Ministry with Children
 What’s UCRD? For references to materials available through UCRD, you are invited to contact The United Church Resource Distribution desk tel. 1-800-288-7365 or 416-253-5456 or to email your order to ucrd@united-church.ca In your e-mail, please include: church name and address; a "ship to" address if different from church address; phone number; contact person; method of payment, e.g., UCRD account number; information about the resource including full title or description, price, quantity; and where necessary, desired delivery date.
 The United Church of Canada website, www.united-church.ca has been redesigned and is ready with resources, curriculum support and website info for children’s ministry. You can browse through various curriculum offerings, Mission and Service resources for Kids and find direct e-links to the UCRD order desk. Check out PLAY at www.united-church.ca/exploring/play for an interactive United Church children’s website.
 The Duty of Care … What do I need to help support me in this commitment? Begin with Faithful Footsteps: Screening Procedures for Positions of Trust and Authority in The United Church of Canada. A Handbook. This booklet tells you how to screen based on position, how to write a simple position description, how to check references and so on. There have been 3 helpful resource newsletters on children and youth safe communities in Toronto United Church Council’s Church Development Newsletters. See November, 2006; January 2005; January 2004) back issues of the newsletter are available at www.tucc.ca/newsletter_archives.htm
We Hold These Children: A Service for Children’s Sunday by Richard Bott. Suugested for use on the Sunday closest to November 20th. www.united-church.ca/allages/children/summerfall. You will also find Worldwide Communion, Thanksgiving, Peace Sunday resources for use with Children
Hand in Hand: M&S for Kids, Volume Two. Useful for confirmation, youth groups. CH10375.
Seeds & Sowers Children 2007. Outstanding issue!! Look for a board game called “Journey from Empire”, an article on Godly Play curriculum, and a service for Children’s Sunday on November 18, 2007. CH10373.
A New Day: Peacemaking Stories and Activities: Program Ideas for Leaders of Children Stories and activities by Carolyn Pogue; Artwork by Danka Gocova. Order through UCRD
The All About … series. God… Bible… Jesus… Prayer. Written by Lois Rock, illustrated by Anna C. Leplar. For Children aged 3-7. Great addition to the sanctuary ‘busy baskets’ for children’s use during worship. [What else could you offer that signals the church’s welcome to children who aren’t ready to leave parents and go off to Children’s Church?].
 What’s That in the Bible? Derek Williams. Simple information about Biblical homes, towns, food, drink, daily life, worship and festivals etc. Abingdon Press. 0-687-02654-7. This is a great resource and help when bringing children together to create a biblical drama.
Challenging Empire: Children Challenging Empire. Included in the Challenging Empire Kit. UCRD CH10396. This resource helps children to understand ‘Empire’ as a ‘Bully’. This is a 5 session integrated resource for use with children. Entirely adaptable for young youth!
Challenging Empire: Intergenerational Conversations. Part of the Challenging Empire Kit. UCRD CH10394. A five-session resource for cross-generational sharing around fair trade, conservation, sustainability, peaceful play. The “Six Values for Conversation Groups” are very helpful!
 In the Name of Love: Baptism Resources for Parents. This DVD-ROM is a video and text resource intended to augment the Baptism class. The resource is available through UCRD singly (about $5) or in bundles.
There is a companion resource, In the Name of Love: Baptism Activities for Children also available through UCRD. Parents will appreciate text and image files that can be adapted to commemorate the baptismal experience. It also includes text files with ideas for spiritual practices in the home. Files require a computer with DVD drive to access. Videos can be viewed on a DVD player or computer with DVD drive.
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What’s AVEL?
AVEL (Audio Visual Learning Library) is a national network of The United Church of Canada’s video lending library. You can call toll free 1-888-668-0871 and speak directly with Consultant Jackie Childerhose about planning programs which include a video resource. www.united-church.ca/avel/
The Duty of Care … Creating safe and welcoming space in our congregations, camps, community ministries and seniors’ facilities is a denominational commitment to all persons who are participating in United Church-related programs, events and activities, especially to those who are vulnerable in our midst. Most Presbyteries received through their CD committee or as an order of the day a training session on the Duty of Care for congregational settings. If you need help setting up a strategy and a process for the Duty of Care in your congregation, please contact your Presbytery or Susan Howard in the Conference office showard@united-church.ca where you can access policy templates, get answers to your sticky questions and further resources.
Training for Children's Teachers and Leaders. Good starting principles at www.united-church.ca/allages/children/training
 The Canadian Initiative to Prevent Bullying has excellent resources for developing healthy relationships in all the ministries with children that you engage. See ‘Making a Difference in Bullying’ at www.arts.yorku.ca/lamarsh/
reports/rshrpt_01.html. This report is prepared for educators and is an excellent introduction to the topic with strategies to address the issue.
Age to Age: Intergenerational Prayers, Praise and Programs. Offering an intergenerational workshop model, this volume includes 6 intergenerational worship services and 5 intergenerational programs. UCRD #CH10187
How Does God Listen? Kay Lindahl. Multicultural, non-denominational children’s book that explores the many ways God listens to us. UCRD 1594730849.
Always in Rehearsal: The Practice of Worship and the Presence of Children. James H. Ritchie. Including children in worship means attending to issues of welcome and celebrating young persons. UCRD 0881774278.
 Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth (New York: Scholastic Press, 2003). A variation on the familiar story that not only sees the community coming together to make soup, but also answers the question: What makes one happy?
The Ontario Multifaith Calendar provides an insight into the World’s faiths and their festivals. Order at www.omc.ca/products/calendar.html. Also on this order page is a search engine for the online Multifaith library.
Seasons of the Spirit website offers a free, fun and challenging computer game with faith symbols that even young children can play. The game educates us about the meaning of various symbols of the faith. Check it out at spiritseasons.com/client20/ macromedia/faithshapes/faithshapes_web.html. You might want to use some of these symbols in the computer game in your Church School to create shape prayers as part of a rotation on prayer – play the game; learn about the symbol; choose a symbol & draw it in outline; write or draw within the outline of the symbol a prayer... the game is intuitive and the children will have it figured out in no time flat (and will beat adults at the game).
Are you planning a Parenting Class this fall? Why not consider “Communication with Your Child or Teen”. This 4 DVD resource from AVEL is available with 15 minutes of video including 3 segments of video for each class. The DVD addresses on a weekly basis 1) Recognizing the Barriers We Build; 2) Understanding Children’s Ages & Stages; 3) Learning Your Child’s Communication Style; 4) Improving Communication at Home. You may want to ask at AVEL about other video resources, e.g. “Active Parenting – 6 Part Video Series”; “How to Talk So Kids Will Listen – 6 Part Video Series” or “Parenting in Changing Times – 6 Part Video Series”. The ever-helpful and super-knowledgeable Jackie Childerhose at AVEL will assist in your making the best choices for a parenting series in your congregation. Beth Hayward’s Parenting Workshop is available at www.united-church.ca/familyministries/workshops/parenting/ . One of the 3 workshops addresses bullying; there is a Parenting bibliography as well on this link page.
Special Resources for Children living with Autism Some of you are seeking resources to assist Church School teachers who are looking for creative ways to support faith formation in young persons with Autism and Autism-spectrum situations. For Parents and Teachers, see The Autism Sourcebook: Everything You Need to Know about Diagnosis, Coping and Healing. Karen Siff Exkorn. ISBN 006085975X. See UCRD catalogue for ordering information.
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Ministry with Youth and Young Adults
Code of Ethics for Youth Ministry guidelines are at www.united-church.ca/files/allages/youth/code_ethics.pdf
Priorities for Youth and Young Adult Ministry - see www.united-church.ca/allages/youth/priorities
The Vision Fund assists youth and young adults with seed monies for ministry. Go to www.united-church.ca/local/loans/vision
Racial/Ethnic Ministries - Youth and Young Adults contacts can be found at www.united-church.ca/intercultural/racial/youth
Begin talking with your youth about “2009 Youth Forum” which meets during the 2009 General Council. Read a testimony at www.united-church.ca/history/gc38/news/1609
 Hurry! Hurry! The World Council of Churches is calling for application to their INTERNSHIP PROGRAM. Deadlines is September 15, 2008. The World Council of Churches (WCC) will welcome five young people (aged 18-30 years) to serve as interns in its Geneva offices from February 2009 to January 2010. Interns bring valuable experiences to the WCC at the same time as they undertake several modules of ecumenical learning. Go to www.oikoumene.org/en/news/news-management/eng/a/article/1722/wcc-internship-programme-2.html to download an Internship Application
What is Confirmation? See www.united-church.ca/files/sales/ucph/1551341360_excerpt.pdf
The Moderator’s Confirmation Message. Video 3 min. in length. www.united-church.ca/communications/news/moderator/080303
The unOfficial United Church Handbook can be used to complement a Confirmation Program for youth. It is full of information, doesn’t take itself or the church too seriously and will spark many discussions. UCRD.
Check out the following Facebook Groups: “United Church of Canada Youth and Young Adults”, “A Year of Sabbath” or start your own interest group!
From the World Council of Churches - International Day of Prayer for Peace [Worldwide] www.oikoumene.org/en/news/upcoming-events/ev/se/article/1722/international-day-of-pray-6.html
On 21 September, churches and communities throughout the world are committing to the International Day of Peace through prayer, meditation and other forms of spiritual observance. For 2007, the WCC office for the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) has made available prayer and liturgical resources developed in the context of this year's DOV focus on Europe and its theme “Make me an instrument of your peace”.
The Student Christian Movement @ York has been in touch and wishes to extend a warm invitation to the ecumenical community “seeking to partake in faith-rooted resistance and liberation” at York University. Contact york@scmcanada.org
 Young Adult Book Study suggestions … best taken with a meal and refreshments Homer-Dixon, Thomas. The Upside of Down Catastrophe, Creativity and the Renewal of Civilization. 2007.
Chris Turner’s The Geography of Hope: A Tour of the World We Need. 2007.
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Challenging Empire: Intergenerational Conversations. Part of the Challenging Empire Kit. UCRD CH10394. A five-session resource for cross-generational sharing around fair trade, conservation, sustainability, peaceful play. The “Six Values for Conversation Groups” are very helpful!
In God’s Hands Common Prayer for the World by Hugh McCullum and Terry MacArthur Your youth will learn about the social, economic and historical background for countries around the world. Many liturgical resources as well as maps and a weekly prayer cycle round out this tremendous resource. Order at http://publications.oikoumene.org/ index.php?2070&backPID=2046&alp=
A&aalp=A&tt_products=424
Wondering Holy Youth (W.H.Y.) is an e-magazine created for and by youth. Read this UCC magazine at http://wonderingholyyouth.blogspot.com/
search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=14 or to subscribe, contact wonderingholyyouth@gmail.com
 ‘United for Peace’ has been launched in the UCC and partners with The World Council of Churches, Sudan Council of Churches, Project Ploughshares and Kairos to name a few. Young adults with a passion to change the world can find more information at http://www.united-church.ca/getinvolved/unitedforpeace
 40’ x 40’ Canvas Labyrinth. Toronto Conference has been gifted with a labyrinth from the Ethnic Ministry folk at General Council. The Conference is happy to lend out the Labyrinth (and the dolly it is transported on) to congregations and youth groups within the United Church. Contact Portia Harrison portia@torontoconference.ca in the Conference office to arrange to borrow the labyrinth. If you’re in need of a good background book or two, check out Gailand McQueen’s The Spirituality of Mazes and Labyrinths. Available through UCRD. Also, see Lauren Artress’ classic Walking a Sacred Path. When you contact the Conference office, the staff will need about 5 minutes of your time to explain a few things about transporting the labyrinth and the signing out/return procedures. Portia (416)241-2677 x 221.
Youth for Peace is a two year opportunity for young adults (18-30) of the United Church to travel to a part of the world struggling with peace and refugee issues and experience what our partners are doing to engage these themes. This program is a collaboration between the Justice Global and Ecumenical Relations (JGER) unit, and the Congregational, Educational and Community Ministries (CECM) unit. It is also happening in partnership with the United for Peace campaign.
In May 2009, 16 young adults, led by 4 leaders from the Y4P Design Team will travel to Palestine and Israel. In 2010, another group will travel to another region, to be determined. All the details for this opportunity are available here: http://www.united-church.ca/getinvolved/
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