Note: Cynthia Coe (www.ETChristianFormation.org) worked with Episcopal Relief & Development to develop our new children’s curriculum. We are extremely grateful to Cynthia for her expertise and efforts. –Brian Sellers-Petersen, Director of Church Engagement
Leading children in prayer, in the apostles’ teaching, and in seeking and serving others in Christ are among the most important aspects of any ministry with children. Any time we baptize a child, we pledge to teach these very values and concepts to our children and to try to live into them ourselves.
The Abundant Life Garden Project, a new children’s curriculum from Episcopal Relief & Development, is based solidly on these core values of our faith. This curriculum includes prayer and thanksgiving for the essential gifts from God and invites children (and their families) to participate in the ministry and mission of caring for people in need all over the world.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
In The Abundant Life Garden Project, the “breaking of bread” is both mystical and literal. Children might have snacks and fellowship, they might join together to share food with others in need across the world, and they might also break open the scriptures to change their lives and those of others. Each module of the program includes an opening prayer, a vivid litany of thanks, time for silent guided meditation, and a closing prayer related to the gift that is the focus of each module.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
A key element of this project is to lead children in truly seeking and serving Christ in all persons of all nationalities and all over the world. Through the Stories from the Field section, children will be introduced to real people served by the ministry of Episcopal Relief & Development, and they will likewise be invited to serve others.
Who are our neighbors? Through this project, we hope to introduce as our neighbors those living in extreme poverty in countries all over the world. We also hope to introduce specific needs of these neighbors and tangible ways in which they can be served.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
This last Baptismal Covenant pledge is central to the work of Episcopal Relief & Development and is at the core of this curriculum. The sharing of our resources is a justice issue. Each human being on this earth is worthy of dignity, and through the work of helping others to gain access to clean drinking water and a sustainable means of obtaining food, we hope to help those in need achieve dignity and justice. By alleviating hunger and water shortages, we also hope to work towards peace and towards a world in which those who are hungry are given food, the thirsty given something to drink, and resources are shared and not fought over.
The first module of The Abundant Life Garden Project, Water, is now available online at www.er-d.org/Children. Excellent resources for youth and adults are also available at www.er-d.org/Formation. You are invited to try these resources and lead children and your parish in truly seeking and serving others in Christ.
Blessings as we look towards Lent 2011,
Cynthia
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Cynthia Coe is a Christian formation consultant based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and a member of the Diocese of East Tennessee Christian Formation Team.
Sample artwork from The Abundant Life Garden Project by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham.
Leading children in prayer, in the apostles’ teaching, and in seeking and serving others in Christ are among the most important aspects of any ministry with children. Any time we baptize a child, we pledge to teach these very values and concepts to our children and to try to live into them ourselves.
The Abundant Life Garden Project, a new children’s curriculum from Episcopal Relief & Development, is based solidly on these core values of our faith. This curriculum includes prayer and thanksgiving for the essential gifts from God and invites children (and their families) to participate in the ministry and mission of caring for people in need all over the world.
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
In The Abundant Life Garden Project, the “breaking of bread” is both mystical and literal. Children might have snacks and fellowship, they might join together to share food with others in need across the world, and they might also break open the scriptures to change their lives and those of others. Each module of the program includes an opening prayer, a vivid litany of thanks, time for silent guided meditation, and a closing prayer related to the gift that is the focus of each module.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
A key element of this project is to lead children in truly seeking and serving Christ in all persons of all nationalities and all over the world. Through the Stories from the Field section, children will be introduced to real people served by the ministry of Episcopal Relief & Development, and they will likewise be invited to serve others.
Who are our neighbors? Through this project, we hope to introduce as our neighbors those living in extreme poverty in countries all over the world. We also hope to introduce specific needs of these neighbors and tangible ways in which they can be served. Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
This last Baptismal Covenant pledge is central to the work of Episcopal Relief & Development and is at the core of this curriculum. The sharing of our resources is a justice issue. Each human being on this earth is worthy of dignity, and through the work of helping others to gain access to clean drinking water and a sustainable means of obtaining food, we hope to help those in need achieve dignity and justice. By alleviating hunger and water shortages, we also hope to work towards peace and towards a world in which those who are hungry are given food, the thirsty given something to drink, and resources are shared and not fought over.
The first module of The Abundant Life Garden Project, Water, is now available online at www.er-d.org/Children. Excellent resources for youth and adults are also available at www.er-d.org/Formation. You are invited to try these resources and lead children and your parish in truly seeking and serving others in Christ.
Blessings as we look towards Lent 2011,
Cynthia
----------
Cynthia Coe is a Christian formation consultant based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and a member of the Diocese of East Tennessee Christian Formation Team.
Sample artwork from The Abundant Life Garden Project by the Rev. Jay Sidebotham.
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