On-line Resources
from Lorna MacQueen, Conference Minister - Faith Formation for Discipleship
| Bulletin Covers and Graphics |
| Children and Youth |
| Church Leadership Resources |
| Discernment |
| Ecology & Climate Change |
| Families |
| Miscellaneous |
| Online Bibles |
| Outreach and Social Action |
| Spiritual Practices |
Bulletin Covers and Graphics
Good News for the Diaspora: http://www.scholia.net/bulletins.htm
Gilead Institute: http://www.gilead.net/bulletins/bulletins.html
Cerezo Barredo's weekly gospel illustration: http://www.servicioskoinonia.org/cerezo/
The Painted Prayerbook: http://paintedprayerbook.com/the-painted-prayerbook/. With original artwork by Jan Richardson, this blog explores the intersections of writing, art, and faith with a weekly reflection on a lectionary text.
Children and Youth
The Search institute (discovering what kids need to succeed): http://www.search-institute.org/downloads - downloadable resources on mentoring, development assets, asset building communities and faith communities… and more.
Way to Live: http://waytolive.org is a free, engaging online resource offered to animate the book: ‘Way to Live’ – Christian Practices for Teens. A free leaders guide is posted which enables those interested to check out the material before ordering the book. Christian Practices as defined by Craig Dykstra: "Christian practices are not activities we do to make something spiritual happen in our lives. Nor are they duties we undertake to be obedient to God. Rather, they are patterns of communal action that create openings in our lives where the grace, mercy, and presence of God may be made known to us. They are places where the power of God is experienced. In the end, these are not ultimately our practices but forms of participation in the practice of God."
Eco Curriculum: If you are looking for a Sunday School or Youth Group curriculum that has an ecological standpoint, Eco Justice has 66 titles in its data base: http://www.eco-justice.org/CurricReview.asp They are of various lengths, some being only one lesson, and some being an entire curriculum. Many are 4-8 sessions in length. The site includes reviews of the noted curricula.
Children and nature Network: www.childrenandnature.org. "The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) was created to encourage and support the people and organizations working worldwide to reconnect children with nature. C&NN provides access to the latest news and research in the field and a peer-to-peer network of researchers and individuals, educators and organizations dedicated to children's health and well-being." (from the web site)
Helping Youth understand conflict and their response to it: Youth Peace Resources through the Mennonite Church USA: http://peace.mennolink.org/resources/conflictyouth/index.html. Includes a Conflict style inventory and a leader’s guide.
Interactive ANTI-BULLYING Web site: http://www.teamheroes.ca/website/meet.html
We Are Camp!: a new online social networking site for the United Church Camping community: http://unitedcamping.ning.com/main/authorization/signUp.
A youth ministry bibliography: http://www.emergingdesigns.org/biblio.html
Immerse: A Journal of faith, life and youth ministry: http://www.immersejournal.com
Youth Ministry Stuff: http://ymstuff.weebly.com/index.html
Deepening faith: Youth Ministry Resources: http://tcpc.org/library/deepening_faith
Rethinking youth ministry: http://www.rethinkingyouthministry.com/p/test.html
Church Leadership Resources
The Alban Institute: http://www.alban.org is a widely respected institute providing many resources, printed and experiential addressing the concerns of the church in the world and educating leadership. ‘Webinars’ (Web based seminars) make learning more accessible to those with computers and internet access.
The Text this week: Lectionary resources: http://www.textweek.com. If you are not already familiar with this site, you need to take a look. It hosts links to exegesis, commentaries, media, images, related liturgies and more.
Uniting Ministries: http://www.united-church.ca/communications/newsletters/unitingministries. A General Council Office e-newsletter (six/year) seeks to connect and support diverse ministries and provide opportunities to learn about, network and share with UCC ministries.
Men’s Ministry Network page: http://www.united-church.ca/allages/adults/men/network.This may be particularly helpful if you are considering starting or revitalizing a men’s ministry of men's group.
Faithfulness in Hard Times - Resources for Churches Navigating the Current Financial Crisis is offered by The United Methodist Foundation of the Northwest at: http://www.umfnw.org
Duty of Care information is available on the UCC site: http://www.united-church.ca/local/duty. ‘The Duty of Care Program works to protect individuals through developing, implementing, and monitoring compliance with administrative standards.’ It is a good idea for congregations to review Duty of Care periodically.
Faithful Footsteps: Screening Procedures for those in positions of trust in the United Church of Canada. http://www.united-church.ca/files/handbooks/faithfulfootsteps.pdf.
Privacy Information for Congregations is also available on the National Website: http://www.united-church.ca/local/privacy. It is a good idea for congregations to review this periodically. This document may be particularly helpful: http://www.united-church.ca/files/local/privacy/faq.pdf
The Lewis Center for Church Leadership ‘seeks to advance the understanding of Christian leadership and promote the effective and faithful practice of Christian leadership in the church and the world… serves as a resource for clergy and lay leaders, congregations, and denominational leaders…www.churchleadership.com
Resources on The Golden Rule: Workshop guidelines, meditation exercises and other resources are available for teaching and reflection with young people or adults. Scarboro Mission Site: http://www.scarboromissions.ca/Golden_rule/index.php
Worship Central: http://www.worshipcentral.org. “Our vision is to encounter God, equip the worshipper and empower the local church”. Non-denominational, it is an interesting resource for worship leaders looking for ways to be ‘current.’
Discernment
Programs for the theological exploration of vocation: http://www.ptev.org
Designed to inspire vocational thinking in college aged students, this site and related program is not limited to thinking about ‘church vocations’ but the larger issue of ‘living lives that matter’ in many contexts.
Discernment of call to ‘ordered ministry’: http://www.askthequestion.org/default.htm The United Church of Christ (USA) provides resources for ministry vocational discernment
Explore Ministry is a site sponsored by the Fund for Theological Education (USA) which seeks to inspire and enable young people to respond to God’s calling, especially in the vocations of ordered ministry and teaching: http://www.exploreministry.org/home/index.php
Lay Training Centers - United Church of Canada: http://www.united-church.ca/contact/centres
Theological Schools - United Church of Canada: www.united-church.ca/contact/schools
Ecology & Climate Change
Greening Sacred Spaces: released by Faith and the Common Good: www.faith-commongood.net/gss. "A Practical Guide to Improving Energy Efficiency of your Religious Buildings." This resource includes materials on helpful regular building maintenance. It also details a wide range of retrofits that can help save energy, greenhouse gasses, and money. The kit usually sells for around $45.
The Green Church Project (GCP): http://www.greenchurchproject.org/green is a ministry of the United Church of Canada that aims to empower congregations and ministry sites in adopting environmentally aware practices in their community operations as well as promoting a healing relationship with the natural world. Inspired by the New Creed of our denomination which reminds us to “live with respect in Creation,” we are searching for new and more just ways of being the church in light of the ecological crisis that is faced by our planet.
Rideau Environmental Action League web site has a wealth of information for those interested in educating themselves further around issues of sustainability and ecology (and Green Gardening): http://www.realaction.ca/greengardening.htm.
Eco Curriculum: If you are looking for a Sunday School or Youth Group curriculum that has an ecological standpoint, Eco Justice has 66 titles in its data base: http://www.eco-justice.org/CurricReview.asp They are of various lengths, some being only one lesson, and some being an entire curriculum. Many are 4-8 sessions in length. The site includes reviews of the noted curricula.
Eco-Justice Ministries: an independent, ecumenical agency that helps churches answer the call to care for all of God's creation, and develop ministries that are faithful, relevant and effective in working toward social justice and environmental sustainability. http://www.eco-justice.org
The Oil Depletion Protocol: http://www.oildepletionprotocol.org/theprotocol
Platet Friendly - A Guide to Sustainable Living: http://www.planetfriendly.net/living.html
The Green Pages: http://www.thegreenpages.ca/portal/ca
Energy Returned on Energy Invested: http://www.eroei.com
Climate Action Network Canada: http://www.climateactionnetwork.ca/e
Post Carbon Institute: http://www.postcarbon.org
Maritime Conference Church in Action ENVIRONMENTAL WORKING GROUP: http://www.marconf.ca/cia-ewg.htm
Earthabby: http://www.earthabbey.com - a movement of people helping one another to live more in tune with the earth, to promote relational and compassion toward the earth and its creatures. Our inspiration derives from Jesus of Nazareth whose life and mission was to bring about a peace which embraces all creation.
Families
CANGRANDS: http://www.cangrands.com is a national internet support group for kinship families raising 'other people's children'. According to Stats Canada, 70,000 grandparents are raising grandchildren with no biological parent in the home, and little government support. There are 20,000 kinship children in Ontario. CANGRANDS invites grandparents and Kinship families raising grandchildren or extended family members to their site on-line where they answer frequently asked questions of a practical nature including legal and health questions. Their aim is to support grandparents and Kinship families.
Miscellaneous
It is important to be aware of maintaining safe places of worship and work. It is helpful to have a plan and to think seriously about how to ensure the safety of our people in the church context. Please look to the GC website http://www.united-church.ca/local/duty/emergency for more information on how we might do this best as church.
Faith and Wisdom: Life Long learning opportunities for people of faith. http://www.faithandwisdom.org/default.asp. This site is a helpful tool for those seeking Life Long Learning opportunities.
This Magazine: http://this.org “… This Magazine is one of Canada’s longest-publishing alternative journals. … This Magazine focuses on Canadian politics, pop culture and the arts, but in keeping with its radical roots never pulls punches…”
Great Treasures: A Site for studying the Greek New Testament:http://www.greattreasures.org/gnt/main.do. This site is not particularly user-friendly but similar to some purchasable software offers good materials for free.
Embody: http://www.embody.co.uk. A very creative site to ‘create’, ‘coach’, ‘venture’, ‘resource’ spiritual growth.
Online Bibles
New Revised Standard Version online: http://www.devotions.net/bible/00bible.htm
Oremus: http://bible.oremus.org
Bible Gateway: http://www.biblegateway.com
Biblos http://biblos.com With concordance, dictionary, multi lingual, lexicon, parallel translations, maps, cross references, links to various (dated) commentaries and Hebrew/Greek.
Blue Letter Bible: http://www.blueletterbible.org
Outreach and Social Action
InterPares - http://www.interpares.ca “The name Inter Pares means “among equals” in Latin, and reflects our belief in the equality of people, North and South. Inter Pares was founded … on a commitment to address conflict and injustice …We are also concerned with our role as Canadians in sustaining injustice abroad … – and believe it is our responsibility to address these issues, while also confronting inequality and injustice here at home.”
Common Dreams (net) - http://www.commondreams.org “CommonDreams.org is a national nonprofit, progressive, nonpartisan citizens' organization … We are a powerful online voice for change in America. Our mission: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.”
Gender Diversity: In Nov., 2008 a motion was approved by the General Council Executive, instructing staff in the General Council Office to develop resources to encourage the participation and ministry of transgender people in the United Church. This work is just beginning. There are, however, some resources available on the United Church Website. http://www.united-church.ca/exploring/trans
Spiritual Practices
Practicing Our Faith: http://www.practicingourfaith.org was launched to further the invitation extended in Dorothy Bass’ book, Practicing our Faith. The site links to a free online Library of resources, sermons, and study guides which are free to read, use and print.
Christian Mystics.com: http://christianmystics.com. “Mysticism, according to its historical and psychological definitions, is the direct intuition or experience of God; and a mystic is a person who has, to a greater or less degree, such a direct experience — one whose religion and life are centered, not merely on an accepted belief or practice, but on that which the person regards as first hand personal knowledge.” Evelyn Underhill Brian Robertson hosts this engaging, free site that offers an introduction to Christian Mysticism, a library, podcasts, blogs and related links.
The World in Prayer: http://www.worldinprayer.org. World in Prayer is a ministry of the Episcopal Church of St. John the Baptist Lodi, California, USA, and is written by a team of writers representing different denominations throughout the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Every week the site offers prayer which responds to concerns from around the world. It is a powerful resource for those preparing liturgies or those who wish to hold the world in personal prayer.
Spirit Given Gifts: http://www.spiritgivengifts.com. This website offers a number of resources to help you identify your ‘spiritual gifts’ and access to an online Questionnaire. An interesting ‘beginning place’ for thinking about Spiritual gifts.
Spiritual Gift Inventories: Google "Spiritual Gift Inventory."
Explorefaith.org - ‘Spiritual guidance for anyone seeking a path to God.’ Committed to ongoing spiritual formation for people from diverse backgrounds and denominations, their statement is: We believe in an embracing, forgiving and merciful God whose chief characteristic is love. We believe God is constantly reaching out to us and that we can experience the heart of God through Jesus Christ. We believe that Christ bridges the chasms that separate us from God, and we seek to follow Christ's teachings in faith and action. http://www.explorefaith.org
Spirituality and Practice: Resources for Spiritual Journeys - http://www.spiritualityandpractice.com. With an inter-faith focus, it offers a number of resources including very reasonably priced e-courses, online retreats and spiritual practices.
Looking for a Spiritual Director or to find out more about Spiritual Direction: http://www.sdo-network.com
Spiritual Practice, Quaker Practice: http://www.nyym.org/spark/spqp.pdf
Ignatian Spirituaity: http://ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen
The Fellowship of the Least Coin: http://www.flc.net.ph is ‘world-wide ecumenical movement of prayer for peace, justice and reconciliation. Through this movement Christian women around the world seek fellowship with each other and are reminded to live a reconciled and forgiving life with others.’
Praying for the World: a Seven –Week Course by Andee Zetterbaun: http://www.worldinprayer.org/class/Praying_for_World_Class.pdf. Engage with the world and with our own spiritual lives and with God through prayer. This is a free online resource for individuals or small groups who wish to begin to wrestle with praying for the world. Heart, mind, soul, God and neighbor are engaged in this resource. The resource is free for personal or church use. Simply tell them how you use the material: worldinprayer@aol.com.
Supported by the Mission & Service Fund