ADVOCATE
A Trilogy about Chaos and Grace
By: Rev. Larron D. Jackson I am delighted to be the Friday keynote speaker and preacher for The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators at the APCE Annual Event for 2017 in Denver, Colorado. I am looking forward to where the Holy Spirit will lead and guide us...
Why You Should Come to Denver for the Annual Event 2017
By: Bill Davis and Sandy Safford If I had a wagon, I would go to Colorado, Go to Colorado…..Where a man can walk a mile high. If I had a Chevy, I would drive to Colorado, Drive to Colorado….Where a man can walk a mile high. If I had an airplane, I would fly to...
2017 APCE Annual Event: God With Us in the Chaos
By: Julie Gvillo and Barbi Smith Chaos. It has existed since the beginning of time, when God brought chaos into order through creation. For many, the opposite of chaos is order; but for some, it is peace. Chaos continues to exist and haunt us. Meetings to attend,...
Looking Ahead to Reformation Sunday: The Legacy of Martin Bucer
By: Raymond Powell In the German town of Landstuhl, by the city hall and within walking distance of the U.S. military hospital, is a small square dedicated to the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformer Martin Bucer. This memorial may seem surprising. The region is...
Top 10 Things You Need to Know About Educator Certification
Diving in deep to theological, biblical, and educational foundations of ministry, integrating theory and practice, accessing a strong network of educators across the country—all of this and more is a part of the educator certification experience.
Learning is a lifelong process. Educator certification is an excellent way to bolster the skills and knowledge needed by those who engage in educational ministries in our congregations, while providing standards for their preparation and performance. Certification of educators benefits the whole church as it equips strong, capable leaders for ministry.
Giving Bibles to Children…Which One, When and How We Give…It All Matters!
Many churches have a practice of giving a Bible to a child or to a family. The most common occasion is the beginning of the school year when a child is entering second or third grade. This recognizes their growing ability to read and comprehend stories. Then often a second Bible is given to a teenager at either the beginning or completion of confirmation. Less common is the giving of a Bible storybook appropriate for very young children, which some congregations give at birth/adoption or at baptism or dedication. Sometimes these important practices need some reconsideration and updating. Here are some suggestions to consider as you review the tradition of your congregation.
Inheriting and Tweaking Rituals
When we inherit things it not only means the fine china, it also means the expired #10 cans of green beans. What we inherit can be a case of the good, the bad, and the ugly…or a case of the good, the not so good, and the fabulous. It takes some care and planning to re-shape or polish a valued ritual. In my most recent call I inherited a fourth grade Catechism Class. Here are the steps I took in approaching this ritual.
Step 1: Treading Lightly
When I am new at a church, I try to be open to the history and practices of that congregation. During introductions, casual conversations often lead to the sharing of personal opinions. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Anne and I have been a Sunday School teacher for 16 years. I have taught children to youth, but don’t ever ask me to teach that Seniors Class [insert eye roll here].”
The Rite of Way in Faith: Rites of Passage and Youth Ministry
Adolescence, at least US/North American adolescence, can be seen as a seven-year span of age (12–18 years) or grades (6th–12th grades). Over these seven years, numerous adolescent status changes occur: puberty, educational structure, licensing, sexual attraction, dating, working, future forecasting (post high school plans, such as college, vo-tech, travel), and voting.
As youth ministry has taken the great step to shrink the distance between the young person and their faith formation (meaning faith isn’t just about a Sunday schedule), there is significant meaning and impact in connecting youth ministry to to the rites of adolescence or the Rites of Passage.
Rituals and Transitions: Back-to-School Litanies
By: As we move into fall programming, the Advocate will spend several weeks on a series of articles about Rituals and Transitions. We'll hear from Gina Yeager-Buckley about connecting youth ministry to rites of passage in adolescence. Tammy Winchip will describe how...
The Gospel According to Star Wars
By: Kevin Burns Last Fall, in anticipation of the new Star Wars movie, members at Highland Presbyterian Church in Louisville, Kentucky explored the theology of the first six Star Wars movies (after all, we had some big fans!). The three sessions were conducted...