“Question Mark”
This latest high impact program from Beth Barnett is once again come full of original, creative and effective ideas for getting kids enthusiastically engaged with Scripture that can be adapted to ages from pre-school to lower high school, and used for church groups, kids clubs, holiday programs or at home. Available from Scripture Union, “Question Mark” includes a Leader’s Book, Resource CD and Stories CD.
“Children and the Theologians”
The long story of children in theology is told via analysis of some twenty-five theologians, grouped according to six historical periods. Each account examines what a particular theologian thought about children and the experience it was based upon. Four themes that have shaped attitudes about children in the church emerge from this history: ambivalence, ambiguity, indifference, and grace. The result of this study is to promote a healthier church, which will respect and utilize the distinctive gifts of children. In so doing, theologians will be better able to help clear the way for grace in the post-modern church. Available from the Ridley Bookshop and the Dalton-McCaughey Library
- Great Upcoming Events
Feb 26, 27 “Ministry to Children" Seminar Mt. Evelyn
Mar 10,11 "Drug Proof Your Kids" - Facilitator Training Scoresby
Mar 17, 18 "Starting Points" - Facilitator Training Scoresby
Mar 20 "Refresh" Children and Families Training Day Geelong
Mar 20 "Children and Families Ministry Training Day" Moe
Mar 27 "Faith Journeys with Children and Families" Benalla
The 2010 Children & Families Ministry Calendar is now included in the “Training and Events” section of this website.
As other events come to hand, they will progressively be added to the site.
- Go to Latest Resources for a list of some recent posts
Chris Barnett is the Children and Families Ministry Coordinator for the UC Synod of Victoria & Tasmania. Feel free to give him a call on 9340 8806 or e-mail to discuss how he can support, encourage and resource your congregation’s ministry with Children & Families.
The Uniting Church believes that…
in Jesus Christ God was reconciling the world to himself and that in love
for the world God gave the Son to take away the world’s sin.
people of all ages are called to respond in faith to God in Christ.
the Church’s call is to be a body in which the diverse gifts of its
members of all ages are used for the building up of the whole.
Christians of all ages are called to bear witness to a unity of faith and life
in Christ the risen crucified One and confess him as Lord to the glory of God.
Contact:
Chris Barnett
Children and Families Ministry Co-ordinatorPh: 9340 8806
- Go to Latest Resources for a list of some recent posts
