Take a look around to find out about ways to deepen faith with and through the church, and ways to do so at home or on the go, using the web, reading, and more.
At church, the most intentional vehicle for faith formation is the Christian Education program, centered around the Sunday school. At Cary Presbyterian, Sunday School is offered each week from September through June at 9:45 a.m., between the two worship services. Classes are available for children, youth, and adults. One which might be of particular interest to parents is the adult class called "Young Families." |
Partnering with FamiliesWho best can influence faith formation in young people? Who makes the most difference for faith to be a lasting part of a person’s life experience? Who best demonstrates the Christian life to children and youth? Parents. Not the church, though strong connections to the church matter, and matter deeply. Not friends, though friends influence one’s faith at any age. Consistently, research shows that parents and families make the most difference in forming faith in youth and children.
But parents need help in this important enterprise, so this portion of Faith Formation 24-7 offers a variety of articles, activities and other tools to assist you, the parents—and grandparents—of young people. Partnering with a congregation like Cary Presbyterian Church is an essential part of the equation, because the church provides the community of faith and ways to be Christian together. It provides extra resources and experiences for faith development. It offers intentional learning opportunities and it is the locus for worship, the essential focus of the Christian life, from which Jesus’ followers are sent out into the world to serve. We consider the church’s connection to parents and families to be a partnership. Engage in faith practices at home (and in the car, on vacation, and more). But partner with the church to be equipped and informed, to be encouraged and supported, and to have your own faith continue to develop. |
The Walking in Faith Travel Guide |
What is the Walking in Faith Travel Guide? It is a little booklet to help you and your child learn Bible verses and passages, prayers, and traditional parts of worship that will support your child's faith formation. We encourage you to use it so that these things may be "learned by heart," making them available at a moment's notice. The Travel Guide is designed to be used at home, with the church in the supporting role. The six sequential levels begin with the song "Jesus Loves Me" and conclude with a description of the seasons of the church year, called the Liturgical Year. When a level is completed, share that achievement with the church and be recognized. Click here for the Guide itself and more information about it: ________.
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Milestone Ministry |
Milestones are designed to help adults—parents and the congregation- -keep the promises made when a child is baptized. Each Milestone involves parents, guardians, or significant adults in some way: through a class, a project, experience, or all three. The role of parents/guardians is critical to the faith growth of children. Cary Presbyterian offers these Milestones at regular intervals throughout the program year at the church. Milestones include Preparing Children for Worship (2nd grade), Getting to Know My Bible (3rd grade) and the Driver’s License Milestone (for high school students), among others. All Milestone presentations include class sessions attended by parents as well as children. For a complete description of CPC’s Milestone Ministry and a list of all the Milestones, click here: http://www.carypresbyterian.org/learn/milestones-ministry
Each Milestone has three elements:
(1) A time to come together to learn about the milestone through an engaging, hands on experience. in a special Milestone class for parents and young people. Milestone Classes are usually held during the Sunday school hour in lieu of regular class and range from one to three weeks duration. (2) A celebration, or recognition, in worship. This part of the Milestone usually takes place during Sunday worship and includes a special blessing and gift. It is a time when the kids and families are surrounded by the love and support of the worshiping community. (3) Homegrown Faith. Each family is encouraged to continue to celebrate and grow in faith as a family through taking part in the four keys of nurturing faith: caring conversations, family devotions, service, rituals and traditions. To learn more about the four keys, see the Vibrant Faith site listed below. |
Online helps to strengthen faithful parenting with information and interactive engagement
VIBRANT FAITH
One of the very best places to be informed and energized about faith formation in families is Vibrant Faith. While the whole site is rich and invites your consideration, start here for a brief introduction about the why of taking the lead in helping your children grow in faith: http://vibrantfaith.org/2015/08/home-family-matters/.
Vibrant Faith has sections for Adult/Couple, Young Adult, Young Family, Teen Family, and Just for Kids. There are activities with suggested to-do plans for each time of the year, parenting articles, and a section called The Basics. The Basics includes how-to videos about prayer, Bible story, faith learning, and more. Here you will also find "Caring Conversations" and "Rituals and Traditions," which are a hallmark of Vibrant Faith. For the complete site click here: http://www.vibrantfaithathome.org/
BREAD NOT STONES
This is one of the best blogs about parenting and helping families grow in faith. Here are two favorite blogposts: one about some of the most important things author Rebecca Kirkpatrick identifies that parents need to know, http://www.breadnotstones.com/2012/05/ten-things-i-want-to-tell-parents.html.
Also worthy of reading is the post about ten things your child should know before they start confirmation class:
http://www.breadnotstones.com/2012/01/100-things-your-child-should-know.html.
WORSHIPING WITH CHILDREN
Another excellent contribution to help parents guide their children through the experience of worship is Carolyn Brown’s Worshipping With Children. Be sure to spend some time on her blog. Here’s a favorite post:
http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/08/sanctuary-scavenger-hunt-for-families.html?utm_content=buffer8acbf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer.
Speaking of worship, read hear about Cary Presbyterian’s approach to children in worship: http://www.carypresbyterian.org/worship/children
CREATE, WORSHIP, LOVE
More about children and worship from Karen Ware Jackson. The blog entries are in categories such as Glitter, Parenting, Worship, and Transformation. This is written by the pastor of two preschoolers and is as much about how God works in our lives as it is about figuring out how to engage wiggly kids in the sanctuary.
http://www.karenwarejackson.com/blog
KEEPING SABBATH IN YOUR CRAZY LIFE
...and other important thoughts by Presbyterian pastor turned stay-at-home mom MaryAnn McKibben Dana gives much food for thought. Check out this video interview from PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2013/04/05/april-5-2013-keeping-the-sabbath/15715/#
Also, don't miss her The Blue Room blog about what matters in family life, raising children, and living a life of discipleship here and now: http://theblueroomblog.org/blog/.
STORYPATH
Good books help us make sense of life. This is true with children’s literature, of course, and making sense of life has to do with faith. Storypath is a resource that offers suggestions about good children’s books, secular or not, to read with children that have messages about faith and life. Be sure to use the questions suggested in each entry to wonder aloud with your child after reading the book(s). Storypath’s tag line is “Connecting Children’s Literature with Our Faith Story,” and is a brought to you by United Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA.
http://storypath.upsem.edu/
GRACE AND GRATITUDE
Free materials for parents to use with children at home, based on--but not limited to--the curriculum of the same name brought to you by the people of the Presbyterian Church, USA, Congregational Ministries Publishing.
You can download "Grace Sightings,' or Audio recordings that include the story for the week’s session and age-appropriate activities for children to do at home with their parents or caregivers. With Grace Sightings, sessions reach beyond Sunday morning, encouraging children to live their lives as an expression of God’s grace at home and at school.
Check them out here: http://www.growinggracegratitude.org/for-the-home.html#ebook.
One of the very best places to be informed and energized about faith formation in families is Vibrant Faith. While the whole site is rich and invites your consideration, start here for a brief introduction about the why of taking the lead in helping your children grow in faith: http://vibrantfaith.org/2015/08/home-family-matters/.
Vibrant Faith has sections for Adult/Couple, Young Adult, Young Family, Teen Family, and Just for Kids. There are activities with suggested to-do plans for each time of the year, parenting articles, and a section called The Basics. The Basics includes how-to videos about prayer, Bible story, faith learning, and more. Here you will also find "Caring Conversations" and "Rituals and Traditions," which are a hallmark of Vibrant Faith. For the complete site click here: http://www.vibrantfaithathome.org/
BREAD NOT STONES
This is one of the best blogs about parenting and helping families grow in faith. Here are two favorite blogposts: one about some of the most important things author Rebecca Kirkpatrick identifies that parents need to know, http://www.breadnotstones.com/2012/05/ten-things-i-want-to-tell-parents.html.
Also worthy of reading is the post about ten things your child should know before they start confirmation class:
http://www.breadnotstones.com/2012/01/100-things-your-child-should-know.html.
WORSHIPING WITH CHILDREN
Another excellent contribution to help parents guide their children through the experience of worship is Carolyn Brown’s Worshipping With Children. Be sure to spend some time on her blog. Here’s a favorite post:
http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2015/08/sanctuary-scavenger-hunt-for-families.html?utm_content=buffer8acbf&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer.
Speaking of worship, read hear about Cary Presbyterian’s approach to children in worship: http://www.carypresbyterian.org/worship/children
CREATE, WORSHIP, LOVE
More about children and worship from Karen Ware Jackson. The blog entries are in categories such as Glitter, Parenting, Worship, and Transformation. This is written by the pastor of two preschoolers and is as much about how God works in our lives as it is about figuring out how to engage wiggly kids in the sanctuary.
http://www.karenwarejackson.com/blog
KEEPING SABBATH IN YOUR CRAZY LIFE
...and other important thoughts by Presbyterian pastor turned stay-at-home mom MaryAnn McKibben Dana gives much food for thought. Check out this video interview from PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2013/04/05/april-5-2013-keeping-the-sabbath/15715/#
Also, don't miss her The Blue Room blog about what matters in family life, raising children, and living a life of discipleship here and now: http://theblueroomblog.org/blog/.
STORYPATH
Good books help us make sense of life. This is true with children’s literature, of course, and making sense of life has to do with faith. Storypath is a resource that offers suggestions about good children’s books, secular or not, to read with children that have messages about faith and life. Be sure to use the questions suggested in each entry to wonder aloud with your child after reading the book(s). Storypath’s tag line is “Connecting Children’s Literature with Our Faith Story,” and is a brought to you by United Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, VA.
http://storypath.upsem.edu/
GRACE AND GRATITUDE
Free materials for parents to use with children at home, based on--but not limited to--the curriculum of the same name brought to you by the people of the Presbyterian Church, USA, Congregational Ministries Publishing.
You can download "Grace Sightings,' or Audio recordings that include the story for the week’s session and age-appropriate activities for children to do at home with their parents or caregivers. With Grace Sightings, sessions reach beyond Sunday morning, encouraging children to live their lives as an expression of God’s grace at home and at school.
Check them out here: http://www.growinggracegratitude.org/for-the-home.html#ebook.