|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Youth & Family
Ministry Resources
Ideas to Help Pass on the Faith
|
|
|
If you're looking for ideas
to help with your youth or family ministry, you've come to the
right place.
The Northeastern Iowa Synod's Home Life
Network offers this page
of ideas, experiences, crafts and educational resources to
help Sunday school teachers, youth and family ministers, pastors,
parents and others pass on the faith to children and families in
their congregations.
You'll find ideas and resources on the topics
listed below. Many more will be added, so come back often to
see what's new or to submit ideas of your own!
SHARE YOUR IDEAS
 If
you have an idea or resource that you
would like to share or if you
would like more information
about any of the items listed on this page, send an email or
call the synod office, 319-352-1414.
Submit your idea or question.
|
 YOUTH MINISTRY
LEADERSHIP TRAINING
The Northeastern Iowa Synod will offer a variety of free
seminars, webinars and special events in 2011-2012 for youth
ministry leaders, pastors, congregational members, and parents
planning to attend the 2012 Youth Gathering in New Orleans.
View complete schedule and read more about these learning
opportunities.
Training
Events - 2 p.m.
2011
Nov. 20 -
Strategic Planning, (webinar)
Dec. 4 - Leading a Small Group, (webinar)
Dec. 18 - Faith Conversations, (webinar)
2012
Jan. 8 - Planning for the Unexpected (webinar)
Jan. 22 - Lutheran Theology: How God is at Work in the World (webinar)
Feb. 5 - Lutheran Theology: How Lutherans Read the Bible (webinar)
Feb. 8-12 - Continuing Education Event for Adult Leaders of the ELCA
Youth Ministry Extravaganza in New Orleans
March - Northeastern Iowa Synod’s LYO Assembly (date TBD)
March 4 - Your Role as a Leader (webinar)
March 18 - Strategic Planning (webinar)
April 1 - Leading a Small Group (webinar)
April 15 - Faith Conversations (webinar)
May 6 - Planning for the Unexpected (webinar)
July 18-22 - ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans
Previous
Training Events
Did you miss
a training event? You can still participate by
watching a video of the live event or webinar:
Opportunity of Despair: Youth Ministry at the
Crossroads, April 9, 2011
http://elcaymnet.org/Video%20Resources/terrielton
Youth Ministry Events as Faith Formation Part 1
http://elcaymnet.org/Video%20Resources/shivonmiller
Lutheran Theology: How God is at Work in the World,
Sept. 18,
2011
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/635463254
|
|
milestone MINISTRIES
Blessing
of the Hands
NEW ITEM!
 A service recognizing and celebrating the work of health
care professionals, social workers, first responders,
emergency management agencies, public works and disaster
services.
Blessing of Hands Worship Bulletin 
Blessing of Hands Leaders Litany
Teach
Us to Pray
 St. John Lutheran of Nashua, Iowa, invited parents to join
their preschool and kindergarten children for a "Teach
Us to Pray" milestone ministry focusing on prayer and talking
with God.
Families came forward during worship to receive a blessing, a
special prayer pillow, and prayer booklet. The families also
participated in the Sunday School Hour to experience talking
with God together.
The church's WELCA quilters made the 12 x 12" pillows, each
with a pocket sewn on front to hold the prayer booklet. It is
hoped that the gift of the prayer pillow will help parents
talk with their children about the importance of prayer in all
of our lives and encourage their children to talk to God, even
at such a young age.
Prayer Event Letter to Parents
Teach Us to Pray Bulletin Insert
Prayer Booklet
 Backpack
Blessings
Blessings of the Backpack
Backpack Prayer
Baptism Birthday
Baptismal
Birthday Brochure
|
|
children's worship services
 Children's
Sabbath
A
worship service to celebrate children and keep them safe.
Worship Bulletin
PowerPoint Presentation
Family Friendly Worship
Active participation of worshipers of all ages, including a
special Children's Church.
Order of Worship
AFTER-SCHOOL
PROGRAMS
 Kids Klub
Bethlehem Lutheran of Cedar Falls
shares some of the curriculum from its Wednesday night
after-school program, Kids Klub.
|
|
 LENT & EASTER
You'll
find hundreds of ideas, experiences and resources for teaching about
and celebrating Lent and Easter. Many of the ideas come from youth
leaders of Northeastern Iowa ELCA churches:
-
Lent Curriculum for Middle/High School
-
Lenten Fair
-
Christian Education Sunday
-
Last Supper Rotation
-
Holy Week Decorations
and more...
READ MORE:
Resources for Lent & Easter
Back to Top |
|
ADVENT
 Advent Fair -- Jesse Tree
As part of an Advent Fair, children can create their own Jesse
Trees to represent Jesus' family tree.
The name
is taken from Isaiah 11:1, in which Jesus is referred to as a
shoot coming up from the “stump of Jesse,” the father of
David. Ornaments
on the Jesse tree tell of Jesus' ancestors and of the events
leading to Jesus' birth. Traditionally, an ornament is placed
on the tree for each day in Advent. The ‘tree can be a branch,
mobile, or a banner.
Advent
Fair-Jesse Tree Instructions
Jesse Tree
Handout for Families
Back to
Top
|
RALLY DAY ACTIVITIES
Activity Fair
An Activity Fair offers introductory activities to all the
lessons the children will be studying during the new Sunday
school year. Families go together to as many activities as
they want and register for Sunday school. The families meet
during the middle of the Sunday school hour for a short
devotion and announcements, and stay for a picnic following
the worship service. Contact
Sara for more details and a list of activities.
Gift Bags for Teachers
Members of Our Saviour Lutheran, West Columbia, S.C., present
gift bags to teachers int heir congregation to begin the
school year. Bags include file folders, card-stock, sanitizer,
erasers, dry erase markers and other supplies that the
teachers purchase on their own for children who don't have the
basic school necessities.
(from The Lutheran, September 2010)
|
|
SUBSTANCE ABUSE RESOURCES
|
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
 Save the Date &
"Look What I Did"
Fridge Magnets
At their Lenten Fair last spring,
St. John, Nashua, Iowa, had the kids make fridge magnets with
this year’s VBS logo on them. Also available were registration
forms and "save the date" postcards. The kids made the fridge
magnets and were given VBS registration forms, the post card,
and a coloring sheet to take home. They were
instructed to save the magnets to display the
art and important papers they will bring home from VBS this summer. This activity can be adapted
to promote
any upcoming event.
How
to Make the Fridge Magnets
Items Needed: Clothes pins, glue dots, magnets, "Look What I
did" cards, laminate paper (optional), Sharpies or markers
Format the cards that say “Look
what _______________ did! on the computer. Print them on card
stock, one for each child. Cut to size, 1 ¾ by 4 ¼ inches.
Have the children write their names on them. Laminate if
desired. Glue the card onto a clothes pin. Glue a piece of
magnet on the back of the clothes pin. Put on the fridge and
display kids' art work. Make an extra one for Grandma and
Grandpa!
VBS
Promotional Postcards
VBS
Promotional Signs
Promoting Vacation Bible School
A step-by-step guide offering
curriculum resources, recruitment incentives, publicity
samples, and a plan for follow-up evangelism to new families.
"How to Make Vacation Bible School a Powerful Evangelism Tool"
Best VBS Ideas
Save the Date Reminder Card
LIVING THE FAITH
Resources to help live the Christian
faith:
Way to Live: Christian Practices for Teens
Practicing our Faith
FUND-RAISING IDEAS
Sell Shares of Stock for people to
"invest" in your trip to the ELCA Youth Gathering
Selling Stock
Script
Stock Pledge Card
|
|
Bishop's Summit on Substance Abuse Prevention
A presentation about substance abuse in Iowa
Substance Abuse Responses
Ideas for promoting substance abuse prevention
Iowa Drug Trends and Resources
Statistics of the most commonly abused drugs in Iowa
Talking About Prescription Drug Misuse
A brochure about misused prescription and over-the-counter
drugs.
Talking to Kids About Prescription Drug Abuse
A guide for talking to kids about prescription drugs
Take Five
A campaign designating March 5 as a day for parents to take
five minutes to talk to their kids about drugs.
http://www.drugfreeinfo.org/takefive.html
Drug Endangered Children
Resources to help children who may suffer harm or neglect from
exposure to illegal drugs and dangerous environments.
The Power of
a Grandparent
A guide for talking to grandchildren about drugs
Grandparents Day
Celebrated the first Sunday after Labor Day to encourage
grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage of their
grandparents
Red Ribbon Week - Oct. 23-31, 2010
Information about this week designated for people to unite and
take a visible stand against substance abuse.
Back to
Top
SUNDAY SCHOOL
 Share
the Love Offering
During the preschool-third grade Sunday school opening at Bethlehem
Lutheran, Cedar Falls, children sing an “offering” song, “Love is
Something if You Give it Away,” while one of the children collects
the offering in a small wooden church. Leaders ask if everyone has
an offering, and those who don't receive a paper heart with love
written on it that they can put into the church for offering. Even
if they have no money, they always have love to share--a great
lesson in and of itself--and the children without cash or coins
don’t feel left out.
Graham Cracker Banquet
As part of the milestone for three- and four-year-old children
entering Sunday school, families are invited to attend this banquet
of frosted graham crackers, fruit and juice. The children are
blessed during worship, introduced to their teachers and join in
some icebreakers and mixers.
|
|
TEACHING PRAYER |
CONFIRMATION |
|
 Prayer
Toolbox
A toolbox designed to hold a Bible, devotional resources and candle
for family devotions.
Building Instructions
Prayer Toolbox Note
Prayer Resources
A list of resources from the ELCA about ways to pray
Request a Prayer
A website to request a prayer or tell about an answered prayer
"10 Ways to
Jump Start Your Prayer Life"
Suggested ways to deepen our prayer lives.
|
Confirmation Festival
NEW ITEM!
The Wartburg Conference of the Northeastern Iowa synod shares some
of the materials used to plan and host a conference confirmation
festival.
ConFest Notes
ConFest Flier
ConFest Worship
ConFest PowerPoint
Here We Stand
A confirmation curriculum that
combines Web and traditional print resources
Confirmation Helps from Old Lutheran
Confirmation resources for students and
leaders
A Confirmation Day
Skit
A skit about life after confirmation
Guidelines for Confirmation Mentoring
Boundaries for Mentoring Relationships
Characteristics of an Effective Mentor
Introductory Meeting for Mentors
READ MORE:
Confirmation Ideas
Back to
Top
|
|
BIBLE STUDIES |
YOUTH MINISTRY ADMINISTRATION |
|
Daily Devotions
NEW!
A free Bible Study based on the Sunday Gospel reading
Faith Lens
Engage youth and young adults in
connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday
life
Reel World
Movie discussion guides
Ignite! Series
High school Bible study series
No Experience Necessary
Explore the Bible as partners in God’s
mission
|
Policies, forms, calendars,
spreadsheets and
other administrative resources for youth leaders:
Back to Top
|
|
SENIOR HIGH LESSONS & ACTIVITIES |
HELPS, IDEAS,
EXAMPLES |
|
 "Flushing Guilt
Away"
A lesson in forgiveness
Passionate
Spirituality
Live what we believe
"The Body of
Christ"
An experience in disabilities
All Saints Eve
Celebrating saints of the church
Green Youth
Ministry
Resources and activities for environmental conservation
Family Camp Fire
Music, fun and games around a Saturday night campfire
In the Event of A
Death
An ecumenical celebration of a life
Screening
Volunteers
Screening options to keep kids safe
Back to Top
|
Favorite Resources
A list of favorite books, websites, games and resources
suggested by youth and family leaders of the Northeastern Iowa
Synod.
Time
Management in Youth & Family Ministry
Tips to help youth leaders juggle their busy schedules
ELCA Help
Sheets
Answers to frequently asked questions about youth ministry
Fundraising/Budgeting
for Youth Ministry
Resources for fundraising and budgeting
Staffing For Youth
Ministry
Resources for staffing and developing a Youth Ministry Program
"100 (and more) Ways Youth Can Minister and
Be Ministered To"
Creative ministry ideas for youth
One Year's Worth of Youth Activities
A full year schedule of activities for junior high/middle school and
senior high youth.
|
|
NETWORKS & LINKS |
FAMILY MINISTRY &
PARENTING |
|
Synod Youth Ministry Network
Youth ministry leaders who serve
congregations in this synod and support one another
ELCA Youth
Ministry Network
Non-profit, membership-based
organization that works to strengthen
and empower adult youth ministry leaders
www.lutheranresourcecenter.org
Congregational Resource Center in Clear
Lake
|
 Faith
Packs
Create packs of books, DVDs, games,
puzzles and other resources to help parents, grandparents, educators and other caring adults help pass on stories
from the Bible. Many items can be found around the church and
online.
Place the packs in the church library or
display area so they can be checked out like other books. Check for
missing pieces when the packs are returned and replace handouts.
Include an evaluation sheet for families to complete after use to
help plan other packs.
Sample: Moses Faith Pack
Contents
| Letter to Parents
Teaching Ideas
EWOK -- Evening Without the Kids
A monthly Parish Life Group group for parents who would like a night
out together without the kids. Volunteer child care is provided at
the church by confirmation youth or others qualified.
Links for Preventing
Teen Pregnancy
National Campaign to Prevent Teen Pregnancy
Resources for Parents
"Family Devotionals"
"Christian Parenting Study Group"
by Chris Bode, Holy Trinity, Dubuque
|
|
 Pentecost
Kites
for Pentecost
A family worship service, activity
and litany that uses kites as symbols of Pentecost soaring
skyward.
|
Youth Ministry E-NEWSLETTER
Bringing youth ministry news to
Lutherans in Northeastern Iowa
Subscribe
View Past Issues
|
|
YOUTH MINISTRY CALENDAR |
COMING SOON! |
|
The Northeastern Iowa Synod Youth
Ministry Calendar 2010-11
|
Watch for new ideas and resources
to be added for these topics:
Ascension, Christmas, Epiphany
and more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back to
Top |
|
| |
|
|
|
