|
Christian Education Communities of
Practice to begin Fall, 2007
Building on a tested and successful
ministry sponsored through the Sustaining Pastoral
Excellence Program for newly ordained and seasoned
pastors, the Commission for Educational Ministries has
committed to creating communities of practice for church
educators and youth leaders serving in local church
settings. Educators and youth ministers will be invited
to gather five to six times a year with a trained and
experienced facilitator to support, encourage and
resource colleagues as this important ministry is taking
place in our local churches.
Facilitators will be trained in
each of the Associations of the Massachusetts Conference
in late September. Groups will be formed following this
training opportunity.
This newly designed support system
is a follow up to a Massachusetts Conference wide survey
that was sent to more than 800 educators, youth leaders
and superintendents during the summer of 2007. The
responses to the survey were collated and indicated a
strong need for on going support and resourcing of
leaders
If you need additional
information about participating in a group, please
contact Sue Dickerman at 508-875- 5233 or at
dickermans@macucc.org.
|
Supporting the Volunteer Ministry
|
|
Support, Value, Thank,
Give
Church volunteers want to
feel part of a team, to be equipped, and to have
necessary resources. Provide teacher orientation
and regular teacher meetings. Contact the teaching
staff weekly, or have a class liaison that does.
If possible have the DRE, Church School Supt. or
Chair of the Christian Education Committee talk to
teachers on Sundays. Stay in constant
contact.
|
|
"Ask Martha About" |
|
Are you the one who shares
the Children's Message each week in church?
Bible Stories for All Ages,
Lectionary Year A, compiled by Margaret Kyle, from
the Whole People of God Library, Woodlake Books.
This book features a story for each week of
lectionary year A, interactive stories to get
listeners involved, photocopiable activity sheets
to reinforce the stories and extra ideas to
explore the church seasons. While geared to a very
young audience, leaders have found that telling
these stories during worship helps all ages
comprehend the message in an enjoyable and deep
way. Available from United Church Press.
|
|
September Book Reviews |
|
With the exciting
opportunity to meet and hear the Dr. Lib Caldwell,
the Harold Blake Walker Professor of Pastoral
Theology at McCormick Theological Seminary in
Chicago, on Feb 23rd 2008, as part of the Pastoral
Excellence Program, I recommend for your reading
and growth both of these books: Come Unto Me
: Rethinking the Sacraments for Children
Come Unto Me looks at and discusses the
actuality of congregational and familial practices
of the sacraments.
|
|
Baptism Resource Available |
|
Contact Cindy Bolton for your
copy. $15.00 plus $5.00 shipping for 1-2 copies.
Click on the cover for more information.
|
|
Faith Circles |
|
Contact Martha Cook, creator
of "Faith Circles" to order your set. Only $15.00
each!!! Find out more by clicking on the
image.
| | |
