Posts by Elizabeth Christie
God’s Power In Me: 52 Declarations and Devotions For Kids
God’s Power In Me: 52 Declarations and Devotions for Kids Margaret Feinberg After over two decades serving in children’s and family ministries and almost two decades of parenting, I have amassed a considerable collection of devotionals for children and youth. Our favorites are tattered, dog eared, and smeared with vestiges of PBandJs. I am always…
Read MoreThe Sacred Pulse
The Sacred Pulse April Fiet Confession: everyday life runs past me at breakneck speed, leaving me feeling like I’ve experienced whiplash at different moments throughout the day. When The Sacred Pulse; Holy Rhythms for Overwhelmed Souls landed on my doorstep, I heaved a grateful sigh and eagerly dived into this book. Who couldn’t use some…
Read MoreBaptized in the Water: Becoming a Member of God’s Family
Written by Glenys Nellist; Illustrated by Anna Kazimi Nothing brightens up a raw, grey, snowy April day more than the UPS truck rattling down our dusty driveway to drop off a new book from the publisher. My six year old, Celia, and I gleefully snatched up the copy of Baptized by the Water by Glenys…
Read MoreA Faith of Their Own: A Theological Field Guide for Youth Ministry
In my work, I hear about the exodus of the youth, about how churches just cannot get them to come in the doors and stay, and how congregations are stymied when they hear that our youth just do not find church relevant. I have read many resources that discuss how to make faith stick, how…
Read More2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices For Thriving In a Decade of Accelerating Change
Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen After two years in pandemic life, I find that I am constantly evaluating and re-evaluating everyday decisions in response to all I have experienced and learned. I have witnessed the beauty of people coming together to take care of each other and I have dealt with the behaviors of those…
Read MoreNew Directions for Holy Questions; Progressive Christian Theology for Families
Pandemic life has greatly assisted us in distilling what is most important in our lives. In my work in children’s and family ministries and as a parent of 7, I have found that families with children have had to pare down to what matters the most in our days. Families are making time for connection,…
Read MoreBe The Brave One
Be The Brave One Rev. Ann Kansfeld Just like everyone in this world, I found myself walking many tightropes through the pandemic, critically discerning what was important and how to make sure those were made the priority. I have always been focused on clarifying what matters in my life and preserving time and energy for…
Read MoreLifelong Faith
I have long been a fan of John Roberto’s work and have a shelf full of his resources that I have dog-eared and continue to pull out with great frequency. I had my eye on his new release, Lifelong Faith; Formation for All Ages and Generations and was waiting for when money appeared in our…
Read MoreCreative Ideas for Worship With All Abilities
I wear several hats in my everyday life; mother of many children, sister of a woman with Down Syndrome, a children’s minister, and a special educator. Creative Ideas for Worship With All Abilities is a resource that I will keep on my closest bookshelf in my office because it provides me with a wide range…
Read MoreThe Silence of Calvary: A Book Review
Are you looking for a resource for the adults in your congregation that has flexibility in use throughout Lent into Holy Week? The Silence of Calvary: Meditations on Good Friday should find a way onto your list. Church Publishing Incorporated provided us with this review copy, and I am glad to have it come across…
Read MoreSir Drake The Brave: A Book Review
Sir Drake The Brave is a new children’s book from Moorehouse Publishing. We were provided with an advanced reader copy and it has spurred lots of ideas for use in children’s and family ministries! The story revolves around a young child named Drake, who is wrestling with the treatment of bullies and bedtime fears. He…
Read MoreWonder Awaits! A Book Review
Wonder Awaits! is a new release from Chalice Press. We were provided with a review copy and my children and I are all glad it came across my desk! Wonder Awaits! invites families to wonder together. It features photographs of children in their communities, along with prompts that help people discover together how to go…
Read MoreFaithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection: A Book Review
By Elizabeth Christie Faithful Families for Lent, Easter, and Resurrection by Traci Smith is the latest addition to Rev. Smith’s fabulous collection of resources for families and family ministers. As pandemic life closes in on two years of upheaval and uncertainty for families, weariness is running high. I hear daily how parents are craving simplicity,…
Read MoreI Wonder: Exploring God’s Grand Story: A Book Review
By Elizabeth Christie When I call out to my family to grab a Bible, they always respond with a half sarcastic/half serious, “WHICH ONE?!” Suffice it to say, we have several shelves full of Bibles of various translations. This should be expected in the home of a librarian and a person who works in children’s…
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