 Speaking of Faith: The Need for Creeds
Krista Tippett discusses with Jaroslav Pelikan the history and nature of creeds, and how a fixed creed can
be reconciled with an honest, intellectual faith that changes and
evolves.
 Prayer cube
A PDF file that can be printed and cut into six prayers to be inserted into a plastic cube. You can find plastic cubes online for $4. The PDF file suggests a vendor. These are great gifts for a "moving up ceremony" or for parents whose children are being baptized.
YouTube Video: Mr Deity
Mr Deity is a series of videos that chronicle the day in the life of God. These are just hilarious, but address questions teenagers often have about God such as, "Why does God allow bad things to happen?"
Video: We Want More Than the World Has to Offer
American children spend on average 1,680 minutes each week watching television. There's no question, television and its emphasis on imagery, fast-paced action, and instant gratification and resolution has a huge influence on children. So, why not use that imagery to suggest that we want more than that? This video flashes a number of cultural images at a fast pace with the song, "Meant to Live" by Switchfoot as the sound track. Watching this video lets youth know that they can bring anything to the group. God is in every part of their lives. Click here for video in WMV file format. (Right-click link to download video. Source of the video: www.emergingminister.com )
G-dcast
A place to watch cartoons based on the story Jews are reading in the Torah this week. Presenting Old Testament stories in this style of story-telling opens the door for those watching to enter the story in a different way. You will have to search for the stories you want to present.
YouTube Video: The West Wing
This video clip from the episode entitled "Noel" from the hit TV series "The West Wing" connects the story of the good Samaritan to the scandal of God coming to dwell among us. Here's the storyline: A member of the president's staff is told he has post traumatic stress disorder. He worries that he will lose his job. Leo, the chief of staff, an alcoholic in recovery, tells Josh this story. This guy's walking down the street when he falls in a hole. The walls are so steep he can't get out. A doctor passes by and the guy shouts up, "Hey you. Can you help me out?" The doctor writes a prescription, throws it in the hole and moves on. Then a priest comes along. "Father, I'm down in this hole. Can you help me out?" The priest writes out a prayer, throws it in the hole and moves on. Then a friend walks by. "Hey, Joe. It's me. Can you help me out?" And the friend jumps in the hole. Our guy says, "Are you stupid? Now we're both down herd." The friend says, "Yeah, but I've been down here before and I know the way out." (Thanks to Bill Lewellis)
YouTube Video: What Christmas Is All About
This video clip from "A Charlie Brown Christmas is Linus' explanation to Charlie Brown who is searching for the spirit of Christmas. Great launch to a conversation with teenagers about the meaning of Christmas and perhaps what they might do to bring the light of Christ to those in despair.
Video: Bobble Head Theater
Bobble Head Theater is a set of low-budget movies that are great starting points for discussions with middle schoolers starring Davey and Goliath and their friends, Mr. T, Buddy Holly, Greg and Marcia Brady and others. Laughter always seems to break down the barriers to communication and get kids talking. This is no exception. We watched Newcomers to talk about what it feels like to be new to a group and what we can do to make people who feel different part of our community. God Made Me for a Special Reason is a good introduction to exploring the gifts that God us to be uniquely us. Although I'm not a fan of talking about heaven, I could imagine watching What Is Heaven to talk about popular culture views of heaven and then talking about the Kingdom of Heaven and what we can do now to bring God's dreams for the world come true. The Spirit of Christmas is a short video to start a discussion of why Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus and how that transformed the world. These videos are part of a series from www.emergingminister.com.
Nooma descriptions
Set of 20+ ten to fifteen minute videos that explore a variety of issues such as the gender of God, prayer, forgiveness presented in a provocative framework. Excellent for meaningful discussions with youth, young adults and adults.
 Audio: Discerning Gifts
The Jesuit Media Initiatives provides daily audio meditations at www.pray-as-you-go.org that you can download and listen to on your mp3 player. This particular meditation is a wonderful exercise for gifts discernment with youth. Based on a reading from 2 Peter, this 10-minute meditation provides an opportunity to identify and give thanks for the gifts God has given us.
Heal a Hurting World Calender
A calendar for Lent 2010 that invites children and youth to contribute to their Hope Chests through activities that count the blessings of resources in their life. (Text by Mary Ann Lynn, design by Jenifer Gamber.) May be revised for any year.
Stations for Exploring Sacraments
A 45-minute self-guided exploration of the two great sacraments and five sacramental rites. Can be used with youth or adults. It was designed originally as part of a confirmation retreat.
|  YouTube Video: Three Is a Magic Number
This Youtube video is School House Rock's Three Is a Magic Number. Okay, so it really doesn't have anything to do with the Trinity, but it has a catchy tune and would be fun to watch before a conversation about the Trinity.
YouTube Video: The Apostle's Creed
This video shows teenagers saying the Apostle's Creed. Us it to launch a discussion of the creed. The Apostle's Creed is central to our affirmation of faith. In the Rite of Confirmation, after proclaiming what God has done for us by saying the Apostle's Creed, we respond by telling how we will respond to what God has done by affirming our baptismal promises.
PowerPoint: EpiscoJeopardy!
This PowerPoint presentation is a set of three EpiscoJeopardy! games to be used with youth who are reading the book My Faith, My Life: A Teen's Guide to the Episcopal Church.
Play for fun. If you want to have a reward for the team with the most points, consider arranging for the collection during the confirmation service to be donated to a ministry chosen by the winning team. The team with the highest cumulative points after playing all three games wins. These games are part of confirmation program found in the Leader Guide to My Faith My Life.
PowerPoint: Bible Jeopardy Game
This is an actual Bible Jeopardy Game with Power Point. It is best played with the screen projected on the wall. Categories in this game are: Things in Threes, Women, Instruments, Creepy Crawlies, and Loaves and Fishes. To make it more difficult, require the answer include the supporting Bible verse. Note: for Loaves and Fishes for 3 pts, click on the white screen to begin the movie clip. When the movie ends click on the words below for the question to appear.
PowerPoint: Jeopardy Template
Create your own Bible Jeopardy or Episco-Jeopardy Game with this template. Bible Jeopardy is a fun game for all ages. The 1st-6th graders at Cathedral Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, PA played the game and then made up one for the adults. To make it more difficult, you might consider that the answer include the supporting Bible verse.
Hotlink: Episcopal Vocabulary
The Episcopal Church has a long tradition, and over that time has inherited, created, or retained many words that might not be familiar to visitors (or even to some of our regulars). These special terms, though confusing at first, are part of our rich heritage. This dictionary is hosted by the Society of Archbishop Justus, whose motto is "One Bread, One Body."
PDF file: Instructed Eucharist
As Episcopalians we believe that how we pray shapes what we believe and likewise what we believe shapes how we pray. But how often do we stop to think about what we are doing during Eucharist and why? An instructed Eucharist provides a meaningful context for exploring our common worship and is an excellent teaching tool for youth. This instructed Eucharist is offered by LEAP (Liturgy, Education, and Action in Parishes).
YouTube Video: Is the only way to God through Jesus?
In this video clip Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori answers the question, "Is the only way to God through Jesus?
YouTube Video: Why You Should Be an Episcopalian
In this video clip Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori answers the question, "If I didn't go to church, what would you tell me to get me to visit an Episcopal Church?
PowerPoint: Presentation for a Taize Service
A simple PPT that follows the order for a Taize Service. Includes words for Taize songs. You provide the accompaniement.
PowerPoint: "Will You Not Listen?"
This Power Point presentation was developed for a Rite 13 class as a meditation to transform their classroom into Holy Ground. The sound track, "Will You Not Listen" is by Michael Card. You have to download the music separately and attach it to the first slide by right clicking on the sound button. Images begin by reminding us that God created us with ears to hear and lips to speak and continues by inviting youth to consider the ways that God speaks. The video ends with an image of a burning bush and instructions to "take off you shoes, you are on Holy Ground." This presentation is particularly suited for the Journey to Adulthood program, but can be used any prayer setting with either youth or adults. If you do not have Power Point, you can download it as a wmv file that is playable with Windows Media Player. (Click here for a low resolution version. Right-click link to download video.)
PowerPoint: "Oh God, You Search Me"
This Power Point presentation was developed for a consultation for the Diocese of Southern Virginia. The video could be used as part of a Rite 13 class preparing for a Rite 13 ceremony. The sound track, "Oh God You Search Me" is by Fran McKendree (www.franmckendree.com). You have to download the music separately and attach it to the first slide by right clicking on the sound button. You can also view this video on youtube here.
PowerPoint: U2 Eucharist
This U2 Eucharist Power Point presentation was developed by The Rev. Richard S. Bellows at The Church of the Atonement in Westfield, MA for a U2 Eucharist held in April 2006. The presentation contains over 300 slides, most of which have photographs or artwork. You are responsible for obtaining any necessary permissions or licenses to use the photographs and artwork in the presentation. Please consider donating a portion of the offerings from the U2 Eucharist to Village-2-Village, a non-profit reaching out to the poor in Uganda, or to the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund, a non-profit that responds to human suffering around the world. A great book of sermons based on U2 music is Get Up Off Your Knees ($14.95) edited by Raewynne J. Whiteley and Beth Maynard.
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