Adult and Family Ministry
About
Every experience in our lives can provide us with the opportunity to express our faith; the challenge we face is recognizing these opportunities and learning ways to live a society which sometimes puts the secular life above a spiritual, faith-filled life. Adult and Family ministry seeks to intentionally nurture and develop spiritual growth, theological reflection, and Christian practices that make it possible for adults, and their families, to engage in the process by utilizing traditional and experiential resources.
Resources
Great Reads
- The Episcopal Handbook by Morehouse Publishing
- Your Faith Your Life by Jennifer Gamber
- Crazy Christians by Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry
- Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer by Rowan Williams
- Your Daily Life Is Your Temple by Anne Rowthorn
- Liturgy of the Ordinary: Sacred Practices in Everyday Life by Tish H. Warren
- The Episcopal Story: Birth and Rebirth by Thomas Ferguson
- Living Water: Baptism as a Way of Life by Klara Tammany
- Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer
- Accidental Saints Nadia Bolz-Weber
- Listening for the Heartbeat of God by J Philip Newell
- The Rule of Benedict: A Spirituality for the 21st Century by Joan Chittister
- Generations Together: Caring, Praying, Learning, Celebrating & Serving Faithfully by Kathie Amidei, Jim Merhaut and John Roberto
- Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community and Worship by Holly Catterton Allen and Christine Lawton Ross
- To Dance With God by Gertrud Mueller Nelson
Church and Home Learning
- D365 has daily devotions
- My Faith, My Life explores faith and helps learn more about the Episcopal church
- Forward Movement has been producing excellent resources to encourage spiritual growth
- Grow Christians is community of disciples practicing faith at home with resources.
- Building Faith is online to equip, teach, form and provide resources for disciples of all ages.
- Act 8 Movement is dedicated to renewing the church
- The Society of St. John the Evangelist is an online community of men rooted in ancient traditions
- Virginia Theological Seminary has built an expansive resource ecosystem (eformation)
- The Episcopal Digital Network offers a lectionary based Bible study
- Contemplative.org is a gateway to find and share trusted resources for your spiritual journey
- Bible Challenge – read the Bible in a year
- Living Compass outfitting people with tools and training for the journey toward wellness and wholeness
- The Skit Guys use comedy, drama and whatever category action figures fit into to talk about God. Designed for youth, but fun for all ages.
- Worshipping with Children offers ideas for including everyone in worship
- God’s Word, My Voice is a collection of the RCL readings paraphrased for children to be read aloud in worship by Lyn Zill Briggs
- Messy Church has fun ways of being church for families
Recommended Bibles
- The New Standard Revised Version is “as literal as possible” in adhering to the ancient texts
- The Message (The Bible in Contemporary Language)
- Inspire Bible (The Bible for coloring and creative journaling)
- The Story (The bible in chronological order, in novel form)
Educator Resources
- Forma – Consider becoming a member and attending the annual conference! (www.forma.church)
- Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century by John Roberto
- The Seasons of Adult Formation by John Roberto
Online Learning and Engaging Tools
- Prayer, Meditation and Study
- Mission and Social Concern
- TEC Office of Government Relations helps you stay informed through advocacy resources and action alerts
- Explore TEC Covenant for Creation Care and more
- Sacred Ground is an 11-part film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.
- GenOn Ministries offers has an entire section dedicated to Intergenerational Ministry that is full of helpful information on ways to engage everyone in the congregation in liturgy, education, mission and fellowship!
- Worshipping with Children – This lectionary-based blog offers specific helps for specific Sundays.
- Illustrated Ministry offers coloring pages and posters, worship resources, illustrated curriculum and illustrated family resources that bring people together
- Building Faith intergenerational resources
- God’s Word, My Voice lectionary for children helping them participate more fully in worship services
- Faith Formation Learning Exchange for educators with research and formation resources
- Milestone Ministry is full of ways to grow people in faith, community and celebration when home and away
