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Hello Faith Formation Community,

It feels as though every time I begin the process of putting an update together, I come back and change directions. Whether it be a global pandemic, a mass shooting, or what has unfolded over the ten days following the murder of George Floyd. I am reminded, once again, that God often chooses to take me on detour.

There has been a lot to process since May 25th. I have learned in my own life that if something makes me feel uncomfortable I need to pay attention and look within myself. If talking about race or racism, or the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others is uncomfortable, please seek out someone to talk with. Be sure it is a person who will listen to you, respect where you are, and push you to dig deeper inside yourself. Aren't sure who that might be? Your priest or youth minister are good places to start. If you need more support or resources, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I will do my best to connect you.

In this email you will find some resources available now. More will be coming in the days and weeks. I encourage you to go slow if you are just starting out. It can feel a lot like drinking from a fire hose, as the old saying goes. The ECYC began to work through the first part of the Dismantling Racism Curriculum for Youth, which was developed by the Diocese of Atlanta in conjunction with T h e Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. We are working on ways for young people and young adults around the diocese to engage in this important work as a community.

On Sunday, May 31st, Pentecost, Presiding Bishop Curry's sermon was live-streamed at the Washington Nation Cathedral. He also had an OpEd published in the Washington Post, and wrote " Violence against any person is violence against a child of God, created in God’s image. And that ultimately is violence against God, which is blasphemy — the denial of the God whose love is the root of genuine justice and true human dignity and equality."

As we seek to make sense of events unfolding around us, I remind myself that all human beings are created in God's image, in God's likeness, and through our baptism we are called to respect the dignity of every human being.

Stay safe and well,

Program Officer for Youth, College Campus and Young Adult Ministries
Prayer for People Who are Hurt and Abused
Carry each other's burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ - Galatians 6:2

Loving God,
in Jesus you were bullied, beaten, and killed.
You are always on the side of those
whose souls or bodies are mistreated;
help us to embrace those who are hurting;
fill us with your spirit of healing,
and give us the courage to stand beside them,
and the wisdom to prevent violence and abuse
from happening again. Amen.
Posts about how to talk about Race and Racism
with Children and Young People

Talking with our children about race • Wendy Claire Barrie. Wendy is author of Faith at Home: A Handbook for Cautiously Christian Parents and Editor at Church Publishing.

Teaching Tips on Race & Racism • Building Faith - This post includes question and conversation starting prompts for pre-school through elementary age school children.

Processing Racialized Violence with Middle and High School Students • Ask, listen, and pray with young people, using Fuller Youth Institute's in depth post for youth and parish leaders on how to begin, foster and continue faith based conversations with young people about racial violence.

How to talk to kids about racism, protests and injustice: It's OK not to have all the answers. It's important to have the conversation • From the TodayShow Parents , this post features experts from the American Academy of Pediatrics, links to resources from the American Psychological Association, and EmbraceRace . It includes age appropriate conversation points for young children through high school aged young people. 
Book List for ALL AGES
Babies to Adults

This well curated list entitled Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Anti-Racist Resource List for Students and Families was compiled by the librarians at St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School in Washington, DC on June 1, 2020.

The list is divided into the following age sections:
Early Childhood
Early Elementary
Upper Elementary
Middle & High School
Adult
For Adults • Curriculum & Posts

Church Next • Series on Racial Justice . This is a series including many social justice topics for adults. Course are available for purchase some are designed for groups and others for individual study.

CodeSwitch • A podcast produced by NPR recommended in The Episcopal Church's resource list on Racial Reconciliation and Justice . It is "...a multi-racial, multi-generational team of journalists fascinated by the overlapping themes of race, ethnicity and culture, how they play out in our lives and communities, and how all of this is shifting.
Worship Resources

An Interfaith Litany Against Violence • Written by Rev. Laura Everett following the Boston Marathon bombing. It is adaptable for current times .

Prayers for Racial Reconciliation and Justice • Provided and by The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music for the Episcopal Church, this link provides a four sets of Prayers of the People a Litany of Repentance and Commissioning for the Ministry of Justice and Reconciliation.
From at home kits, to video series, to book reading, the following resources are some ways to equip families of all constellations to engage with the Bible and others while at home.

This wonderfully creative resource is available both to individuals or as parishes. Story Makers is "dedicated to new ways to share God's redemptive narrative found in the Bible." There goal, through creative play for children and adults is to make stories in the Bible come alive.
• Videos are free to view
• A variety of products can be purchased, some for download others would be shipped.
• Can be purchased individually or parishes can purchase in bulk, tiered based on parish size.
• a great way to engage families with young children to early teens in at home faith formation over the summer

•Downloadable resource with featuring 6 sessions
• Each session features a song (MP3 download is part of the product) that will bring a bible story or theological idea to life. The song serves as jumping off point for conversations among families, individuals, or children can all enjoy.
• Individuals can purchase and tiered pricing is available for parishes who wish to provide the resource
• Other resources from The SALT Project include videos and video production

A series of videos created by Lifelong Learning at Virginia Seminary with Dorothy Linthicum . Dorothy is the author of Redeeming Dementia: Spirituality, Theology and Science . She has taught at Virginia Seminary, focuses on ministry with older adults and is currently working in a small church collaborative project in the Diocese of Arkansas.

• Designed for people of ALL ages, with conversation options broken into small children, elementary school, youth, and adult.
• Invites people into the practice of reading, reflecting, and responding to Scripture texts from the Revised Common Lectionary
• Free, emailed on Wednesday of each week

• These calendar planning grids created and and revised by Sharon Pearson annually
• They are divided by season and include the readings and assigned Propers for each week
Curriculum Grids & Guides

T hese are grids focused mostly on curriculums used for in person formation. As more hybrid resources become available, they will be shared.

• 2020 Youth Curriculum Grids and Adult grids will be available soon.
Youth & Campus Ministry Information


Please join us for a conversation and check in either:
Tuesday, June 9th from 4:00 - 5:15
or
Wednesday, June 10th from 7:30 - 8:45

Registration is required to receive the zoom link.

Click HERE to register
 Campus Ministry Connection
High school seniors and current college students headed to universities and colleges across North Carolina can connect with the Episcopal Campus Ministry through "Just One Thing."

This one-page form will send contact information for the student to the Campus Ministry on college campuses where there are ministries. In the Diocese of East Carolina, this includes ECU in Greenville and UNCW in Wilmington.

In addition connections can be made at Fayetteville State University.

Click HERE  to fill out the form for "Just One Thing" and get connected with an Episcopal Campus Ministry near you .

Want to connect a student to a campus ministry beyond North Carolina? Contact Emily Gowdy Canady for assistance!
The Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina | 252-522-0885 | www.diocese-eastcarolina.org