Christian Formation

Welcome to the Department of Christian Formation.
 
Our mission is: to provide support and training for Christian Education Directors, clergy and Church School teachers in the areas of children, youth and adult ministries   

The Department of Christian Formation is made up of twelve members, chosen by the Bishop to serve as a voice for Christian Educators in the diocese. We provide parishes with opportunities for training, community building and resource guidance.

Past events sponsored by the Department of Christian Formation include All Under One Roof,a teacher training event, Godly Play training,   and several Christian Formation Tracks at the PLTE (Parish Leadership Training Event)

This committee strives to support all who are involved with education in the parish. We have trained consultants and you may access their gifts and talents by contacting Sarah Sartain. If you have any needs or suggestions regarding programs or ideas please feel free to contact a member. We would be happy to send a representative to your parish or help you find the resources you need.

Save the Date

January 10, 2009

Nuts and Bolts: A Christian Formation Tool Box(formerly All Under One Roof)
 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church
Birmingham

Sponsored by the
Department of Christian Formation and
Province IV Christian Formation Committee

The Department has developed a Christian Formation Scope and Sequence that will assit educators in selecting appropriate curricula for specific age groups. This Scope and Sequence will also allow you to review your current curricula and determine what areas, if any, need further reinforcement. Manuals will be sent to each parish and a DVD is also available.   Click here to download the document. 

A specific design team spent 18 months developing a curriculum for youth and adult confirmation.  Each parish was given a copy of both documents at the 2005 Diocesan Convention.  You are welcome to download a copy of each here.  For the youth confirmation curriculum click here.  For the Adult Anglican Essentials click here. 

Resources You Can Use

   Adult - Curriculum

      Education for Ministry (EFM)
     Episcopal Cafe videos on line that can be streamed or downloaded.       About 24 minutes long.
     Discovery Series - Diocese of Texas
     Disciples of Christ in Communiy (DOCC)
     Companions in Christ
     In Dialogue with Scripture
     Just Faith
     Living the Good News
     Kerygma
     Genesis to Revelation
     Seasons of the Spirit
     LeaderResources
     The Great Courses
     Logos
     Adult Curriculum Options Overview   Curriculum review

THEME LESSONS

          10 Commandments

Do We Still Need the Ten Commandments? by John H. Timmerman (Augsburg)

The Ten Commandments: Laws of the Heart? by Joan Chittister

God's Top 10: Blowing the Lid Off the Commandments by Anne Robertson (Church Publishing)

Kerygma

These resources are available at the Diocesan Office:

Death by Suburb - book and study guide. http://www.deathbysuburb.net/ 

This is highly recommended if your parish is made up of mostly suburban families.

Newcomer Collection - by Episcopal Media Center 2 volume DVDs on the basics of the Episcopal Church. A great resource for Confirmation. www.episcopalmedia.org

The First to Follow  by John Claypool - easy read on the 12 disciples.

Those Episkopals by the Rev. Dennis Maynard - a 70 page book that is a must to have for all in confirmation. www.episkopals.com

Via Media - Values: Ethics in Action - a 6-week DVD set that can be used on Sunday morning.

Reltless Hearts - a 6 week DVD series for young adults by Abingdon press.

Science and Religion - DVD by The Great Course.

Mary Magdalen: Saint or Sinner? by Joan Baldridge - DCVD (She is available for speaking engagements.)

Kerygma - There is a wide variety of this resource available.

  Bibles - Selecting a Bible     
     Choosing a Children's Bible       by Gretchen Pritchard
    Zondervan Bible Translations  

Bullying

     Bullying in the Classroom
      Veggie Tales - Minnesota Cuke - Larry the Cucumber portrays Minnesota Cuke, a children's museum curator and a part-time adventurer. As Cuke realizes that the legendary hairbrush of Samson could be used to defeat Professor Rattan, his lifelong nemesis, he faces a choice. Will he use it for selfish gain, or will he forgive his enemy? Also, discover what happens when Junior Asparagus faces a bully on the playground!
         The Bully, The Bullied, and the Bystander by Barbara Colorso

  Children

    Curriculum

Lectionary Based- Lesson plans based on the liturgical readings of the day is the focus for the lesson (Old Testament, Psalm, Epistle, or Gospel reading)  

         Lesson Plans for Small Churches - These lessons can be taken directly off-line. Newly revised in 2003, all the Sundays for Years A, B, and C are now available, following the Episcopal lectionary. there are specific lesson plans for young children, older children, and adults that include ways to tell the Gospel story, activities and questions for discussion.

         Living the Good News - Is an Episcopal lectionary based curriculum originally developed in the Diocese of Colorado, published by semester for all ages preschool-adult. Other resources include Children's Chapel, and music on cassettes.

         Seasons of the Spirit - Is an ecumenical curriculum as a congregational resource for the Christian nurture of all ages, integrating worship and education (ages 3 years - adult) to include the arts, music and social justice.

         Life Together - is a Lutheran curriculum based on the idea that connecting a person's life to the Word and then linking back to daily life builds a strong faith. It follows a life to Bilble to life model, following the Revised Common Lectionary.

          The Sunday Paper  by Gretchen Wolff Pritchard is a cartoon drawing of the Sunday readings based on the lectionary; 1 page original with permission to duplicate enough for your congregational need. Also, The Sunday Paper Junior for younger children can be used as a worship bulletin or curriculum tool.  sundaypaper@snet.net

Parishes Using a Lectionary Based Curriculum

St. John's Montgomery - Episcopal Children's Curriculum for 5's through 3rd Grade

Montessori Approach - A visual, auditory and kinesthetic approach in which children engage story and ritual through personal interaction that is self-directed.

         Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is a method of fostering a child's spirituality through respect for the child's awe and wonder following a Montessori approach. Developed by Sofia Cacalletti, it is a biblical and sacramental way of religious formation as children experience the mystery of God.

         Center for Children and Theology - While this is not a curriculum method, it is a website for those who work with the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

         Godly Play  is an approach to Christian formation involving language: parable, sacred story, silence and liturgical action - to help children integrate and interpret scripture with God in daily life. Developed by an Episcopalian, The Rev. Dr. Jerome W. Berryman.

          Young Children and Worship  was developed by Sonja Stewart (with Jerome Berryman) following the Reformed Church trationa, with a less sacramental focus. Books are all inclusive with stories, worship center format and patterns for storytelling materials.

          The Way of the Child focuses on the spiritual formation of children. It is a part of the Companions in Christ series an dhelps children learn and experience spiritual practices that will leead them into a deeper awareness of God's presence in their lives. Each session is designed for a 60-90 minute time frame with children ages 6 - 11. There are enough sessions to use from September through May.

 Parishes Using Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

St. John’s - Montgomery
All Saints; - Birmingham
St. Francis of Assisi - Indian Springs
St. Luke’s - Birmingham
St. Mary’s - Birmingham

Parishes Using Godly Play

Grace - Anniston
St. Michael’s and All Angels – Anniston
Nativity - Huntsville
St. Luke’s - Scottsboro
Holy Trinity – Auburn
St. Mary’s – Birmingham
St. Thomas – Huntsville and Birmingham
St. John’s – Decatur
St. Albans - Birmingham
St. Catherines - Chelsea
St. Luke’s – Jacksonville
St. Phillips – Fort Payne
Christ Church – Tuscaloosa
St.Stephen’s – Birmingham
Holy Apostles – Birmingham
Good Shepherd – Decatur
St. Matthew’s – Madison
St. Peter’s – Talladega
Canterbury Chapel – Tuscaloosa

Rotation Style is a model based on the theory of multiple intelligences and experiential learning. It involves designing learning space in creative ways for thematic learning: storytelling room, computers, games, puppets, crafts, and games. Children move from week to week to different areas (rotations) while teachers remain with the same method of sharing for the theme.

         Cornerstone Publishing is a multiple intelligence approach to Christian Education, providing services for the Workshop Rotation Model in the areas of curriculum, support resources and idea exchanges.

         Firelight has been developed through ELCA following Howard Gardiner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences.

         Potter's Workshop are units, including some free downloadable lessons to be used in the Workshop Rotation Model.

         Power XPress is designed for children in kindergarten through 6th grade. This curriculum provides complete lesson plans, scripts, and activities, as well as ideas for 8 station setups, and a complete listing of resources needed.

         Workshop Cycles is a membership program in the workshop rotation style model from an Episcopal ethos as originally developed at All Saints in Atlanta, GA.

          Come Join the Circle   welcomes learners and leaders into the heart of the Bible’s great stories. These rotation-style learning materials help create the kind of learning environment where the Bible is at the center and fune and creativity abound.

          All Things New (Living the Good News/Morehouse Publishing) is a two-year Episcopal curriculum for children in Preschool - 6th grade. Each age level studies the same Biblical story each week through a variety of activities, with Old Testament stories in the Fall term and New Testament stories during the Winter and Spring. Episcopal prayers and traditions are also suggested through references in the Book of Common Prayer and Lesser Feasts and Fasts.

          Bible Quest (United Church Press) is a four-year quarterly curriculum developed by 10 Protestand denominations. It explores the same bible stories across all age levels each week.

          Episcopal Children's Curriculum (Morehouse Publishing) was developed at Virginia Theological Seminary's Center for the Ministry of Teaching with a foundation in the Baptismal Covenant. Published in a 3-year cycle, with a year focusing on Baptism, Eucharist or Worship.

          Exploring Faith (Cokesbury) is a United Methodist four-year quarterly scope and sequence curriculum that is broadly graded for toddlers - preteen. It is focused on experiencing God through Jesus Christ.

          Faith Weaver (Group Publishing) is a non-denominational quarterly curriculum for ages up to 6th grade that is bible-based, mostly focused on the Gospel. It involves concentrating on developing bible reading skills and memory of verses.

          Hands-on Bible Curriculum is published quarterly by non-denominational Group Publishing. It describes itself as active learning with games and discussion while exploring God's World for ages Toddlers - Grade 6.

          Mustard Seed Series (chronologically sequenced) is published independently and is non-denominational. It is centered on the Bible with 340 texts covered in 10 years.

          One Room Sunday School (Abingdon) is a Methodist curriculum developed for small churches where many ages are combined in one class. Quarterly packaged material makes teacher planning very easy.

          Seedlings Curriculum is Episcopal, broadly graded for preschool - Grade 6 and intended for the small church. Published in a 4-year cycle, it gives an introduction to all the major Bible stories and events with a variety of activities with little or no expense. Also includes confirmation, adult inquirer's classes and first communion curricula.

Modules/Thematic Based    

         Bible Zone Live!  includes "Funspirational Kits" of storytelling props and music following 12 themes on three levels (Bible Zones). 

         My Episcopal Faith gives basics in the history, beliefs, structure and lore of the Episcopal Church in a series of seven booklets with teachers guide, to be used along or with Share the Joy.

         Share the Joy is Roman Catholic in scopy with an additional Episcopal component (My Episcopal Faith). It is biblically based, emphasizing the stories of Christ in twenty-seven lessons in a graded program following the seasons of the church year. Kindergarten through 6th grade.

   Clip Art

     Timo's Clipart
     Christian Clipart
     HermanoLeon Clipart
     Catholic Faith Clipart
     Kerr Resources (A - H)
     Kerr Resources (I - P)
     Kerr Resources (Q - Z) 

  Coloring, Crafts and Activity Sheets  

      A to Z Teacher Crafts 
     Activity Idea Place
     Bible Activity Worksheets
     Bible Coloring Book
     Calvary Chapel Children
     Children's Bible Coloring Pages
     Christian Bible Coloring Pages
     Coloring Book Fun
     EclipseCrossword Puzzles 
     Making Friends Bible Crafts
     MSSS Craft and Bible Resources
     PapaJan Coloring Pages
     Resources for Catholics Coloring Pages
     Resources for Christian Teachers
     Sermons 4 Kids        Spanish coloring sheets also available
     Teacher Place

 Death
       The Dougy Center

       Water Bugs & Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children (Looking Up)  by Doris Stickney

       The Next Place by Warren Hanson

       Badger's Parting Gifts by Susan Varley

       The Tenth Good Thing About Barney by Judith Viorst

       Annie and the Old One by Miska Miles

       The Memory String by Eve Bunting

       A Pillow for my Mom by Charissa Sgouros

       Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs by Tomie De Paola

       Tear Soup by Pat Schweibert and Chuck DeKlyen

       And God Cried, Too: A Kid's Book of Healing and Hope by Rabbi Marc Gellman

                      Death - Pet

       Cat Heaven by Cynthia Rylant

       Dog Heaven by Cynthia Rylant

       Remembering My Pet: A Kid's Own Spiritual Remembering Workbook for when a pet dies by Nechama Liss-Levinson, Molly Phinney Baskette, and Lynn L. Caruso

 Divorce
         Helping Kids Deal with Divorce

Domestic Violence

          FaithTrust Institute
           The Episcopal Church Women
           Committee on the Status of Women

Economy

          Association of Christian Economist
            Simpler Living, Compassionate Life: A Christian Perspective  by Michael Schut.
            The Thoughtful Christian   Prosperity Gospel: Will Jesus Make you Rich?
             Luther Seminary

Episcopal       
       Called to Teach and Learn
       Candle Press
       Children's Charter

   Family Faith at Home Resources

     Taking Faith Home Sunday bulletin from Youth and Family Institute

  Food Allergies

       Allergy Kids

 Grief
      The Dougy Center
      The Grief of Children
      Terrorism 

  Interfaith Family Books
          Judaism through Children's Books  Rabbi Sandy Sasso

   Jr. and Sr. High Materials                                
      

     Bible Study
          African Bible Study Method  

   Complete Youth Ministry Program
          Journey to Adulthood

     Comprehensive Book
          My Faith, My Life

     Ecumenical Bible Study
          Synago Bible Study

     Lectionary Based
          Living the Good News
          Seasons of the Spirit

     Modular Format
          Attitude
          Episcopal Youth Curriculum
          Faith in Motion

     Multi-Media Topic Based or Lectionary
          Making It Real and Relevant

     OTHER

             My Faith My Life - Website  for Episcopal teens     
          Seedlings

  Lesson Helps
     Beulah Enterprises

  Millenium Development Goals                  
     Cornerstones Rotation Curriculum 
     Diocese of Connecticut
     Diocese of Texas
     End Poverty 2015
     Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation 
     Five Talents International
     Generation 21     
     Global Good
     LeaderResources
     UNICEF
     World Bank

  Miscellaneous
       Barnabas
        Children at Worship - Congregations in Bloom

  Music     
     Children's 
         Children's Music and Songs
         KiDiddles

     Family Services
           Sing with Love and Song With Joy
         We Sing of God: A Hymnal for Children
         My Heart Sings Out
         Music By Heart
         Singing Our Faith  "A Hymnal for Young Catholics"

 Organizations
     National Association of Episcopal Christian Education Directors
         (NAECED) 
     Network of Biblical Storytellers (NOBS)
     Christian Storytelling

  Other Dioceses' and Institution Links
     Church Development Institute, Diocese of Newark
     Church Divinity School of the Pacific  (CDSP)
     Diocese of Atlanta, GA  Linda Scott 
     Diocese of Connecticut
     Diocese of Texas
     Diocese of Western North Carolina     The Rev. Cannon Gus Boone
     Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest
         (ETSS)  Certificate Program for Youth/Children's  CF               
     Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS)
     Yale Center for Faith and Culture
     Youth and Family Institute

 Parish Resources and Data
     Episcopal Books and Resources (EBaR)
     Search Institute
     Alban Institute