Steve Burger from the Department of Christian Formation (ECC) shares this overview of Children and communion. Continue Reading »
Manual | Guide | How-to
Communion: Tips for Talking with Children
If your child begins to ask questions about communion and expresses a desire to participate, here are some suggestions for exploring and preparing your child to participate. Helpful for churches and parents. Continue Reading »
“Underground River”
“Underground River” is our weekly prayer gathering at McMinnville Covenant Church. We meet on Tuesdays from 12-12:45 pm. The name of our gathering reflects its more contemplative nature. “Underground River” is a metaphor we use for prayer, acknowledging that our prayers (particularly in the evangelical tradition) often can contain a lot of words but don’t always genuinely reflect what’s going on deeper within. Underground River expresses the desire to connect our deeper desires with God’s Living Water, which flows deep within all of us like a River. Continue Reading »
Feeding Kids SSFP (Simplified Summer Food Program)
Columbia Grove Covenant Church (East Wenatchee, Washington) will be out in the community this summer with a focus on children and as a proud 2012 sponsor of The Simplified Summer Food Program in Washington State: “Food That’s In When School Is Out” (a program of the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction of Washington State). Columbia Grove will provide a nutritious lunch and a fun activity in two locations Monday through Thursday during the summer for children 1-18 free of charge. Continue Reading »
Student Ministries Lessons (Youth and Children)
In an effort to coordinate what the pastor teaches in worship each Sunday with what the children/youth are learning in Sunday school, I have written a basic outline from the topic and scripture used by the pastor. It follows an inductive study method. (I have been involved in leadership with Bible Study Fellowship International and adapted their method for their school program for students.) Continue Reading »
Merge: Intergenerational Prayer
At Sanctuary Covenant Church (Minneapolis, Minnesota), we are trying to incorporate ways for families and all ages to interact, pray, worship, and build community together. This idea came out of a desire to have a time for our children to be involved in our prayer ministry on Wednesday nights. It started as a central time to pray for our kids and the kids and schools in our city. This idea morphed and changed into a desire to bring our community together across ages to pray together in creative ways. We want to build a culture of prayer at our church, a space where all can pray together, and learn from the various styles of prayer. Continue Reading »
Making Church Communications More User Friendly
Newsletters, web pages, projected slides, and bulletins can enhance or hinder communication depending on how they are formatted and the colors used. Lighthouse International has produced guidelines for print, electronic, and web communication that will help anyone who wants to make their church resources more useful. Continue Reading »
Hope Covenant Discipleship
The download below is a tool we developed, using the Children’s Ministry Planning Tool, by Steve Burger (Department of Christian Formation, ECC) as a guide. Each age level is considered within the G.R.O.W. (God’s Word, Relationships, Obedient Living, Worship) framework and the context of discipleship. We hope it will be helpful for others, as you plan. Continue Reading »
Week of Prayer from Lenexa, KS
Here is one approach to implementing a Week of Prayer focus in a church. They have used the Covenant’s 2012 Week of Prayer material (Selah: Pausing to Pray in a Rush Hour Life, by John E. Aho) as a guide at the beginning of the new year. However, this material (as well as resources prepared in previous years) is undated and may be used anytime throughout the year. To obtain the official Selah material, click here. Continue Reading »
GROWing Closer to God – Prayer Guide
Building any relationship into a healthier, more vital one requires time and patience. It is my prayer that you will experience a hunger and thirst for God, and will engage the disciplines for growing closer to God. Because out of the strength of that relationship we bring glory to God, and extend Christ’s kingdom. Continue Reading »
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