Program Resources
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Confirmation : Engaging Lutheran Foundation And Practices
$20.00Add to cartPart 1: Lutheran Practices
Confirmation Ministry: Models And Stories-Mary E. Hughes
The Changing Face Of Confirmation-Kent L. JohnsonPart 2: Lutheran Foundations
Lutheran Confirmation Ministry In Historical Perspective-Luther E. Lindberg
The Theology Of Confirmation-Margaret A. Krych
The Content Of Confirmation- Margaret A. KrychPart 3: Confirmation Ministry: God’s Work Through Community
The Congregation As Confirming Community-Norma Cook Everist
Living In The Spirit-Robert L. Conrad
Adolescent Development- Diane J. Hymans
Lifelong Education And Pastoral Ministry-Nelson T. Strobert
Educational Approaches And Teaching Methods-Donald R. JustAdditional Info
This book is alive…alive with a vibrancy of excitement about ministry with youth and, above all, confirmation ministry. This is a book that is theoretical and practical, paying attention to the variety of contemporary practices in congregations and yet holding a solid continuity with the past heritage of the church. It answers questions such as, What’s happening in congregational confirmation ministry today? Why do we have confirmation? What is it? How might we think about confirmation ministry in our own congregation? -
Boyds Recititation And Dialogue
$9.99Add to cartPlays and programs for special days, including Bible Day, Children’s Day, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Valentine’s Day. Also includes welcomes and responses. Every church has those significant days and special events which relate to its history and its ongoing opportunities to celebrate pivotal events in society.
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Lights Symbols And Angels
$12.95Add to cartLights, Symbols And Angels is a compilation of related worship resources that will enhance the Advent/Christmas worship life of any congregation, large or small.
O Come, Blessed Light Of The World! is ideal for raising awareness of the Advent season for families. Those using the material will learn about the Advent candles, read God’s Word for the day, and have a challenge of action each week. Devotions include a reading, reflection, and prayer.
Celebrating The Advent Wreath is a special Advent service which can be used for mid-week or women’s programs. Reflections on each candle will help participants learn more about the Advent wreath.
Christmas Symbols And Songs is a program which blends sharing the meaning of traditional Christmas symbols with the singing of a variety of carols. It’s excellent for a fellowship potluck, women’s tea or program, mid-week worship service, or an intergenerational event.
Angels Inspire Our Worship is an order of worship with a skit that’s ideal for a youth program. The skit, Hark! It’s Harold And The Angel Band, dramatizes an imaginary encounter between Gabe (the archangel Gabriel disguised as a stock boy), Mr. Grumpy and Mr. Grumpier (old men shopping at Heaven’s Grocery Store), and an angel band led by Harold.
Angels In The Outfield is a resource for a Sunday worship experience, mid-week service, or special Advent program. The worship is designed around the ministry of angels, using a baseball theme with appropriate hymns featuring angels.
A Christmas Celebration is a communion/candlelight service for Christmas Eve with readings, litanies, and carols.
A prolific and enthusiastic writer of worship resources, Cynthia E. Cowen has been an established writer with CSS Publishing Company since 1991. She received a B.A. degree in education from Northern Michigan University and is a graduate of the Northern Great Lakes Synod Lay School for Mission. Cowen has served as a licensed lay minister in the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the ELCA at Calvary Lutheran Church, Quinnesec, Michigan, and is currently a rostered Associate in Ministry in Youth And Family at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Iron Mountain, Michigan. She was elected to the Executive Board of the Church Wide Women’s Organization of the Women of the ELCA in 1996, and served on its Printed Resources committee.
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Special Days And Seasons Of The Christian Year
$6.99Add to cartThis resource offers a concise survey of the special days and seasons of the Christian year. In addition to a brief explanation of the lectionary, it also includes the key symbols, customs, Scriptures, and hymns most associated with each season.
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Creative Bible Lessons From The Old Testament
$22.99Add to cartOkay, so they used mule mail instead of e-mail — but they were still surprisingly modern men and women. With emotions, decisions, and dilemmas as raw and real as the students sitting in front of you every week. David and Rahab, Daniel and Ruth–even with their rough edges, they passionately loved Jehovah in a way today’s adolescents can understand and emulate. Here are 12 Old Testament character studies, including– Believe it or not -Abraham: Living by faith is not for wimps – Faith overcomes a fast past -Rahab: What you live is what you believe. Everything else is just talk. – The waiting game -Joseph: Trials and temptations can make us strong. – Benchwarmer to first string -Moses : Often God uses the least likely person to do great things. – Right woman, right place, right time -Esther : God has created each one of us for a purpose. – Keeping promises -Ruth: Commitment means more than saying the right words. – Bad days for good people -Job: Suffering may be the condition from which humans benefit the most. – The long way home -Jonah: Sometimes we simply say no to God. — And to help you teach the lesson are clips from easy-to-get videos . . . games for mixing and games that teach . . . in-depth, ready-to-use questions guaranteed to spark small-group discussion . . . original role plays, scripts, dilemmas faced by these ancient but very human believers in their Yahweh. For youth workers, Sunday school teachers, and CE directors, Creative Bible Lessons from the Old Testament will help your students understand that the God who offered hope and courage to ancient history-makers still does the same for teenagers today.
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Christmas Classic Celebration
$7.95Add to cartA Christmas Classic Celebration is a unique candlelight service that incorporates scenes of Christmas that are all around us. Popular Christmas songs such as “Silver Bells:” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” are combined with the traditional Christmas hymns.
Six brief meditations are spaced throughout the service and are given in the place of a sermon.
Easy to present, this service requires no rehearsals or props, yet involves the entire congregation in singing the familiar songs of Christmas while moving from the Annunciation to the joy of Jesus’ birth.
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Men Mentoring Men
$32.95Add to cartAnd Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “… Go therefore and make disciples …”
Men Mentoring Men is a resource designed to assist Christian men to fulfill Christ’s commission. The contents are not merely information. It is an action-oriented guide which requires relationship and mutual accountability. Each session will challenge men to share their victories and their struggles … to maintain a weekly journal as well as being committed to regular Bible reading.
This resource guide deals with foundational Christian principles and practice: how to pray … study the Bible … be led by the Holy Spirit … how to share one’s faith. Men will learn about responsibility for marriage, parenting, finances, sexual issues and more.
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Choir Members Companion
$5.99Add to cartThe Choir Member’sCompanion is designed for use by individual choir members in a local church adult choir. The book is intended for purchase by the choir director to be given to choir members as gifts or as a way for choir members to better understand musical symbols, terminology, and symbols used in choral music. The Choir Member’sCompanion is designed for use by individual choir members in a local church adult choir. The book is intended for purchase by the choir director to be given to choir members as gifts or as a way for choir members to better understand musical symbols, terminology, and symbols used in choral music. CONTENTS: 1. Introduction to Choir Membership 2. Basic Music Reading Skills 3. Musical Road Map 4. Basic Vocal Techniques 5. Sight-reading New Music 6. How to Mark Your Music 7. Preparation for Worship 8. Preparation for Other Performances 9. Glossary of Musical Terms and Symbols
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Crowd Breakers And Mixers
$24.99Add to cart1. Gags & Skits
2. Mixers
3. Meeting-Opening Contests
4. Musical Crown Breakers
5. Quizzes & Word Games
6. Stunts
7. Whole-Group Participation
121 PagesAdditional Info
Welcome to the Ideas Library From Youth Specialites!
So what’s the Ideas Library? Simply the most complete collection of practical youth ministry programming ideas on this planet. The ideas books set the pace for 20th-century youth ministry. And now they’re updated for 21st century youth groups-reorganized from the inside out for busy youth workers who need the perfect idea, and need it now.* Games
* Games 2
* Creative Meetings, Bible Lessons, & Worship Ideas
* Holiday Ideas
* Crowd Breakers & Mixers
* Discussion & Lesson Starters
* Discussion & Lesson Starters 2
* Administration, Publicity, & Fundraising
* Drama, Skits, & Sketches
* Special Events
* Camps, Retreats, Missions, & Service Ideas -
Special Events
$24.99Add to cart1. Games And Sports Events
2. Scavenger Hunts
3. Treasure Hunts
4. Other Hunts
5. Theme Events
6. Food Events
7. Special Events With A Point
8. Outings & Overnighters
9. Races & Rallies
10. Other Parties & Special Events207 Pages
Additional Info
More than 400 creative events for community building, outreach, and fun!* FOOD EVENTS: If there’s one thing kids know and appreciate, it’s food. Here’s everything from elegant feasts to slobfests galore.
* GAMES AND SPORTS EVENTS: You don’t have to be a jock to have fun playing these sporting events.
* OUTINGS AND OVERNIGHTERS: If you’re crazed enough to take a group of adolescents on the road-whether across town or across the state-here are plenty of trip ideas.
* RACES AND RALLIES: Your group have a need for speed? Whether it’s cars, bikes, buses, or toilets-if it can be raced, you’ll find an idea for it here.
* SPECIAL EVENTS WITH A PURPOSE: More than fun. These events carry significant spiritual, moral, or community value.And more-hunts and parties and theme events of all kinds!
Whether you’re a youth worker or recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp-SPECIAL EVENTS is your storehouse of proven, youth-group tested ideas.
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Holiday Ideas
$24.99Add to cartOver 200 festive ideas for cranking up celebrations for every holiday imaginable! – Christmas . . . Here’s your one-stop Christmas programming center. You’ll find everything you need for the merriest Advent and Christmas season ever — goofy games, crazy carols, outrageous outings, and silly skits to fill even the biggest Christmas stocking. And, of course, Christmasy meetings and lessons to help your kids focus on the real reason for the season. – Easter & Lent . . . Worship activities, reenactments, Bible lessons, meeting plans, and service projects, all designed to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Plus games, puzzles, craft projects, and scavenger hunt ideas — all tied to an Easter theme. – Valentine’s Day . . . Play a memorable February 14th with these icebreakers, games, songs, activities, and Bible lessons — all about love, whether human or divine. – Thanksgiving . . . Wait until you see the potful of ideas that youth workers from Cape Cod to all points west have cooked up for you — Thanksgiving craft projects, skits, outings, parties, service projects, and Bible lessons. Plus More . . . All kinds of party and meeting ideas for St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s, Halloween, Super Bowl Sunday, April Fool’s Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day celebrations, and graduation. Whether you’re a youth worker or a recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp — Holiday Ideas is your storehouse of proven, youth-group tested ideas.
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Discussion And Lesson Starters 2
$24.99Add to cartNearly 150 more riveting, attention-getting openers that will pull your kids into animated discussion!
*A PRIMER ON LEADING DISCUSSION-Starting a discussion, and keeping it going…the importance of confidentiality…asking questions that get responses…and working with different personalities.
*35 CREATIVE WAYS TO START A DISCUSSION OR LESSON ON ANY TOPIC-Techniques general enough to fit just about any subject, but still quirky enough to attract adolescent attention.
*DISCUSSION & LESSON STARTERS, BY TOPIC-What subject are you teaching this week? First, look up your subject-advertising ethics, atheism, the Bible, church, death and dying, discipleship, evangelism, priorities, spiritual gifts, television…or 30 more topics, all arranged alphabetically. Then choose the opener that fits your purposes and your group.In fact, many of these are virtually complete lessons in themselves, with questions, activities, parables, object lessons-all designed to draw opinions, thoughts, and feelings from your students.
Whether you’re a youth worker or recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp-Discussion & Lesson Starters 2 is your storehouse of proven, youth group tested ideas.
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Games 2
$24.99Add to cart166 Pages In 11 Sections
Additional Info
So what’s the Ideas Library? Simply the most complete collection of practical youth ministry programming ideas on this planet. The Ideas books set the pace for 20th – century youth ministry. And now they’re updated for 21st century youth groups – reorganized from the inside out for busy youth workers who need the perfect idea, and need it now.Whether you’re a youth worker or recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp – GAMES 2 is brimming with notoriously wild, creative, and youth-group tested games!
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Discussion And Lesson Starters
$24.99Add to cartContents
159 Pages In 4 Parts
Additional Info
More than 200 proven openers, questions, and activities that get students involved in your lessons!*A Primer On Leading Discussions-starting a discussion, and keeping it going…the importance of confidentiality…asking questions that get responses…and working with different personalities.
*35 creative ways to start a discussion or lesson on any topic—techniques general enough to fit just about any subject, but still quirky enough to attract adolescent attention.
*Discussion & lesson starters, by topic-what subject are you teaching this week? First, look up your subject-apologetics, attitude, dating, disabilities, family, the will of God…and more than 30 topics, all arranged alphabetically. Then choose the opener that fits your purposes and your group.In fact many of these openers are virtually complete lessons in themselves, with questions, activities, parables, object lesson-all designed to draw opinions, thoughts, and feelings from your students.
Whether you’re a youth worker or recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp—Discussion & Lesson Starters is your storehouse of proven, youth group tested ideas.
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These Are The Candles
$7.95Add to cartHere is a resource that will dramatize the lighting of the Advent candles during your worship service. The lighting of each candle is proceeded by a statement, which the author suggests may be read from offstage.
The series of statements reveal the significance of the traditional Advent characters: the angel, the shepherds, the wisemen, Mary and the Christ child.
This simple but dramatic resource provides an explanation of the deeper meaning of the events preceding Jesus’ birth, as they spell out the relationship of these individuals to Christ, the Light of the World.
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Stories For The Gathering
$13.99Add to cartFor groups large and small, this new collection of stories gathered by William R. White will captre the imagination of listeners of all ages. The author provides pastors and other Christian storytellers with more than fifty contemporary and traditional stories arranged under the four themes: Christmas and Other Festivalx, Lent and Easter, Faith/Hope/and Promise, and Wisdom and Foolishness.
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Advent Christmas Resources For Young And Old
$12.95Add to cartThese resources were carefully selected from almost 100 manuscripts submitted. They were chosen for their creativity and content, but also for their adaptability to churches of any size. None of them require complicated props or settings, nor do any require lengthy rehearsals.
This collection of resources will enliven the worship of any church, involving members young and old in the presentation.
-A Christmas Play: Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room
-A Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service
-A Christmas Program For Children (Or Entire Congregation)
-An Old Fashioned Christmas Pageant
-Two Worship Services For The Christmas Season
-A Worship Service And Choral Reading For Christmas
-A Christmas Play: Mary After The Angel -
Its A Matter Of Faith And Life 3
$21.95Add to cartThis book, one of a three-part series, is a narrative reflection on Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Its uses are many:
A companion guide for catechism classes.
A manual for new adult member classes.
A preaching resource.
Inspirational reading for those who want to know more about the faith-life of a Christian.The book began as a video series broadcast on the Michigan City, Indiana, cable system. The series was also used in the catechetical instruction of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Michigan City, where Dr. Albertin is pastor.
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Its A Matter Of Faith And Life 2
$29.95Add to cartThis book, one of a three-part series, is a narrative reflection on Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Its uses are many:
A companion guide for catechism classes.
A manual for new adult member classes.
A preaching resource.
Inspirational reading for those who want to know more about the faith-life of a Christian.The book began as a video series broadcast on the Michigan City, Indiana, cable system. The series was also used in the catechetical instruction of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Michigan City, where Dr. Albertin is pastor.
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Its A Matter Of Faith And Life 1
$23.95Add to cartThis book, one of a three-part series, is a narrative reflection on Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Its uses are many:
A companion guide for catechism classes.
A manual for new adult member classes.
A preaching resource.
Inspirational reading for those who want to know more about the faith-life of a Christian.The book began as a video series broadcast on the Michigan City, Indiana, cable system. The series was also used in the catechetical instruction of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Michigan City, where Dr. Albertin is a pastor.
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Creative Bible Lessons In Romans
$16.99Add to cartThink of it as a lean, mean Bible doctrine course–without the lecture. But with lots of options, videos, music, and drama. And small group work. And reproducible, interactive worksheets with eye-catching designs and soul-searching content. (Like, what else do you expect from St. Paul when he sits down to write the meatiest book of doctrine in the Bible?) in the 12 clear, complete sessions of Creative Bible Lessons in Romans. Author Chap Clark guides kids (and you) through the Big Ideas in this first-century letter to Christians trying their darndest to live godly lives in an ungodly culture. (Sound familiar?) From the not-so-savory picture the apostle paints of humankind in the opening chapters. . .through his celebration of grace and acceptance in midbook. . .to his tightly reasoned argument that love should fuel a Christian’s decisions and relationships–here are topics made to order for teenagers living at the turn of the 21st century. Teach your way through Romans with these read-to-go sessions. Or scavenge whatever you want of the creative scripts, handouts, and other options to customize lessons of your own. Any way you use it, Creative Bible Lessons in Romans is your no-doze ticket to solid Bible doctrine.
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Creative Bible Lessons In John
$22.99Add to cart1. Jesus Encounters Nathanial (John 1:43-51) Dealing With Doubt
2. Jesus Encounters The Money Changers (John 2:13-25) Respecting God
3. Jesus Encounters Nicodemus (John 3:1-36) Receiving New Life In Christ
4. Jesus Encounters A Nobleman’s Son And A Crippled Man (John 4:43-5.18) Coping With Crisis
5. Jesus Encounters The Crowd (John 6:46-60) Accepting God’s Incredible Gift
6. Jesus Encounters A Blind Man (John 9:1-41) Accepting God’s Love
7. Jesus Encounters Mary And Martha (John 10:40-11.46) Facing Death
8. Jesus Encounters Mary And Judas (John 11:57-12.11) Making Wise “Investments”
9. Jesus Encounters Peter (John 13:36-38; 15:18-16.4; 18:12-27) Handling Opposition
10. Jesus Encounters His Disciples #1 (John 15:5-17) Producing Fruit In Our Lives
11. Jesus Encounters His Disciples #2 (John 14:15-27; 16:5-16) Recognizing The Holy Spirit
12. Jesus Encounters Mary Magdalene (John 19:23-25; 20:1-3,10-18) Believing The Impossible99 Pages
Additional Info
Do you want to teach solid Biblical Truth to your kids without their eyes glazing over as soon as you say “open your Bible”? Now you can, with Creative Bible Lessons in John: Encounters with Jesus.Following in the successful path of Youth Specialties’ instant bestseller Creative Bible Lessons on the Life of Christ by Doug Fields, veteran family life and youth workers Janice and Jay Ashcraft have created 12 lively, ready-to-use lessons that actually make it fun to dig into Scripture. The Ashcrafts utilize creative learning techniques to spark your kids’ interest and keep them actively involved in lesson, including:
*Learning Games
*Discussions
*Video and Music
*Skits, Melodrama, and Roleplays
*”Digging Deeper” Investigations
*Interactive Worksheets
*And much more!These lessons are clear, easy-to-use, and complete. You’ll be able to build in-depth, creative Bible teaching into your busy schedule with Creative Bible Lessons in John: Encounters with Jesus.
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Visions Of Lent Year 3
$12.95Add to cartA new and unusual service for Lent…!
At the beginning of Lent each family in the congregation is invited to lend a plant from home (silk or live), following a Jewish Shavuot custom. The following Sundays in Lent build on this focal point as an object is added each week. Two readers participate in a dialogue explaining the symbol for that day. A child brings the symbol forward and holds it during the dialogue. In this way several families are able to participate.
Visions of Lent Year 3 also includes:
* Sample bulletin insert prior to Lent
* Example of plant reminder that can be used in bulletin
* Sample Torah for bulletin inserts
* A suggested worship service for Palm/Passion Sunday -
Last Covenant
$7.95Add to cartThese two dramatic choral readings will place a permanent imprint on the conscience of all who speak and hear them. They won’t be heard as much as they will be felt. The pain and the anguish, the emptiness and hatred of that Friday long ago will fill the senses with such powerful rage that anyone in attendance will be transformed from passive bystanders to active participants in the quest for life as the glorious news of the risen Christ is known on Sunday.
Both choral readings involve five voices, which may be chosen from the congregation or can be performed as a choir litany. The combination of these voices will convey the strong emotions and images of the drama of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Both can be substituted for the sermon. No costumes or props are required.
With an order of worship, Easter Day’s reading includes congregational singing of nine hymns with the choral reading. The Last Covenant is a wonderfully effective way to involve the entire congregation in “”The Greatest Story Ever Told.””
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How Does Your Choir Grow
$14.99Add to cartHOW DOES YOUR CHOIR GROW? by David F. Donathan Once a church musician has the basics under control, attention often turns toward the next step. “How Does Your Choir Grow?” covers all the bases with special attention to recruiting and maintaining choir members–a key task of every choir director. Shows how to recruit, organize, maintain, publicize choir, and have fun, fellowship, and spiritual growth.
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Leading Adult Learners
$20.99Add to cartA handbook for adult Sunday school classes, this book includes reproducible handouts as well as guidelines and training helps.
Leading Adult Learners offers practical help in determining what topics to study and the best teaching styles for particular age groups. It includes information about publicity and teacher and leader training, and also numerous survey questionnaires to help determine class format and study preferences. Guidelines/responsibilities for class officers are also provided.
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Peace : Christian Living In A Violent World
$6.99Add to cartDiscover the potential for peacemaking and peace in each day’s events and especially in the ways you touch one another’s lives. These are troubled times and violent times. Experience the power of God’s gift of peace as you probe ways to solve differences and pursue justice with faith and courage in daily life. Six lessons.
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Faith : Confidence And Doubt In Daily Life
$6.99Add to cartWhat does Christian faith have to do with our ordinary day-to-day life? This question is presented in personal ways for you and your small group. Explore faith in life-cycle experiences–moods and situations, joy and discouragement, confidence and doubt.
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Visions Of Lent Year 2
$7.95Add to cartVisions of Lent Year 2 — Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) offers congregations a weekly presentation to be included in the regular Lenten worship service. This follow-up to Volume 1 (which concentrated on the Feast of Passover) focuses on the Palm Sunday story and six elements within that story that were significant parts of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. The festival is rooted in Leviticus 23:33f, where God commanded Moses to declare the festival to the people of Israel as a reminder of the temporary shelters they lived in when He delivered them out of Egypt.
Preparation for this worship series is very simple. Lent I begins with a plain, “symbolic” booth which is placed somewhere within the sanctuary. For the next five weeks objects are gradually added inside the booth.
Objects include:
Lent 2 — citron (or other citrus fruit) in an attractive yet simple container
Lent 3 — musical instruments (flute, cymbal, lyre, harps, trumpets, etc.)
Lent 4 — donkey figure or picture
Lent 5 — a large crown
Lent 6 (Palm Sunday) — palm branchesEach presentation involves four participants including: minister, a youth and two other readers. Parts are brief and need not be memorized.
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Who Me Do A Program 1
$17.95Add to cartThe title of this book is a cry often heard by leaders of organizations. This resource is a response to that cry. Designed to be a 12-month guide, there are programs for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, the Christmas season, Lent and more.
The programs are designed for easy implementation at women’s meetings, youth gatherings and congregational events. Leader’s helps are provided to indicate what props, songs and readers are needed. This collection of 15 programs is reflective, at times humorous, and includes skits, meditations and other suggestions to fit particular seasons.Programs for various months include:
* February — A Heart Filled With Love
* March — From Slavery To Sainthood
* May — A Humorous Look At Some Hopeful Women
* July — God’s Picnic Basket
* August — The Armor Of God
* October — In Pursuit Of The Right Spirit
* November — The Exodus Murmurs
* … and eight more -
I Come Away Stronger A Print On Demand Title
$39.99Add to cartMillions of Americans are joining small groups. Among the religious, prayer fellowships, accountability groups, house churches, Bible-study groups, and covenant groups are being touted as the wave of the future. But are small groups delivering what they promise? Are members really finding the support, encouragement, and deepening spirituality they seek? Or are the answers ambiguous?
I Come Away Stronger, the complement to Robert Wuthnow’s Sharing the Journey, presents fourteen case studies of small groups – from a women’s Bible study, to a peace fellowship, to a group for senior citizens. What small groups are like nationally and how their members understand spirituality can be gauged from the results of a national survey presented in the appendix.
This survey is given life and flesh in the extended portraits of each of the groups. These portraits are powerful and highly personal because they tell the stories, both collective and personal, of each group, revealing agreement and dissension, closeness and alienation, growth and stagnation. The result is an intimate inside look at the dynamics of small groups.
In a concluding chapter, Wuthnow places the small group movement in the changing context of American religion and society, showing why is has emerged and where it is headed, raising crucial questions that religious leaders and group members need to ponder as the movement continues to grow.
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Choral Therapy : Techniques And Exercises For The Church Choir
$14.99Add to cart“From the Publisher:” Many choir directors are not formally trained in all disciplines needed to direct a music program. “Choral Therapy” addresses an area that intimidates many directors: vocal training and how to increase the ability of the choir.
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Old Wine In New Skins 1
$16.95Add to cart“Worship must be directly connected to our daily lives,” writes George A. Nye. “It must address our fears, our hopes, even our indifferences.”
Old Wine In New Skins provides pastors many resources to make the connection. These include 66 calls to worship, 13 preparations for pastoral prayers and 52 reflections.
Calls to worship categories include:
With praise and celebration
Using traditional hymns and praise hymns
Relating to a story
With a commitment theme
Involving personal preparation
By seasonA preparation for pastoral prayer section helps pastors broaden a congregation’s understanding of how to approach God in prayer. Thirteen “preparations” are provided, including one for Advent-Christmas.
Fifty-two short reflections cover eight major themes for countless pastoral uses. These are easily adopted for mini-devotions, sermon illustrations, and newsletter meditations.
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Restore Me
$12.95Add to cartRestore Me includes a large collection of Lent and Easter season worship resources created to draw congregations into closer relationship with God.
Specific chapters for both Lent and Easter include:
Calls to worship
Common prayers
Prayers of dedication
Benedictions
Prayers of confession and pardon
Gospel dialogues“These resources grew out of my continued interest in the whole use of scripture in weekly worship,” Craig M. Sweet writes. “The dialogue use of scripture adds an extra dimension to the ‘dramaturgical’ experience of worship.”
In the gospel dialogue section are scripture readings based upon various lectionary texts. Dialogues are offered for Ash Wednesday, the Sundays of Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.
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Promise Kept At Christmas
$7.95Add to cartWe approach the worship of God this evening with a hushed awareness of Christ’s presence in our midst. God again breaks through the calm and darkness to reveal himself to us in the stillness of our hearts. (From the order of worship)
Light and darkness is a powerful biblical metaphor to talk about God’s compelling activity in the world. This Christmas Eve resource focuses on this metaphor.
A Promise Kept At Christmas offers congregations a complete order of service with suggested carols, lighting of Advent candles and scripture readings from the Old and New Testaments using a narrator and lay readers.
Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.
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Upbeat Downbeat
$14.99Add to cartMusic direction is a multifacted craft. And no skill is more important than the actual physical skills involved in acting as conductor during the rehearsal and performance. Sandra Willetts explains what is involved, including basic conducting patterns and techniques.
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Teaching The Bible To Adults And Youth (Revised)
$20.99Add to cartTeaching the Bible to Adults and Youth shows how to make the “transparent” – with God evident throughout. Dick Murray offers suggestions for teaching, provides different approaches and perspectives from which to teach and conduct activities for learning, and examines such Bible study series as Kerygma, Trinity, Bethel, and Disciple.
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Symbols Of Sacrifice Year 3
$7.95Add to cartThe sacrificial life of Christ is a major focus of Lent. Symbols Of Sacrifice provides the congregations with opportunities to create visual worship aids representing Christ’s life during worship.
Each weekly presentation builds a growing reminder of Christ’s sacrifice for the congregation.
This series offers a list of symbols and explanation of the symbols. These are provided for the Sundays of Lent and Easter Sunday.
Symbols are:
Sandals
A globe of the world
Money
A lantern
A grain of wheat
A cloak
A white robeThis is one book in a three-part series of Symbols Of Sacrifices. Other books in this series are Year 1 and Year 2.
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Your King Comes
$7.95Add to cartYour King Comes! Is a complete Palm Sunday service. It includes a dramatic celebration of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem led by the children and youth of the church school.
This resource captured the spirit of Palm Sunday with songs, words, and gestures. It will involve as many as 47 persons of all ages from your congregation. Minimum rehearsal is needed.
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Service Of Shadows
$7.95Add to cart“A Service Of Shadows” offers congregations a complete tenebrae service with a suggested order of service and an alternative ending with holy communion.
This impressive service includes 15 candles and parts for up to 15 readers. As the Passion narrative is read, these candles will be extinguished one at a time as directed in the service.
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How To Train Volunteer Teachers
$20.99Add to cartExplores the purposes of teaching in the church, and offers specific advice on how to recruit, train, and support volunteer teachers. 20 workshops to enhance and empower educational programs in any church.
These twenty stimulating, thirty-minute workshops show how to train volunteer teachers in a way that will dramatically increase the effectiveness of your Christian education program. After exploring the purposes of teaching children, youth, and adults in the church, Delia Halverson offers specific advice on how to recruit, train, and support volunteer teachers. Sunday school superintendents and education chairpersons will find this information invaluable as they recruit teachers, affirm them in their ministries, and plan training events.
Workshops offered in the book include: planning a session; keys to motivating students of all age groups; developing Bible skills in all age groups; storytelling in the classroom; creativity for you and your student; worship in the classroom; teaching prayer in the classroom; caring for students; teaching with questions and discussion; music in the classroom; and developing a learning center. Each workshop outline shows you which materials you will need for the workshop. One or more handouts for use in the training event are included. The book also features a bibliography of additional materials to enhance the workshops.
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Lights Of Love
$7.95Add to cartFaith, Hope, Love, Joy, and The Light Of The World are themes in this candle lighting service for the four Sundays of Advent and Christmas Eve. Each service includes a scripture, message and prayer with optional listing of hymns and calls to worship.
Lights Of Love provides a banner instruction section, a Christmas Eve candle lighting suggested order of service, and a brief explanation of the meaning of Advent.
In addition to public worship, the services can easily be used in a family worship or Sunday school setting.
