Catherine recommends this site

http://kidsofintegrity.com/

A helpful site

Kerrie Recommends
http://childrensministryideas.ca/

Children's Ministry Conference - Making it Easier to Serve - Nov 5th at CECE

Summer Fun at St. Paul's

At St. Paul’s Bloor Street we have been having fun this summer exploring some of Jesus’ parables with our children. We love the relaxed summer pace and combine Bible teaching with art activities lead by Linda Deramaix, an arts educator from our community. The kids love the hands on activities and creating something cool. For the parable of the sower the children created a little container with different types of soil (rocky, weedy, hard and good soil) with seeds sprinkled on top.

Many families are away in the summer but we welcome others as visitors and are so glad when they have a great experience in Children’s Ministry. In August we move on to ‘God’s Family in Action’ based on the book of Acts. Our goal is to make sure children matter every Sunday all year. Popcorn for snack – what could be better?

Children's Ministry Conference - November 5th 2011 - Update!!!

Our planning meeting today went very well. The committee consists of passionate children's ministers we are so blessed to have!!!
A sneak preview of some of the sessions being planned -
Learn How to Make VBS exciting and welcoming!
Building a Children’s Ministry Team getting, keeping and appreciating volunteers and their gifts and talents
Making Screening Work
More information and registration forms will be out soon
Cost is $25 per person which includes a lunch
Child care will be provided!
Stay tuned!!!

making the Christ connection - research project begins

A small group of church school leaders are interested in working with me in beginning a research study to explore how church school leaders can help their students make the Christ connection in bible stories as well as in secular stories. A case study will involve teachers using a specific strategy that can increase knowledge and awareness of spiritual formation in children, youth and adults. This strategy is able to be used in any curriculum the parish currently uses. If your parish might be interested please contact me.

Mtg with Sheila @ PWRDF!

Great meeting with Sheila from PWRDF! We discussed the We Day initiative and implications for our church community! More to come!
PWRDF to have a display table at the CECE Children's Ministry conference Nov 5th!

response to 'Youth ministry needs to be part of mainstream' article by Judy Steers

I agree with Judy Steers’ comment in the Anglican Journal June 2011 that ‘When it comes to youth ministry, it may be time for the Anglican Church of Canada to wake up and smell the coffee.' Youth ministry may be perceived as an extra in the church community but take heart, it is also addressed in many Ontario schools through the Character Development initiative and supported by the Free the Children/We Day organization (http://weday.freethechildren.com/about/). Although the church may see youth ministry as ‘ a nice thing to do’ We Day inspires youth to make a difference in the world by taking on local and international missions. It becomes a school commitment. This involves a lot of youth – our youth, now learning leadership skills in discipleship through the secular world. Oh sorry, they are not learning about discipleship. They are learning to make a positive difference in their local communities and the world at large - also perceived as a ‘nice ting to do.’ There is no Christ in the We Day mission work – unless we are talking about a Catholic school. This initiative grows out of the school community. It looks as though, thanks to the We Day organization, that this kind of mission work is thriving in the schools. Students who attended the one day event (last year it drew over 20,000 youth to the Air Canada Centre) are encouraged and inspired to a make a difference and learn about leadership skills and given the opportunity to work on a local and/or international project. The impact is considerable. Two years ago at the We Day event, the Honourble David Only, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, spoke at the We Day event and challenged the youth to take back to their faith communities what they were learning. I think it is time that the faith communities, our faith community, became aware and recognized the efforts of the schools and We Day and to help our students see these activities ‘to make a difference in the world’ as discipleship – what we are called to do as followers of Christ.
Steers is correct in saying that ‘churches don’t need to hire professionals to set up and run youth initiatives’ this is already being done. I encourage church youth leaders to take advantage of the existing grassroots connections and networks already out there in the schools our youth attend.
Anglican Youth Ministers have the opportunity to learn more about how We Day re-energizes and inspires our youth. We Day is prepared to offer support to our Youth Ministers to learn more about how they train their leaders in the schools as well as share their many resources (much of which are free). As Steers says we are not alone, ‘there's support, there are people out there doing similar things.’