Tuesday, August 31, 2010

APCE 2011 Annual Event

It's time to start planning for The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators annual event! 


Walking in Balance
with conference speaker, Rick Ufford-Chase,
co-director of Stony Point Center, and executive director of the Presbyterian Peace Fellowship,
and conference music director, Rev. Corry Nelson.

Beautiful surroundings, multiple conference options, Presbyterian Youth Workers Association gathering, and much more in a destination like no other... Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Early bird online registration and downloadable conference books available in September.

Multiple scholarships are available for this event.

Visit apcenet.org for all the details!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Equipping the Saints: Resources for a Vibrant Church


Go online today to register today for "Equipping the Saints: Resources for a Vibrant Church"!

This event will feature keynote speaker, Ken McFayden, Dean of The Center for Ministry and Leadership Development, Professor of Ministry and Leadership Development, Union PSCE, and author of "Strategic Leadership for a Change: Facing our Losses, Finding our Future". 

There are three workshop sessions in five different tracks: Worship, Discipleship, Mission, Administration, and MARS.  No need to stick with one track... for example, why not try 'Wee Worship' in Session 1, 'Seasons of Change: Navigating Transitions' in Session 2, and 'Communication... Google's Tools' in Session 3?  Even better, make sure several members of your church attend so that each workshop is attended!  Enjoy a lovely lunch at midday and finish the day sharing your discoveries at Roundtable with other participants. 

ETS will offer several Learning Centers as well: Hunger Action and Peacemaking, Zuni Peanuts, Contemplative Worship and much more.  The Resource Center will share some of the non-book items at a special Petting Zoo... your opportunity to try on a yoke, play with puppets, or bang a drum.

The registration fee of $10 must be received by October 26th to guarantee your lunch, so register online and submit the registration fee to the attention of Donna Rae Barrow, Resource Center Director, PEVA.  We're looking forward to seeing YOU on November 6th!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Weeding at the Resource Center

Weeding?  At the Resource Center?  What does that mean?

Well, it doesn't mean that we've replaced our bookshelves with raised beds and our books with overgrown plants!  'Weeding' in any library or Resource Center is similar to garden weeding, though.

On Thursday, a dedicated group of 5 volunteers from First Presbyterian Church, Virginia Beach, arrived.  They came in with smiling faces, generous hearts and willing hands.
 Those willing hands touched almost every item on every shelf in our Resource Center, checking for damage, stains, wear, duplicates, outdated formats, and superseded information.  Each item was checked and studied, sometimes by more than one volunteer.

This 'weeding' process helps to refresh our shelves and make room for new resources, keeping our collection of resources current and inviting.
The Resource Center would like to extend a big...

Thank You!!!
  
...to the energetic and motivated volunteers from First Virginia Beach for spending the day 'weeding'!

PS:  We feed volunteers, so prayerfully consider sharing your time helping out in the Resource Center!


Tuesday, August 17, 2010

PC USA Symbol by Rev. Dr. Keith Curran

Recently, Keith Curran created this fun video to explain the meaning of the Presbyterian cross to youth.  It was such a great teaching tool that we're sharing it here on the blog... Enjoy!


Monday, August 16, 2010

New Resources Arriving Weekly

New titles arrive weekly in the Resource Center... have you stopped by lately?  Whether you're looking for a book of devotions to enhance your quiet time with God, youth group service project ideas, quick and easy reproducible lessons for preschoolers, or the new Presbyterian curriculum for adults, "Being Reformed," the Resource Center has something for you!

Here are two new resources that would be great for small groups or small group leaders:

     As the author says in his Introduction, "This book is not about sacrifice and service as we have so often been taught. On the contrary, this book is about the joy of giving back that which was built and created in us to be given back from the beginning. Not only does that make us useful; it also makes us valuable because it is how we are wired up. It is just that in the process of trying to accomplish so many other things in this world, things that the word has defined as important or necessary, we forget about the "one other thing" that was supposed to give us the most joy, the most presence, and the most purpose."
     No matter what we have done or have left undone in this world, our purpose and potential still rest in that "something" that God has so beautifully crafted inside of us. This book is about finding that "something" in your life and about facing the challenges and obstacles when the need - and frankly, the expectation - to accomplish everything comes along. Not only will you realize that feeling you have to do everything is not how God intended for his grace to unfold in your life, but hopefully you will discover also how such a philosophy works against the biblical model for how the entire church is supposed to work in the first place.
      The real need for our world is not that we do every part; it's that we just do our part. And working together to do that something God calls us to do - all of us working together - we will transform the world."
      This book includes a Discussion and Reflection Guide with Daily Challenges for the participant.

. . . . .

 
     This book is designed to train and coach the small group leader to help her/his group move beyond its borders and into the lives of those around everyone so that the small group can make a difference. It is filled with creative and practical suggestions (for example, 21 spiritual disciplines are discussed) for becoming intentionally involved with the community and bringing Jesus's message and healing to a hurting world.
      Appendix A is a thirteen-step process to help a group experiment and learn how to be missional along the way. It is a way for the group to reflect on and discuss what they heard God saying about the call of the group. This process depends upon the group listening to the Spirit of God and to the Scriptures. It is not a process of simply going out and doing something. It takes 12 - 15 weeks to go through this process. Appendix B is a bibliography of key resources for missional small groups.
      "This is a must-read for anyone interested in living out small group life within the church for the sake of the world", said Craig Van Gelder, professor congregational mission, Luther Seminary. Rick Howerton commented, "Wow! This one volume is the new guide for understanding missional community, being a missional community, and creating missional communities."
      This book is the follow-up to "Introducing the Missional Church: What It Is, Why It Matters, How to Become One" written by M. Scott Boren and Alan J. Roxburgh. It is located in the Resource Center at BK C02 302.

 . . . . . 

Check out the Resource Center online catalog for lots of new (or favorite classic) titles today!

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Rally Day Idea from St. Andrew Presbyterian Church

Rally Day is fast approaching.  Do you have a plan?  Beth Lyon-Suhring shared the following idea at the PEVA Educators' Luncheon in the spring and it was ALL THE BUZZ...

"St. Andrew had done Rally Day in much the same way since Moses was a lad, and to be honest, things were a little dull.  More of our certificates of promotion ended up in the recycling bin than in family scrapbooks, and our adult class leaders had resorted to offering pastries as lures to their upcoming classes.  It was time for a change, and in 2009 St. Andrew’s Church School Council dreamed up the idea of a Rally Day Scavenger Hunt.

Here’s how it worked:  at the beginning of the Church School hour on Rally Day, all members of the church were encouraged to gather in the Sanctuary.  There we sang a couple of upbeat songs and gave thanks to God for the opportunity to start our new year of learning.  We then explained the rules of our Scavenger Hunt and sent everyone out to work in groups of 3-4 people.  The groups were self-selecting, but we encouraged each group to include some adults and some children.  Some folks decided to work with their own families, and others made new families that day.

Each group received a Scavenger Hunt sheet and a pencil as they left the Sanctuary.  The sheets consisted of a grid of 16 blocks, each of which had a question and a room number on it.  Questions referred to many different educational programs in the church, and the room numbers indicated the places where teams could find an “Answer Person” to help them fill in the correct response.  For instance, one of the questions asked, “How many chimes are there in our Chancel Chimes set?” and the room number led the players to a classroom where someone involved with our midweek music class could give the answer and provide a lot of other information on midweek programming for children.  Other scavenger hunt questions were concerned with Sunday morning adult classes, Wednesday night youth programming, and St. Andrew’s small group ministry, to name just a few. 

 
The key to the success of Rally Day last year was that all players were required to touch base with 16 different teachers/leaders/staff members to answer the scavenger hunt questions, and in the process each player learned a lot about the church’s educational offerings as well.   Older adults learned about our children’s programming; young parents learned about what the church offers for youth; and kids learned that there are a lot of opportunities for grown-ups to learn, too.

Since teams could start at any block on the scavenger hunt grid, folks were spread throughout the church as the hour progressed.  When each team had answered all 16 questions, they took their completed sheets to two very good sports dressed in Old Testament garb.  These “Judges of Israel” checked the grids for correct answers and then allowed the children and teenagers to choose a prize from our treasure chests.  (Since prizes were for completed grids rather than for the first teams to finish, people felt free to stay in the classrooms and talk with the “Answer People” for as long as they wanted.)  The morning ended with breakfast treats for everyone in our social hall.

Our Rally Day Scavenger Hunt had multiple positive results:  adults, youth, and children worked together on a fun multi-generational event; participants’ eyes were opened to many educational opportunities that they had not realized were available; program leaders and class teachers were able to disseminate information about their programs in a very personal way; and the children, especially, liked the game atmosphere.  We’re eagerly planning our 2010 Scavenger Hunt now!"

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Day Aside Retreat

Day Aside Retreat

Date: Aug 14, 2010
Time: From 9:00 am until 12:00 pm
Location: Center for Prayer and Spiritual Growth
800 Colonial Avenue
Norfolk, VA  23507
 
 Practicing the Presence of God
(based on the practices of Brother Lawrence)
Facilitators:  Peggy Gatje and Robin Cowherd
Take time Saturday, August 14th, to let your soul come out and delight in the presence of Christ.  This retreat will offer you a quiet and peaceful atmosphere to meditate on God's Word, to pray and to hear Christ speak.  Peggy and Robin will help guide this sacred time with God. 

Morning Aside Retreats are held  every Second Saturday of the Month from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon at  The Center for Prayer and Spiritual Growth, 800 Colonial Avenue, Norfolk VAJoin a group of fellow travelers for a morning of guided meditations, teachings, silence and solitude.  These themed mini-retreats offer a way to break the cycle of busyness and recharge your soul.  One of our experienced facilitators will provide you with a quiet and peaceful atmosphere to meditate on God's Word, to pray and to hear Christ speak.  Contact Kristine Rand for more information or to register, kristine@fpcnorfolk.org  or 757-625-1697 ext. 303.

Monday, August 9, 2010

The Golden Rule: a book review by Lisa Cross


     "What a joy to read about the tie that binds the peoples of this world together instead of the differences that unravel us in such destructive ways. Entitled The Golden Rule, this book’s marvelous cover drew me in and the story line insisted I purchase it. Christians, Buddhists, American Indians, Jews, Muslims all have very similar versions of “The Golden Rule” in their traditions. This charming story of a boy and his grandfather exploring these versions, discussing how each person can concretely live “The Golden Rule”, and talking about the ramifications if everyone did practice his/her tradition’s “Golden Rule” is for all ages. Whether you use it as a starting point for a discussion with a Sunday School class, for the Children’s Sermon, or for a special child in your own life, The Golden Rule is just the book you need to teach important concepts such as peace, friendship, hospitality, and agape love. Adults will appreciate it as much, if not more, than children because of its message and its beautiful illustrations."
     The Golden Rule was written by Ilene Cooper and illustrated by Gabi Swiatkowska.  More information about this book and its author is available on the author's website.   The Golden Rule is available in the PEVA Resource Center. 

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today


from the Horizons webpage...


2010–2011 Horizons Bible Study
Journeys Through Revelation
Apocalyptic Hope for Today

by Barbara R. Rossing
Suggestions for Leaders
by Louise Lawson Johnson
"What comes to mind when you think of the book of Revelation? Scary images? The four horsemen come to unleash destruction? Mysterious numbers such as “666”? The endtime battle of Armageddon? In recent years, an enormous prophecy industry has marketed frightening images of Revelation, leaving many people intimidated by this amazing and often misunderstood book. Although brimming with mysterious symbolism, Revelation ultimately is a book of hope that throughout history has sustained people who are oppressed. It is a wonderfully Christ centered book, full of worship and praise.

In the 2010–2011 Horizons Bible study, Journeys through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today, Barbara Rossing guides us on a journey to meet the crucified Lamb, Jesus. In a journey reminiscent of the ancient Israelites’ exodus from slavery, we are led from an unjust empire and its system of domination, through mythic battles and plagues, until, ultimately, we find ourselves in a renewed creation where God comes to live with us on earth. This brilliantly hope filled vision speaks to us in the midst of the urgent crises of our day. In a time when all of creation stands at a turning point, a kairos moment, Revelation can help guide the choices we make each day as we seek to live into the renewal that God has for the whole world."

This is sure to be a great study for the Presbyterian Women of PEVA!  When you visit the Horizons page on the PC USA  website, you'll find so many helpful resources for the women of your church as they embark on this journey.  These include: Workshop for Leaders, Suggestions for Leaders, Main Points Outline, Lesson Summaries, and much more.  Especially exciting this year, Barbara Rossing has recorded videos to introduce the study and each of its lessons.   View the videos on your computer to prepare for the Revelation study, or share them with your PW group as the opening to each of the lessons.  The PEVA Resource Center also has several titles to assist you in lesson preparation...  just contact Donna Rae Barrow to find out more!