Christian Formation Archives

Dipping Deeper: forming lifelong disciples

Posted October 7th, 2020

More than 50 Christian educators, pastors, volunteers and others are taking part in a three-day virtual workshop “Dipping Deeper into the Well of PC(USA) Ministries,” Oct. 5–7. Sessions are focused on the formation of lifelong disciples who are grounded in the Reformed tradition and equipped for the work of evangelism, peacemaking, witnessing and working toward justice and equity for all God’s people.

Monthly webinar designed to promote spiritual formation among young adults

Posted October 3rd, 2020

“The (Un)Simple Truth,” a webinar on spiritual formation open to everyone but offered especially for young adults, begins at 7 p.m. Eastern Time Monday. Webinars will continue at the same time on the first Monday of each month after that.

Middlers will engage in weeklong confirmation class at Montreat

Posted September 15th, 2020

Although they won’t actually “be confirmed” during the Presbyterian Association of Musicians (PAM) 2021 Worship and Music Conference, a small group of middlers will make history by being part of the first denomination-wide confirmation class at Montreat.

Drive through blessings as Christian Education Week begins

Posted September 11th, 2020

The Sunday after Labor Day has always been a big day of celebration for many Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregations around the country. But this year the beginning of Christian Education week — which is set aside in the PC(USA) as a reminder of the importance of faith formation and those who teach and plan for another church program year — looks and feels entirely different.

Office of Christian Formation launches Faith Practices Toolkit

Posted August 28th, 2020

The Office of Christian Formation, part of the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Theology, Formation & Evangelism ministry, has launched a comprehensive online Faith Practices Toolkit designed to help faith leaders teach and guide their communities into becoming an intergenerational community of faith.

Presbyterians invited to dip deeper into the well of PC(USA) ministries

Posted August 27th, 2020

The South Central Region of the Association of Presbyterian Church Educators (SCRAPCE) is hosting a three-day virtual workshop called “Dipping Deeper Into the Well of PC(USA) Ministries” Oct. 5–7. The workshop, coordinated by Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary (APTS), is recommended for Christian educators, pastors, volunteers and anyone else interested in learning about denominational resources available for Christian education and formation in the local church.

Getting faith formation and worship resources into people’s homes

Posted August 13th, 2020

Church and worshiping community leaders, are you looking for ways to support families in faith formation at home during a time of pandemic? Would you like your community to have access to a children’s Bible, hymnal and prayers in their home?

Church is where God’s family gathers

Posted August 13th, 2020

While the apocalyptic genre might seem relatable in some ways during these times we’re living in, the characters I have found myself relating to most during the pandemic are those found in Laura Ingalls Wilder’s account of life in 19th century America that she writes about in “Little House on the Prairie.” Letting out the hem of last year’s dress to make do for a growing child totally makes sense now. Who needs new clothes when you never leave home? Sitting around the fire at night for a sing-along with Pa while Ma does the mending? And then there’s Sundays.

Building bridges instead of walls in Charlotte, North Carolina

Posted August 10th, 2020

Early this year, the dean of Belk Chapel at Queens University of Charlotte, Dr. Suzanne Watts Henderson, was in Chicago visiting with Eboo Patel. The founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) mentioned to her that he was interested in working with Queens to build a statewide and regional network to do interfaith work in the Carolinas.

Holy rhythms

Posted July 29th, 2020

The COVID-19 era “is going to radically push what the church is in the future,” the Rev. Dr. Jason Brian Santos told the Synod of Lakes and Prairies’ Synod School Wednesday evening.