Children and Family Ministry:
- Blessing Children in the Home, an article from Building Faith: Click here and Roots: Bedtime Blessings: Click here
- “Table Talk” is the New Normal: Supporting Faith Conversations at Home, an article from Building Faith: Click here
- ROOTS: parent/caregiver book club, $: Click here
- PCUSA Faith At Home Resource: Click here
- Children & Family Playlists: Click here
- Story Path from Union Seminary: Click here
- Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent’s Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age by Julie Bogart, 2/2022: Click here
- Common Prayer for Children and Families by Jenifer Gamber and Timothy J. S. Seamans
- All About Communion, a playlist from the Michigan Conference from the United Methodists: Click here
- Ordinary Blessings for Parents: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Family Life: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Family Life by Meta Herrick Carlson: Click here
- Faith At Home playlists from the Michigan conference of the United Methodist Church: Click here
- Five Practices of Faith Formation: Prayer, Hospitality, Storytelling, Retreat, and Service from the PC(USA) Office of Christian Formation, 2022. Faith Practices Toolkits PDF downloads: Click here with Traci Smith videos: Click here
- How to create a quick DIY labyrinth, watch a video: Click here and here
- The Micah Paradigm: From “Just Fine” to Transformative Justice with Children and Youth, a PRC webinar: Click here
- 5 Ways to Pray With Kids, Christian Reformed Church: Click here
- 5 Terrific Tips for Telling God’s Story with Children During Online Worship, Christian Reformed Church: Click here
- Fresh Idea for Helping Families Explore Faith Practices this Summer, 6/2021 (Christian Reformed Church Network article): Click here
- Family Faith Formation Resources by Topic (Christian Reformed Church): Click here
- Family Faith Formation: At Home and In Community (APCE resource sheet): Click here
- Christian Ed @ Home and Family Faith Formation @ Home, weekly online curriculums from Presbyterian Outlook: Click here
- Breathe: A Child’s Guide to Ascension, Pentecost, and the Growing Time, 4/22/2021 (PRC webinar): Click here
- Spiritual Practices with Children and Youth (PRC webinar): Click here
- Toolkit For Grieving Children, 5/2021 (PCUSA article with downloads): Click here
Parenting:
- Growing Spiritually With Our Children; An Ecumenical Guide for Parents and Pastorsby Melanie C. Gordon, 2023, and a review
- With Parent, a podcast on parenting: Click here
- Practices for Forming Faith With Families & Parent, Insights from research and theory from Lifelong Learning: Click here
- Little Big Moments Andrew Taylor-Troutman, 51 playful and piercing lessons about parenting, 2023
- Parenting For A Better World, an 8/2022 PRC webinar on demand: Click here
- Five Parenting Practices That Help Develop Your Child’s Faith, a Children’s Ministry Basics 6/2022 article: Click here
- New Directions for Holy Questions: Meet the Authors! 5/2022 PRC webinar: Click here
- Empowering Parents to Practice Faith at Home: A Ministry Leader Workshop with Rev. Traci Smith from Yale Divinity School: Click here
- How Parents Pass Religious Faith to their Children, 1/2022 article from Lewis Center for Church Development: Click here
- Mental health for parents, kids and families, Parenting Resources from PC(USA): Click here
- Parents Take Five (MWS Jen Evans on Christian parenting today): Click here
- Family Fire: An online community exploring what it means to be Holy Spirit led in our families, dating, marriages, sexuality, parenting, and in-law relationships (ReFrame Ministries): Click here
- Dreams of the Overworked: Living, Working, and Parenting in the Digital Age, Christine M. Beckman and Melissa Mazmanian – A book that makes the case for celebrating the structures that allow us to strive for our dreams, by supporting public policies and community organizations, challenging workplace norms, reimagining family, and valuing the joy of human connection.
For Kids:
- Free online children’s short Bible videos from Open Network: Click here
- Lifetree Kids, Group youtube channel with music videos, stories and more: Click here
- Kids Corner, fun and faith forming devotionals, podcasts, Bible stories, and more (ReFrame Ministries): Click here
- Hacks 4 Kids, Amplify media 3 minute craft ideas by kids for kids: Click here
- We Wonder podcast: Contemplative Bible Storytelling for Children & Grownups Alike: Click here
- Free Activity Pack for Children from Flyaway Books, 2022 (The Thoughtful Christian): There are a number of ways you can use picture books to enhance the worship and ministry of your entire congregation:
- include picture books and activity sheets in baskets for children to use during worship
- gift a few books or Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible(bulk purchase discounts available!) to families with young children in your congregation to encourage faith formation at home
- incorporate a picture book as part of your sermons to not only encourage the inclusion of children during worship, but also to spark the imagination of adult members
- build a robust children’s book library
- hold an intergenerational night using the books and activities
- assemble a children’s booth with story times and activities during a community event
Suggested Children’s Books:
- Little Prayers for Ordinary Days by Tish Harrison Warren, Flo Paris Oakes, and Katy Bowser Hutson Illustrated by Liita Forsyth, 2022:
- Psalms of Wonder, Poems from the Book of Songs written by Carey Wallace & Illustrated by Khoa Le with free downloadable resources for church and home
- Wherever You Are by Glenys Nellist, 2023: Click here and it’s activity kit: Click here
- The Day When God Made Church: A Child’s First Book About Pentecost by Rebekah McLeod Hutto, 2016 Paraclete Press
- Wherever You Are by Glenys Nellist, Beaming Books 2/2023, a review: Click here
- From The Thoughtful Christian, children’s books exploring the Bible and Religious Beliefs: Click here
- From The Thoughtful Christian, children’s books on community, family, and self-expression: Click here
- One Thursday Afternoon by Barbara DiLorenzo, 2022 The Thoughtful Christian. Download the Educator’s Guide, Download the Resource & Activity Guide:
- The Coat by Séverine Vidal, 2022 The Thoughtful Christian. Download the Discussion Guide
- Drawing God by Karen Kiefer, 2022
- 100 Devotions for Kids With Anxiety by Patricia MacLaughlin, 2022:
- A Mindful Moment: 5-Minute Meditations and Devotions by Irene Kraegel, 2022, 150 devotions marketed for teens
- Children’s Books on Death, Loss, and Grieving, 12/2021 Christian Reformed Church article: Click here
- Death, Loss, and Grieving: Resources for Ministry Leaders and Parents, 12/2021 Christian Reformed Church article: Click here
- God’s Coming to Visit! by Franz Hübner and illustrators Angela Glökler and Rea Grit Zielinski shares the story of various animals who learn that God is coming for a visit. Flyaway Books, 2021 $:
- Once Upon a Time Not So Long Ago (Church Publishing, 2021) This beautiful keepsake picture book captures the joys and sorrows of the COVID-19 pandemic. The underlying message to readers is that they can make it through difficulty. It also includes journal pages to record your own memories about this unique and historic time. $18.95
- The Shema in the Mezuzah: Listening to Each Other (Jewish Lights, 2021) This story is based on a 12th-century rabbinic debate about townspeople who cannot agree on how to put their mezuzahs on their doorways. Author Sandy Eisenberg Sasso helps young people discover that there is often more than one solution to a problem, and that living together and creating “home” requires cooperation and listening to one another. $15.16
- Breathe: A Child’s Guide to Ascension, Pentecost, and the Growing Time (Paraclete Press, 2021) This delightful book explores the comings and goings of Jesus and the Spirit through retellings of the biblical stories of Ascension and Pentecost, interwoven with contemporary reflections from the point of view of a child. Breathe guides children to wonder about and watch for the presence and work of the Spirit in practices of prayer and mindfulness, and through acts of justice, generosity, and the sweet taste of kindness. $16.99
- 100 Sheep: A Counting Parable by co-authors Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and illustrator Margaux Meganck, a modern retelling of the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Flyaway Books)
- Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip, 7/2021, a book that introduces children to significant people, places and events from the civil rights movement (Flyaway Books)
- Everyday Family Faith by Sandy Schwartzentruber. For each day of the week, this pocket-sized resource provides creative ideas for exploring Bible verses, talking about faith in daily life, and praying together, as well as fun activities to do.
- Wondering about the Bible with Children: Engaging a Child’s Curiosity about the Bible by Elizabeth F. Caldwell.
Children and Family Ministry:
- PCUSA Faith At Home Resource: Click here
- Raising Critical Thinkers: A Parent’s Guide to Growing Wise Kids in the Digital Age by Julie Bogart, 2/2022: Click here
- Common Prayer for Children and Families by Jenifer Gamber and Timothy J. S. Seamans
- All About Communion, a playlist from the Michigan Conference from the United Methodists: Click here
- Ordinary Blessings for Parents: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Family Life: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Family Life by Meta Herrick Carlson: Click here
- Faith At Home playlists from the Michigan conference of the United Methodist Church: Click here
- Five Practices of Faith Formation: Prayer, Hospitality, Storytelling, Retreat, and Service from the PC(USA) Office of Christian Formation, 2022. Faith Practices Toolkits PDF downloads: Click here with Traci Smith videos: Click here
- How to create a quick DIY labyrinth, watch a video: Click here and here
- The Micah Paradigm: From “Just Fine” to Transformative Justice with Children and Youth, a PRC webinar: Click here
- 5 Ways to Pray With Kids, Christian Reformed Church: Click here
- 5 Terrific Tips for Telling God’s Story with Children During Online Worship, Christian Reformed Church: Click here
- Fresh Idea for Helping Families Explore Faith Practices this Summer, 6/2021 (Christian Reformed Church Network article): Click here
- Family Faith Formation Resources by Topic (Christian Reformed Church): Click here
- Family Faith Formation: At Home and In Community (APCE resource sheet): Click here
- Christian Ed @ Home and Family Faith Formation @ Home, weekly online curriculums from Presbyterian Outlook: Click here
- Breathe: A Child’s Guide to Ascension, Pentecost, and the Growing Time, 4/22/2021 (PRC webinar): Click here
- Spiritual Practices with Children and Youth (PRC webinar): Click here
- Toolkit For Grieving Children, 5/2021 (PCUSA article with downloads): Click here
Parenting:
- With Parent, a podcast on parenting: Click here
- Practices for Forming Faith With Families & Parent, Insights from research and theory from Lifelong Learning: Click here
- Little Big Moments Andrew Taylor-Troutman, 51 playful and piercing lessons about parenting, 2023
- Parenting For A Better World, an 8/2022 PRC webinar on demand: Click here
- Five Parenting Practices That Help Develop Your Child’s Faith, a Children’s Ministry Basics 6/2022 article: Click here
- New Directions for Holy Questions: Meet the Authors! 5/2022 PRC webinar: Click here
- Empowering Parents to Practice Faith at Home: A Ministry Leader Workshop with Rev. Traci Smith from Yale Divinity School: Click here
- How Parents Pass Religious Faith to their Children, 1/2022 article from Lewis Center for Church Development: Click here
- Mental health for parents, kids and families, Parenting Resources from PC(USA): Click here
- Parents Take Five (MWS Jen Evans on Christian parenting today): Click here
- Family Fire: An online community exploring what it means to be Holy Spirit led in our families, dating, marriages, sexuality, parenting, and in-law relationships (ReFrame Ministries): Click here
- Dreams of the Overworked: Living, Working, and Parenting in the Digital Age, Christine M. Beckman and Melissa Mazmanian – A book that makes the case for celebrating the structures that allow us to strive for our dreams, by supporting public policies and community organizations, challenging workplace norms, reimagining family, and valuing the joy of human connection.
For Kids:
- Free online children’s short Bible videos from Open Network: Click here
- Lifetree Kids, Group youtube channel with music videos, stories and more: Click here
- Kids Corner, fun and faith forming devotionals, podcasts, Bible stories, and more (ReFrame Ministries): Click here
- Hacks 4 Kids, Amplify media 3 minute craft ideas by kids for kids: Click here
- We Wonder podcast: Contemplative Bible Storytelling for Children & Grownups Alike: Click here
- Free Activity Pack for Children from Flyaway Books, 2022 (The Thoughtful Christian): There are a number of ways you can use picture books to enhance the worship and ministry of your entire congregation:
- include picture books and activity sheets in baskets for children to use during worship
- gift a few books or Growing in God’s Love: A Story Bible(bulk purchase discounts available!) to families with young children in your congregation to encourage faith formation at home
- incorporate a picture book as part of your sermons to not only encourage the inclusion of children during worship, but also to spark the imagination of adult members
- build a robust children’s book library
- hold an intergenerational night using the books and activities
- assemble a children’s booth with story times and activities during a community event
Suggested Children’s Books:
- Little Prayers for Ordinary Days by Tish Harrison Warren, Flo Paris Oakes, and Katy Bowser Hutson Illustrated by Liita Forsyth, 2022:
- Psalms of Wonder, Poems from the Book of Songs written by Carey Wallace & Illustrated by Khoa Le with free downloadable resources for church and home
- Wherever You Are by Glenys Nellist, 2023: Click here and it’s activity kit: Click here
- The Day When God Made Church: A Child’s First Book About Pentecost by Rebekah McLeod Hutto, 2016 Paraclete Press
- Wherever You Are by Glenys Nellist, Beaming Books 2/2023, a review: Click here
- From The Thoughtful Christian, children’s books exploring the Bible and Religious Beliefs: Click here
- From The Thoughtful Christian, children’s books on community, family, and self-expression: Click here
- One Thursday Afternoon by Barbara DiLorenzo, 2022 The Thoughtful Christian. Download the Educator’s Guide, Download the Resource & Activity Guide:
- The Coat by Séverine Vidal, 2022 The Thoughtful Christian. Download the Discussion Guide
- Drawing God by Karen Kiefer, 2022
- 100 Devotions for Kids With Anxiety by Patricia MacLaughlin, 2022:
- A Mindful Moment: 5-Minute Meditations and Devotions by Irene Kraegel, 2022, 150 devotions marketed for teens
- Children’s Books on Death, Loss, and Grieving, 12/2021 Christian Reformed Church article: Click here
- Death, Loss, and Grieving: Resources for Ministry Leaders and Parents, 12/2021 Christian Reformed Church article: Click here
- God’s Coming to Visit! by Franz Hübner and illustrators Angela Glökler and Rea Grit Zielinski shares the story of various animals who learn that God is coming for a visit. Flyaway Books, 2021 $:
- Once Upon a Time Not So Long Ago (Church Publishing, 2021) This beautiful keepsake picture book captures the joys and sorrows of the COVID-19 pandemic. The underlying message to readers is that they can make it through difficulty. It also includes journal pages to record your own memories about this unique and historic time. $18.95
- The Shema in the Mezuzah: Listening to Each Other (Jewish Lights, 2021) This story is based on a 12th-century rabbinic debate about townspeople who cannot agree on how to put their mezuzahs on their doorways. Author Sandy Eisenberg Sasso helps young people discover that there is often more than one solution to a problem, and that living together and creating “home” requires cooperation and listening to one another. $15.16
- Breathe: A Child’s Guide to Ascension, Pentecost, and the Growing Time (Paraclete Press, 2021) This delightful book explores the comings and goings of Jesus and the Spirit through retellings of the biblical stories of Ascension and Pentecost, interwoven with contemporary reflections from the point of view of a child. Breathe guides children to wonder about and watch for the presence and work of the Spirit in practices of prayer and mindfulness, and through acts of justice, generosity, and the sweet taste of kindness. $16.99
- 100 Sheep: A Counting Parable by co-authors Amy-Jill Levine and Sandy Eisenberg Sasso and illustrator Margaux Meganck, a modern retelling of the Parable of the Lost Sheep (Flyaway Books)
- Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip, 7/2021, a book that introduces children to significant people, places and events from the civil rights movement (Flyaway Books)
- Everyday Family Faith by Sandy Schwartzentruber. For each day of the week, this pocket-sized resource provides creative ideas for exploring Bible verses, talking about faith in daily life, and praying together, as well as fun activities to do.
- Wondering about the Bible with Children: Engaging a Child’s Curiosity about the Bible by Elizabeth F. Caldwell.