03/05/2023 - The Transformed Congregation
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Church Innovation Making Disciples Worship & SpiritualityImagine the possibilities for transformation in the life of your congregation.
Blogs
Blogs
02/06/2023 - The New Science on Spirituality
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making Disciples Worship & SpiritualityThe ability to be spiritual is our birthright.
01/09/2023 - Surround Yourself With Supportive People
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making DisciplesI am envisioning thriving congregations full of supportive people.
12/19/2022 - Follow the Nudge
By: Kristin Rivers - Making Disciples Young Voices ProjectAs I've grown during my spiritual journey with God, I've understood that God sometimes communicates with us in ways we wouldn't expect. For some, it's direct words; for ...
12/06/2022 - Advent Blessings
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesAdvent Blessings from the SNEUCC Faith Formation Team. May the miracle and mystery of this season bring you joy! Debby Kirk Debbie Gline Allen Sean Amato
11/09/2022 - Slow Me Down, Lord
By: Deborah Kirk - Christmas Making DisciplesIn my life and work, I am often anxious for change. When starting a new project, I can be in a rush to see immediate results. I can get discouraged when wading through ...
10/12/2022 - Practice, Practice, Practice
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesWe practice because we value a skill and we want to do it more efficiently or smoothly. We repeat something over and over so that it becomes second nature. Once the mind ...
10/11/2022 - Is There a Future for Youth Ministry?
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesWhat do today's teens hunger for and how can we feed them?
09/06/2022 - 5 Effective Keys to Recruiting and Nurturing Your Volunteers
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making DisciplesThe pandemic has made the recruiting of volunteers a little more challenging, yet people still want to feel needed and know that they have something to offer.
09/06/2022 - Habit Forming
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesAs we emerge from the isolation of Covid, families have a multitude of activities, demands, and responsibilities competing for their time. We need to re-establish ...
08/09/2022 - Formation Through Immersion
By: Deborah Kirk - Making Disciples Young Voices ProjectService experiences are a way to embody faith, to go beyond abstract learning, and practice compassion in tangible and personal ways. Service helps youth to learn empathy...
07/07/2022 - Home Grown Faith Formation Leaders
By: Deborah Kirk - Leadership Development Making DisciplesInstead of waiting for a veteran Faith Formation leader to apply, why not cultivate one who may already be planted in your own backyard? We often look outside our church ...
05/11/2022 - Charting a New Course for Faith Formation
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesThe disruption caused by Covid has prompted us all to take stock and re-assess. This is a good time for faith formation leaders to step back from the day-to-day details ...
03/08/2022 - No Excuses!
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesWe can help volunteers to gain confidence and move to what John Westerhoff calls “owned faith,” by offering discipleship development in small bites.
03/01/2022 - Talking About War with Children & Teens
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesEach one of us has the ability to offer some support.
02/10/2022 - “Will families ever come back?”
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesWhat does Faith Formation look like in post-pandemic era? We struggle with how to build relationships and make personal connections when contact is so limited. The ...
02/07/2022 - Intergenerational Worship: Edwards Church in Framingham Explores and Experiences the Excitement
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making Disciples Worship & SpiritualityWelcoming children and families into worshipping as the Body of Christ together!
01/10/2022 - Our Whole Lives (OWL) - Holistic Sexuality Education for UCC Congregations
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making DisciplesA healthy approach to one’s sexuality.
01/10/2022 - Take Heart, Take Part
By: Deborah Kirk - Justice and Witness Making DisciplesThe universe is bending, but we cannot leave all the work to God. We are not only invited, but compelled to take part in the work of building a universe where God’s love ...
12/13/2021 - Wellesley Hills Church Finds Energy in Sign Language
By: Sally Tomasetti - Church Innovation Making Disciples Worship & SpiritualityWellesley Hills Congregational Church, UCC (MA), finds new passion in using sign language for songs in church when vocal singing isn't safe due to Covid.
12/01/2021 - How to Plan a Community Project
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesDecember 2021—Volume 29, Number 12 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell It’s time to start a project in the community. Where to start? Let’s begin with a ...
11/09/2021 - Talking About Faith Begins With Listening
By: Deborah Kirk - Making Disciples Worship & SpiritualityEvangelism. That is a word that makes many mainline protestants feel uncomfortable. Some are reluctant to talk about faith for fear of being judged as overbearing, or ...
11/07/2021 - Best Boundary Practices for Faith Formation Church Staff Members
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making DisciplesWith careful attention, each situation can be managed with successful outcomes.
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10/12/2021 - The Practice of Generosity
By: Deborah Kirk - Making Disciples StewardshipJust like prayer, service, and worship, generosity is a spiritual discipline. It is a practice that can be modeled and taught, it is a habit that, with intention, can be ...
10/11/2021 - Passing On the Faith Without Sunday School
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Church Innovation Making DisciplesLet us experiment - there can be no mistakes!
10/01/2021 - Get to Know the Neighborhood with a Community Tour
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesOctober 2021—Volume 28, Number 10 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell Walking the neighborhood offers an unparalleled chance for church leaders to ...
09/01/2021 - Bringing the Power of Groups to Prison Ministry
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Justice and Witness Making DisciplesSeptember 2021—Volume 28, Number 9 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell On the two-hour drive back from the federal penitentiary, Pastor Eduardo ...
08/26/2021 - Faith Formation and the Delta Variant
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesAs followers of the Jesus who welcomes children, let us not forget to protect them.
08/10/2021 - The Constancy of Change
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesThe edge of the ocean is different every day and there is always some remarkable beauty to discover. It made me think of the quote from Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher ...
08/10/2021 - Trained Faith Formation Leaders Needed for Post-Pandemic Times
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesThe SNEUCC Faith Formation Leadership Program offers adaptive skills for faith formation.
08/01/2021 - Build Lasting Strength through Community Development
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesAugust 2021—Volume 28, Number 8 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell When church leaders survey the surrounding community, its urgent ...
07/14/2021 - A Liturgy for the Removal of the American Flag from Sanctuaries
By: Emily Carle - Justice and Witness Making Disciples Young Voices ProjectEmily Carle responds to a tweet from Rev. Nadia Bolz-Weber: "Someone should write a beautiful liturgy for the removing of national flags from Christian sanctuaries."
07/07/2021 - Take Your Faith Formation Leadership to New Heights
By: Deborah Kirk - Leadership Development Making DisciplesThe work of faith formation is challenging. It takes more than purchasing the perfect curriculum or implementing the hottest new lesson plan. We are called to bring the ...
07/01/2021 - Is Drive-In Church a Good Idea?
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesJuly 2020—Volume 28, Number 7 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell In the 2020 season of pandemic restrictions a number of churches found ...
06/10/2021 - An Interview with Jenn Kronholm Clark
By: Emily McKenna - Making Disciples Outdoor MinistriesIn this month's Discipleship Matters newsletter, Emily McKenna interviews Jennifer Kronholm Clark, Silver Lake Conference Center’s Program Director. Learn what's ...
06/07/2021 - In Celebration of Faith Formation Leaders
By: Deborah Kirk - Leadership Development Making DisciplesThe last fifteen months have been stressful for you, your families, and your work as faith formation leaders. Everything shifted, and EVERYTHING related to your work had ...
06/01/2021 - Is it Time to Relocate?
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesJune 2020—Volume 28, Number 6 Copyright @ 2020 by Dana Horrell Typically the question of whether to relocate is precipitated by a building ...
05/10/2021 - What Is the Best Age for Confirmation?
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesOR: Is Our Confirmation Model Still Valid for the 21st Century?
05/01/2021 - How Can We Overcome Barriers to Vaccination?
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesMay 2021—Volume 28, Number 5 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell The end of the COVID-19 pandemic and a return to normal life requires that a ...
04/06/2021 - Let Anyone with Ears To Hear — Sowing the Seeds of Faith
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesSome [seeds] fell into good soil, and when it grew, it produced a hundredfold. (Luke 8:8, NRSV)
04/01/2021 - Readiness Is the Key to Congregational Change
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesApril 2021—Volume 28, Number 3 Copyright @ 2021 by Lauren W. Swanson These are difficult days for the church, but also days of real opportunity. The ...
03/24/2021 - What We've Learned from the Pandemic - Moving Forward
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesWhat will be the best ways to be the Body of Christ post-pandemic?
03/08/2021 - Confirmands Engage in Interfaith Exploration
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesThe Interfaith Exploration was offered as an opportunity for SNEUCC youth to hear various stories of call. “God is persistent, even though we sometimes push God away.” ...
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03/08/2021 - Post-Pandemic - The Many Faces of Faith Formation
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making DisciplesThe question to ask is, "How do we pass on the faith knowing what we know now?"
03/01/2021 - How Can We Build Trust in a Vaccine?
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesHow Can We Build Trust in a Vaccine? March 2021—Volume 28, Number 3 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell The development of a vaccine for the ...
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02/11/2021 - Lean Into Lent
By: Karen Ziel - Making DisciplesThis is an invitation to plan for the upcoming season and it's important themes with your whole heart and first and foremost, for you! This season is an invitation to ...
02/09/2021 - Youth Ministry in Pandemic Times (and Beyond)
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making DisciplesWalking alongside teens on their spiritual journeys remains our focus.
02/08/2021 - Embrace the Questions
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesThough they sometimes feel like a rejection of faith, adult mentors are called to honor the questions, to respond with openness, to testify to the mystery and the truths ...
02/01/2021 - Connect with Spiritual Seekers through the Arts
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesFebruary 2021—Volume 29, Number 2 Copyright @ 2021 by Dana Horrell Sandra Lommasson rediscovered the value of art in response to violent trauma. In its...
01/20/2021 - Faith Formation Classes Offer Adaptive Skills During the Pandemic
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making DisciplesHow do we navigate uncertainty while ministering to our congregations?
11/10/2020 - Inspiring Gratitude
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesWe know that gratitude is central to spiritual well-being, but recently, social scientists in various academic settings have affirmed that this practice enhances mental ...
11/10/2020 - The Twelve Days of Christmas - At Home This Year
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Christmas Making DisciplesPerhaps the biggest Christmas gift was can give ourselves will be the gift of experimentation, and being allowed to fail at designing “the perfect Christmas.”
11/06/2020 - Discipleship is Not A Paint-by-Number Project
By: Laura Kisthardt - Making DisciplesDiscipleship is not a paint-by-numbers! We might wish for clear instructions, a formula to follow, to encourage others to follow Jesus. But our faith is so much bigger ...
10/13/2020 - What To Do with the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower Landing
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesThis fall is a perfect opportunity for confirmation programs to look back at our history.
10/07/2020 - Breathing Life Into Theories and Practices
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Conference programming Leadership Development Making DisciplesHow will you most effectively walk the path of faith with your congregation?
10/07/2020 - Innovations in Youth Ministry -Two Stories
By: Kristin Putney - Making DisciplesKristin Putney shares two stories of effective youth ministry in RI Congregations during the time of CoVid 19. Youth connections are sustained and deepened through ...
09/17/2020 - Playlists! An Exciting Innovation
By: Karen Ziel - Leadership Development Making DisciplesPlaylists! What are they? An introduction to the concept of Playlists as a new format for shaping faith.
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09/16/2020 - An Image of Hope
By: Gwendolyn Lawson - Making DisciplesAlexa Odoy, a ninth grader at Congregational Church of Marlborough shares her creative talents. "The design is inspired by the story of Noah's arc, but the rainbows also ...
09/16/2020 - Boundary Training for Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Leaders
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making DisciplesBlurred boundaries can result for lay staff who are also members of that congregation.
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09/14/2020 - Youth Join Race Equity Work at Newman
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesChristy Wynveen of Newman Congregational shares reflections on her new position as Minister of Faith Formation and recent youth study group on the book The Hate U Give.
08/20/2020 - An Adult Education Model for Churches, with a Twist
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Leadership Development Making DisciplesIn this time of polarized opinions and beliefs, an attitude of humility toward our approach to the Bible and to each other is surely what God is desiring of us.
08/17/2020 - Lifelong Faith Formation Thrives with Trained Leaders
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Conference programming Leadership Development Making DisciplesWe owe it to our congregations to offer high quality faith formation and youth ministries, particularly during these uncertain times.
08/11/2020 - God Is Always With Us
By: Ella Ford - Making Disciples Young Voices ProjectBefore quarantine I found my days were full of school, sports, and homework. I barely had time to hangout with friends, let alone a minute for myself.
08/01/2020 - Hospitality: Offering a Third Place to Gather
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesThe emergence of a novel coronavirus has led in some regions to measures such as social distancing guidelines and prohibitions against physical gathering. Whether meeting...
07/06/2020 - How Does Your Garden Grow?
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesAt Silver Lake, campers have the opportunity to tend the community garden. Environmental justice is one of the elements of the mission statement and we teach about the ...
07/01/2020 - Care, Leadership, and Self-Renewal in Uncertain Times
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesWhen the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic on March 11, it ushered in a prolonged period of uncertainty. Since that day it has appeared that ...
06/23/2020 - Ensuring the Journey of Faith for Young Adults Continues
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesDear Pastors, Youth Leaders, and Parents, As you celebrate graduates in your congregations, I join you in offering praise for the youth and young adults achieving this ...
06/09/2020 - Can Children Be Racist?
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Justice and Witness Making DisciplesChildren can exhibit racist behavior as early as the age of five.
05/22/2020 - Guidance for Returning to In-Person Faith Formation
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesMany faith formation and youth ministry leaders are wondering just how safe it will be to gather the children and youth in person.
05/20/2020 - Following Jesus in Times of Uncertainty
By: Grace Winakor - Making DisciplesI hope I’m not alone when I describe the sinking feeling in your chest after another bad day, wondering if God is really listening, and wondering if it’s okay to really ...
05/01/2020 - Ideas for Supporting Mental Health and Faith Formation in Children: A Guide for Parents
By: Wendy Parker - Disaster Relief Making Disciplesby Wendy Parker As the world and this country struggle to cope with the upsetting and ...
04/14/2020 - Spiritual Growth in a Time of Pandemic
By: Bruce Epperly - Making DisciplesI have found that my greatest spiritual growth has often occurred during dark nights of the spirit, brought about by personal and professional crises. In such times, I ...
04/06/2020 - Look at the Birds of the Air
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesJesus gives us instruction for anxious times in the comforting words found in Matthew 6:25-34, reminding us to let go of worries about the future and suggesting instead ...
03/16/2020 - Discipleship
By: Marilyn Kendrix - Conference staff Justice and Witness Making Disciples“The local church exists to make disciples of Jesus” says our mission statement. Simon Peter, “Do you love me?” And of course, Peter responds, “Yes, Lord, you know that I...
03/12/2020 - Faith Formation Leadership Training Is For Today’s Congregations
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Conference programming Making DisciplesI have been wrestling with the term “Sunday School” for almost as long as I’ve been a Christian educator. I sometimes even take issue with being called an “educator” in ...
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01/07/2020 - Youth Can Thrive in the Southern New England Conference
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesWe are fortunate in the Southern New England Conference to have a wide variety of support for local church youth ministries.
11/19/2019 - What To Do with the 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower Landing
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesWhat do we do with the parts of our congregational history that include colonialism and slavery?
11/12/2019 - What's a Pray-Ground?
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesA Pray-Ground in a service of worship allows children to feel connected to the rest of the Body of Christ.
10/23/2019 - Faith Formation & Youth Ministry for All
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesThe classes offered through the Faith Formation Leadership Training Program are open to ANYONE who wishes to further their education of the Church.
10/23/2019 - Step up, Step up!
By: Elise Kennedy - Making DisciplesYouth gathered at Silver Lake on October 11-13 for the annual Shine 4 Justice retreat. This retreat is a component of the 'Thinking About Working For God' program that ...
10/09/2019 - Youth Help Super Saturday Attendees Assemble 275 CWS Hygiene Kits
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Conference programming Making DisciplesTwenty-three youth from five Southern New England UCC churches and their leaders gathered for a Youth Program at the Super Saturday event on October 5th ready to put ...
10/04/2019 - National Youth Event Impact
By: Deborah Kirk - Making DisciplesI remember my first National Youth Event in 2008. I was working as a youth leader at a local church and had gathered a group to go to University of Tennessee. After an ...
08/01/2019 - Learn More about Your Congregation through Focus Groups
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesFor church leaders seeking to better understand their congregation, it pays to listen. Everyone knows the value of one-on-one conversations, yet it might not always be ...
07/01/2019 - Team Talk Can Strengthen Volunteer Ministry
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesTeam talk can build a strong ministry team. Of course, some may not think of conversation as an important task, viewing it as getting in the way of work and slowing it ...
06/18/2019 - Children and Racism
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesThis is a true story of how church educators stood up to a large publishing company to stop perpetuating racism through our children.
06/05/2019 - Many Voices One Mission: Partners
By: Karen Ziel - Conference programming Making Disciples Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"The best and most effective partnerships are formed in the context of communities, organizations, and families within whom these values and this way of being are deeply ...
06/01/2019 - Overcome Volunteer Burnout by Building Capacity
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Leadership Development Making DisciplesVital congregations reach out to strengthen the communities where they are located. Different denominations give different names for this ministry, including mission and ...
05/29/2019 - Many Voices, One Mission: It's All About Relationship
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Conference programming Making Disciples Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"Faith is more caught than taught." —Debbie Gline Allen
04/03/2019 - Faith In the Home
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesEmpower the parents, grandparents, and caregivers in your congregation to take back their role as Christian educators and faith-formers in the home.
04/01/2019 - Building Your Community Ties with a Block Party
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making DisciplesSome neighborhoods feel more secure once neighbors have become acquainted. Church leaders wanting to get to know their community could organize a block party. It can be a...
03/19/2019 - Talking with Children After a Tragedy
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesWith the news of last week’s shootings in New Zealand I again offer these resources for talking with children.
02/27/2019 - Retreat!
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesCome outside with us to meet God through Christian community.
02/18/2019 - 7 Ways to Support Your Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Leaders
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesHere are 7 key ways that can ensure your congregation will receive the best from its faith formation staff person.
02/18/2019 - Connecting Generations in Joy
By: Tracy Fouke Bausum - Making DisciplesThis joyful milestone reminds us that no matter where we are, God is faithful. It is a way to connect generations and build relationships.
02/06/2019 - Lent Is For Families
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesParents are the primary and most effective faith educators for their children. So let's help them to celebrate Lent at home!
02/01/2019 - What is Contemporary Worship
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Leadership Development Making DisciplesAt First Church, the newly arrived pastor faced a question over whether to continue holding its evening service, which utilizes a rock band, praise songs, and emphasizes ...
01/08/2019 - What Does Effective Intergenerational Worship Look Like?
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesEach congregation has a unique culture, and the process used to transition children into corporate worship will need to be an individualized one.
12/26/2018 - Many Voices One Mission: Where Two or Three Are Gathered
By: Karen Ziel - Conference programming Making Disciples Many Voices, One Mission Together, As One"While leaders form bonds within their congregations; healthy relationships of mutual support among peers are essential."— Karen Ziel
12/21/2018 - First Church in Marlborough Brings Advent Home
By: Kazimierz Bem - Making DisciplesMost people know very well the tradition of lighting an Advent wreath at church. But First Church in Marlborough is doing something different - it encourages families to ...
12/12/2018 - Children and the Christ in Christmas
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesIt is my hope that our children will grow up knowing the true reason we celebrate Christmas. Let's get intentional!
12/05/2018 - JOMO - The Joy of Missing Out - Attention youth (and the adults who love them.)
By: Sarah Buteux - Making DisciplesMaybe you've heard of FOMO: the Fear of Missing Out? It's the fear that somewhere someone ...
11/13/2018 - This Is How We Grow Christians
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesChildren are constantly taking in what is going on around them, even when they don’t appear to be paying attention.
11/01/2018 - How to Develop Habits for Well-Being
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Leadership Development Making DisciplesSeminaries and social work programs often ask their students to create a self-care plan. Not only does this send a message about self-care while pursuing a degree, ...
10/24/2018 - It’s All About Relationships…and Networking…and Resources
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesChristian Education Youth Ministry Communities of Practice provide opportunities to gather monthly to share resources, ideas, and support.
09/26/2018 - Comfort and Children
By: Rachel Bickford - Disaster Relief Making DisciplesWhen it comes to emergency or disaster situations, once we know our families and pets are safe we are left to think about what we need to bring with us to either a friend...
09/26/2018 - Youth Mental Health First Aid
By: Estelle Margarones - Disaster Relief Making DisciplesSeptember is national Preparedness Month and your Disaster Resource and Response Team invites you to consider the implications of emergencies and disasters on children, ...
09/18/2018 - Spiritual Development - Children Are "Smarter" Than We Think
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesChildren are capable of understanding way more about God than we tend to give them credit for.
09/07/2018 - CAUCE Reflects- Welcome 'Home'
By: Tracy Fouke Bausum - Making Disciples"Every Sunday becomes an opportunity..." — Tracy Fouke Bausum
09/05/2018 - Best Practices for Staffing Your Faith Formation Ministries
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesYou have discerned that your congregation needs to hire a Christian educator and/or youth ministry leader. So now what do you do?
09/01/2018 - Checking Up on Clergy Health: Assessing the Cost of Sacred Work
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Leadership Development Making DisciplesMany people feel called to their work and respond to job demands in ways that reflect a sense of vocation. But do we expect clergy to perform their calling with even ...
08/27/2018 - Do Not Cross
By: Jeffrey Lukens - Church Innovation Making DisciplesRev. Jeff Lukens created a communion liturgy to address the "healing and wholeness" needed in a time when news about immigrants and their families is often disturbing and...
08/22/2018 - Three Christian Educators Provide a Legacy
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesThe season of retirement has come for three longtime Christian educators: Merrill Noble, Ruth Ann White, and Nancy Sides. Well done good and faithful servants!
08/01/2018 - How to Raise Money for your Community Projects
By: The Parish Paper - Making Disciples StewardshipA congregation’s community project often starts with someone’s idea or dream, followed by a plan designed by a core team, and then, a group of volunteers willing to roll ...
08/01/2018 - Many Voices, One Mission: Forming the Faith of 21st Century Congregations
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Church History and Identity Conference programming Making Disciples Many Voices, One Mission"We need to stop believing that teaching the Bible in an educational setting will bring ...
07/11/2018 - Many Voices, One Mission: The Rite of Confirmation
By: Karen Ziel - Conference programming Making Disciples Many Voices, One Mission"If faith formation is to be relevant and transformational, it must be renewed and reimagined by every generation." —Karen Ziel
06/25/2018 - A Reflection on the TAWFG Internship Experience
By: Amanda Simpson - Leadership Development Making Disciples" Even though I didn’t understand the language being spoken, I clearly understood the purpose and meaning behind the act of giving praise, acknowledging our blessings, ...
06/19/2018 - Summer Offers a Little Extra Time to Look at Your Curriculum Materials
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesBefore you head to the beach, bookmark this blog to use when you review the curriculum materials you're using.
06/13/2018 - Ministry Through Music
By: Dori Hall - Leadership Development Making Disciples"I have often felt as if I can see God in the faces of the congregation when I am singing." — Dori Hall
06/01/2018 - Making the Nursery a Place of Belonging
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Making Disciples“Where is the nursery?” That is often the first question when young parents visit a new church. At a minimum, they expect their question to be answered with confidence, ...
05/29/2018 - Talking with Children About Difficult Topics
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesWhile advocates speak out for child safety, who is paying attention to how the children are processing the violence they see in the news?
05/16/2018 - Many Voices, One Mission: Collaborating In Covenant
By: Deborah Kirk - Church Innovation Conference programming Leadership Development Making Disciples Many Voices, One Mission"The blessing of a caring community will be realized in countless ways." — Debby Kirk
05/07/2018 - Seek And You Will Find- Nurturing Young Leaders
By: Deborah Kirk - Conference programming Leadership Development Making Disciples"Do you know a young seeker who has an inquisitive spirit? Is there a youth in your congregation who is ready to explore faith at a deeper level?" — Debby Kirk
04/10/2018 - Curriculum - Which Resource Is Best For Your Church?
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesThere are so many Sunday School curriculum resources out there — how do you even begin to choose the best one for your church?
04/04/2018 - Children's Messages - Helpful or Harmful?
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesI have a love-hate relationship with children’s messages. I love that the offering of a children’s message provides a time for talking about God with children within the ...
03/14/2018 - Seeking and Supporting a Faith Formation Staff Member
By: Deborah Gline Allen - Making DisciplesNew and updated resources now available: "Seeking a Christian Educator or Youth Ministry Leader" and "Youth Ministry Handbook"
02/28/2018 - Faith Awakenings: The Spiritual Practice of Meditation
By: Donald Remick - Making DisciplesOne in a series of blogs on spiritual practices. Meditation takes many forms with many names.
02/21/2018 - Faith Awakenings: Spiritual practices that go deeply inward and take us deeply outward
By: Donald Remick - Making DisciplesOne in a series of blogs on spiritual practices. In the coming months I am hoping we can ...
01/01/2018 - 18 Questions for 2018
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Leadership Development Making DisciplesTim Shapiro, from the Indianapolis Center for Congregations, believes that vibrant congregations exhibit a commitment to increasing congregational capacity. As demands on...
12/22/2017 - Partnering with Families for Children’s Faith Formation
By: Debbie Kolacki - Church Innovation Making DisciplesThose of us in Christian Education work hard to provide our children and youth with information and experiences which we hope will lead them to have a lifelong faith. ...
10/01/2017 - Short-Term Mission Trips that Yield Long-Term Success
By: The Parish Paper - Making DisciplesReporting on the popularity of short-term mission trips, sociologist Robert Wuthnow estimates that in the US, 32 percent of congregations sponsor short-term overseas ...
09/01/2017 - Equipping Volunteers Builds a Strong Community Church
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Leadership Development Making DisciplesSociologist Joshua Packard describes an emerging population he calls the “dones.” They are “spiritual refugees” from organized religion who were once long-time members, ...
07/01/2017 - How Can We Help Immigrants?
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Justice and Witness Making DisciplesA new church member—a recent African immigrant—described what his Christian mother taught him: “When someone comes to you and needs food and shelter, you give it to them....
06/01/2017 - Ministry in the Midst of Tragedy
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Justice and Witness Leadership Development Making DisciplesOn Friday, August 7, 2015, Vermont state employees left work and made their way to the parking lot together. There, a former client confronted and killed Lara Sobel, a ...
05/10/2017 - In Partnership- An Interview with Participants in Vibrant Faith University
By: Karen Ziel - Making DisciplesThis interview features two faith formation leaders who currently serve CT congregations ...
04/12/2017 - Reflection on Mentored Relationships
By: Karen Ziel - Leadership Development Making DisciplesA Reflection on Mentored Relationships This reflection offers insights about our new Mentored Relationships model for leadership development. Karen Ziel, Minister of ...
04/04/2017 - Sacrifice and Atonement
By: Stephen Finlan - Making DisciplesRev. Stephan Finlan's book on sacrifice asked readers to re-examine their relationship with God.
02/28/2017 - How about Re-booting your faith this Lent?
By: Barbara Libby - Conference staff Making DisciplesAs the long Church Season of Epiphany comes to a close, we begin the Season of Lent this Wednesday evening, March 1st.
02/07/2017 - New Faith Formation Leader: Dana Johnson
By: Karen Ziel - Making DisciplesDana Johnson is the Director of Children's Ministry at the Saugatuck Congregational Church in Westport, CT. In this blog post, Ms. Cindy Cole introduces us to Dana ...
02/01/2017 - How Do Congregations Respond to Interfaith Couples?
By: The Parish Paper - Church Innovation Leadership Development Making DisciplesWhile Christian-Jewish may be most people’s first association for “interfaith,” as the population of “nones” grows, the most common pairing is actually a Christian and a ...
11/29/2016 - New Faith Leader: Jenny Byxbee
By: Karen Ziel - Making DisciplesDirector of Children’s Ministry, Round Hill Community Church (Greenwich)
02/10/2016 - We Are Craving Silence
By: John Hargrave - Making DisciplesAnd after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice. - 1 Kings 19:12 You sit down at the computer to get some work ...
01/11/2016 - Sometimes Baptism Calls For A Dunk In the Ocean
By: Amy Lignitz Harken - Making DisciplesRev. Amy Lignitz Harken offers insights and tips for holding an immersion Baptism.
Interwoven Highlights from InterGenerate
By: Emily McKenna - Making DisciplesSNEUCC’s Faith Formation Team attended the virtual InterGenerate Children's Spirituality Conference in May 2021. The team offers us brief reflections on their favorite ...