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Hi Friends,
Happy Summer! I hope this email finds you well. This month's newsletter covers some early Fall topics including an all-church prayer activity idea for Backpack Blessings, a new curriculum from the Episcopal Church for adult groups, a video-based idea for Adult formation, and information about several upcoming events.
Children and Family Ministry and Youth Ministry quarterly online gatherings will continue this Fall starting in September; the dates and Zoom info are below. In addition to these gatherings we'll be meeting in-person at St. Helena's Church in Boerne on August 19 for a one-day Summit. Please take a look at that event as well and consider joining us if you are able!
As you begin or continue to make plans for Fall formation please feel free to reach out to me for suggestions or just a sounding board. In this month's newsletter I am so grateful to be able to include a school prayer idea from St. Helena's Episcopal Church and a Holy Week box idea from St. Mark's San Marcos. If you have an idea from your congregation that you'd like to share please send me an email with a few photos and I will share it either on the Facebook page or in an upcoming newsletter or both!
God's Peace,
Suzanna
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Children, Youth, & Family Resources | |
Backpack Blessing Resources
The start of a new school year is a great time to think about doing a Backpack Blessing at your church. Many churches do this either the Sunday before school starts or a Sunday right around when the first few schools start back for the Fall if you have several schools in your community that start at different times. Backpack blessings can be for all ages. You can invite children, youth, and college students to bring school bags, and adults to bring their work bag for a blessing.
Click here for a few options of blessings to use during your service. At the same link you'll also find a 'Blessing for Schools' developed by St. Helena's, Boerne. During the backpack blessing at St. Helena's congregants are given this prayer, then invited to go and pray over their child's school or their church school (if they do not have school-aged children) after the service. Feel free to use these prayers with your own congregation!
Have a blessing in mind but need tag ideas? Here are a few:
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Forma Membership and New Online Platform!
In the spring of 2022, Forma, the Network for Christian Formation for the Episcopal Church and beyond, became part of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary. After a year of transition and planning, Forma is now accepting membership dues through a brand new platform: The Forma Space on VTS Plus. I have been enjoying exploring this new platform and already attended a Zoom gathering for other diocesan Christian Formation leaders who are a part of Forma!
Forma members get access to a searchable resource library, a 25% discount on Lifelong Learning programs, a calendar of professional development opportunities, and more. Benefits are accessed through The Forma Space on VTS Plus. To learn more and join, Click here!
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Did you know that diocesan Continuing Education Grants are available to both clergy and lay professionals who seek to expand their knowledge and skills in areas of church ministry? Click here to learn more about who is eligible and to apply for a grant. | |
Adult Formation Resources | |
Creation Care Small Group Curriculum
This month The Episcopal Church has premiered a new curriculum called "Love God, Love God's World." This nine-session, film-based curriculum is ideal for Episcopalians on the journey with creation care and environmental ministry. Click here to find out more!
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The Chosen TV Show as a Bible Study
The Chosen is the first multi-season television show about the life of Jesus. A few churches in our diocese have used The Chosen as a Bible study or Sunday School curriculum. They watch an episode together and then have some discussion on it. While The Chosen has a curriculum booklet there are also a few free discussion guides such as this one or this one available online. Click here to access The Chosen videos.
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Youth, Children, and Family Ministry Summit: August 19 | |
Sign up today for the Youth, Children, and Family Leader's Summit taking place Saturday, August 19 at St. Helena's, Boerne. The Bishop's Youth Commission and Christian Formation Committee are excited to welcome Ewart G. Jones, Jr., Wiess College Coordinator at Rice University and former Director of Youth and Young Adult Minister for the Diocese of Texas, will be the guest speaker.
Beginning at 9:00 a.m. the Summit will include breakout sessions, time for fellowship, and conversation with ministry leaders from around the diocese; the one-day event will wrap up by 3:30 p.m. All youth, children, and family leaders-paid and unpaid, lay and ordained-are invited to attend. Lunch and snacks will be provided.
Click here to download the Sharing Toolkit to invite others to this event, and register using the button below.
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Waitlist Available for the August Godly Play Core Training | |
The Episcopal Diocese of West Texas' Christian Formation Committee will host a Godly Play Core Training August 3 - 5 at St. Luke’s, San Antonio. This three-day workshop for lay leaders as well as clergy will provide participants with a foundation to lead Godly Play sessions in their own communities.
The maximum number of training participants has been reached.
To join the waitlist and receive information about possible future training events, contact Suzanna Green at formation@dwtx.org.
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Learning to Guide: July 22 or Aug. 6 and 13 | |
St. Luke's, San Antonio is hosting two Learning to Guide: Facilitating Group Discussions gatherings in July and August.
You are invited to gather for a time of learning and reflection on what it means to facilitate group discussions. The resources and practices shared can be applied to Bible studies, Sunday school classes, small groups, and other formation and group gatherings.
Whether you are brand new to facilitating or have years of experience, this event will give you new tools and ideas to bring to your group. Topics will include how to start a group, best practices, and resource sharing. Lay persons who feel called to facilitate groups at their church, but might feel intimidated or that they don’t have expert knowledge are particularly encouraged to join us.
There are two opportunities to attend this training, one single Saturday morning session in July OR two shorter Sunday morning sessions in August.
- Saturday, July 22 (10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
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Sundays, August 6 and13 (10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.)
Contact the Rev. Reagan Gonzalez, Associate Rector of St. Luke's, San Antonio, to RSVP.
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Quarterly Ministry Zooms: September 14 and 19 | |
Make plans to join the Christian Formation Ministry Fall Planning Meetings on Zoom.
Youth Ministry Planning:
Thursday, September 14 at 12:00 p.m.
Click here to join the Zoom meeting on September 14.
Children's Ministry Planning:
Tuesday, September 19 at 2:00 p.m.
Click here to join the Zoom meeting on September 19.
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Holy Week Boxes
Here's a great activity from St. Mark's Episcopal Church in San Marcos. Before the start of Holy Week, each child received a Holy Week Box with several tactile materials to use throughout the week. Children also got to customize their boxes during Sunday school before taking them home. Tamara Downey, Director of Children and Family Ministries wrote prayers to use for each day. Click the button below to save the activity document for next Lent!
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