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Read the Summer 2008 newsletter

 
  Starting POINT  
 

Although we try to stay in the moment — Vacation Bible School, youth mission trips, intergenerational summer Sunday school — fall is just around the corner!

Do you feel it? It is more than the passing of time. It is the increase in calls from congregations seeking assistance. It is queries from POINT representatives helping congregations plan dynamic ministries year round. It is that time of year.

Many network members, serving their own congregations or presbyteries, find themselves involved in summer ministry that is rich and full and exploring new possibilities for discipleship in the church.

God bless each of you as you fulfill your own call and serve the greater church!

Candace C. Hill
Coordinator, Christian Education/POINT

 
             
Flash POINT  
 

(news that is hot and timely)Graphic: POINTing to Font & Table

This is the time of year when many of you begin to look for a box of resources and other ideas to support congregations with their educational ministry this fall.

As noted in the e-news earlier this summer, better stewardship of resources and new ways to equip the team are the order of the day.

Those new to POINT, appointed between June 2007 and the present, will receive a box of samples from Congregational Ministries Publishing. This donation will contain a past quarter of We Believe for a variety of ages. If available, the box will also contain LifeSongs materials.  

Veterans are asked to use materials from past shipments for their displays or face-to-face consultations. If available, visit your presbytery resource center for current resources.

When researching curricula through a variety of publishers, you will notice that many offer samples online for free download. Products now distributed by CMP, such as Faith For Life2, will soon do the same: provide samples online or by e-mail attachment. You will be notified when this information becomes available.

Many of you have asked about plans to introduce and interpret We Believe curriculum for 2009 and beyond. Flyers for the newly developed or revised curriculum from CMP are now available. If you have high speed internet, these flyers can be delivered to you by e-mail. Also watch for this information posted soon on the We Belieive Web site.

Other plans for congregational support include:

  • A curriculum workshop from CMP at 2009 POINT training
  • A hospitality suite at APCE to view materials and visit with the writers and editorial staff
  • Samples of newly revised and developed materials for Fall 2009.

More information coming soon!

 
           
  Graphic for POINT of Reference  
 

POINT LogoOne of the important initiatives going to the General Assembly this summer is a two-year emphasis on church growth, “Growing God’s Church Deep and Wide.” If adopted, congregations with the support of the General Assembly Council will be encouraged to deepen commitment in three areas:

• Grow the church: invite person’s to attend, baptize children and adults, and increase membership

• Grow in discipleship: rediscover Scripture, nurture spirituality, affirm our Reformed heritage, embrace stewardship in all of life

• Grow into diversity: welcome everyone, learn from others, reflect the world

This three-fold emphasis has the potential to bring the Good News to the world in new ways and vitality to the mission and ministry of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

The question for those of us who serve through Presbyterians Organized in Nurture & Teaching (POINT) and through our call to Christian education is this, “How can we help?”

The first answer for how we help may be this: to start conversations, asking even more questions of ourselves and the congregations we serve and support!

How and what are we doing now to encourage church growth? How do we invite others through testimony? How do we encourage quality growth as we seek quantity? How do we help disciples discover their Bible and live their Reformed faith through practice and Christian vocation? What does it mean to truly welcome and learn from others? How can we reflect the love of Christ to the world around us?

Members of POINT attending 2008 training were asked to have a conversation around one small piece of this bigger picture: “What is the role of Christian education in making disciples through congregations?” Here are some of the thoughts that were shared around the tables.

  1. Our role is to ignite passion for a relationship with God through inspired teaching, personal testimony, outreach and witness.
  2. We provide the setting for hospitality and learning to take place.
  3. Discipleship begins with relationships: teacher to child; mentor to youth; friend to adult. These relationships are our primary role.
  4. We open the door to growing relationships with God through content steeped in the context of covenant communities.
  5. We model lives of faith for those who are also seeking, growing and learning.
  6. Our role through the church is to offer the context and contact where change can take place.
  7. We are to model, mold, love, build through relationships that are present through crisis, connect during life’s milestones, and celebrate God’s work in our lives and world.
  8. Christian education can facilitate the opportunities for members to encounter God. This happens best with frequent conversations and planning between leaders, committees and those who define the life of the church together.
  9. If we love the stories we teach, we will teach others to love the God of the stories.
  10. Create a safe space for discussion and questions.

These ten ideas are only a few of responses about the role of Christian education to facilitate discipleship. It is an important and holistic role in the life of our congregations!

When we consider the initiative coming before the General Assembly, “Growing God’s Church Deep and Wide,” and think about our role to make disciples through education, we can get excited and a bit overwhelmed. We get excited to imagine the many ways we are called to help congregations as they prepare hearts and minds to respond to God’s presence in the world. We get overwhelmed about the how-to’s and the when and where.

Possibly the place to start is to recommit our own lives to the God revealed in scripture and to reclaim our passion for God’s church that “Growing God’s Church Deep and Wide” will require from each of us.

 
             
  POINTS of Contact  
  Talking POINTS, a private chat room for ministry that explores ideas with other POINT team members.

Candace C. Hill
Coordinator for Christian education
(888)728-7228, x5166

Vennie Constant
Administrative Assistant, Christian Education
(888) 728-7228, x5460

Michael W. Purintun
Associate, Christian Education
Middle Governing Bodies
(888) 728-7228, x5192

Cristina Pitts
Spanish Language Curriculum Helpline
(800) 468-2398 
 
Carrie McCollough
English Language Curriculum Helpline
(888) 728-7228, x5522
 
Minjung Ko
Korean Language Curriculum Helpline 
(888) 728-7228, x5478

 
             
  Tipping POINTS  
 

Devotional Reading from Witherspoon Press

Witherspoon Press, an imprint of Congregational Ministries Publishing, offers a variety of books to explore issues of faith, most recently the Great Ends of the Church series.

A new devotional reading series, iBelieve, is now available from Witherspoon Press. The first title, The Apostles’ Creed, was issued this spring with other books in the series coming throughout the year. Each book contains 40 readings for personal reflection.

Books in the iBelieve series also include a study guide with several sessions for small group ministry. Consider the iBelieve series for your individual or adult study group. Visit  the Witherpoon Press Web site to order or call PDS, (800) 524-2612.

Faith Formation for Families with Tweens

Be Tween, Exploring Faith & Christian Life with Older Elementary Children, is a new resource for family faith formation from our Ministries with Youth office. The resource includes 8 sessions for parents and 8 sessions for tweens, plus a session for a joint overnight that could be used to launch the program with or without an overnight. This resource can be ordered by calling PDS (800) 524-2612 and asking for item #2116408001 or on Marketplace.

 
             
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  For more information: Candace Hill – (888) 728-7228 x 5166 - send email - or write to 100 Witherspoon Street, Louisville, KY 40202 Email Candace Hill  
     
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