Part 2. Faith Formation with Emerging Adults John Roberto, LifelongFaith Associates Vision of Faith Formation Churches want faith formation that helps people... Ø grow in their relationship with God throughout their lives Ø live as disciples of Jesus Christ at home, in the workplace, in the community and the world Ø develop an understanding of the Bible and their faith tradition Ø deepen their spiritual life and practices Ø engage in service and mission Ø relate the Christian faith to life today Ø participate in the life and ministries of the faith community 1
What Do Young Adults Want A church that takes our experience seriously A church that emphasizes the inclusive ministry of Jesus A church that embraces that God is everywhere A church that engages struggles and is open to dialogue (Annie Selak) Discipleship Pattern Approach #1 Catholic and Protestant since Reformation Believe Behave Belong Approach #2 (Re)Emerging in 21 st Century Belong Behave Believe 2
What s Working 1. Creating deeper community through small groups 2. Making a difference through service 3. Experiencing worship reflecting their culture and revering and revealing God (visual, musical, artistic, experiential) 4. Exploring the Bible and Christian tradition with depth, questioning, and applying faith to life 5. Utilizing the technology to communicate the message and to connect people 6. Building cross- generational relationships 7. Forming the spiritual life spiritual practices & disciplines What s Working 1. Congregations that provide a home for emerging adults; where older adults are welcoming, inviting them into leadership and participation. 2. Congregations that appreciate emerging adults their ideas, their work, their prayers and their limitations ($). 3. Congregations that offer short term, significant projects and involvements. 4. Congregations that are diverse, inclusive communities. 3
What s Working 5. Congregations that effectively use media and social networking, and that have a contemporary, current website. 6. Congregations that have a strong, nurturing pastor. They like good preaching and teaching. They like pastors who have a vision of the work of the Gospel in that congregation; and someone who has a good sense of outreach. 7. Congregations that provide worship at times they can come; and opportunities to gather and socialize. 8. Congregations that go off campus with ministry and faith formation. (Changing Spirituality of Emerging Adults Project) What s Working 1. Young adults want to feel that there presence is valued. 2. Young adults want a sense of ownership in their congregations. 3. Young adults interests in religion are multifaceted. 4. Young adults thrive when they are met where they are. 5. Young adults welcome opportunities to feel emotionally affected. 6. Young adults respond to a theoretical and practice balance between the particular and universal. ( Congregations that Get It - Belzer, et al.) 4
What s Working 1. Creating deeper community 2. Making a difference through service 3. Experiencing worship 4. Conversing the content with religious depth 5. Leveraging technology 6. Building cross- generational relationships 7. Moving toward authenticity 8. Leading by transparency 9. Leading by team Characteristics of Churches Reaching Young Adults (Lost & Found, Stetzer, Stanley, & Hayes) You never change things by ighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete. Buckminster Fuller 5
21 st Century Faith Formation 1. It is now possible to provide faith formation for everyone, anytime, anywhere, 24 x 7 x 365. 2. It is now possible to deliver religious content and experiences to people wherever they are, 24 x 7 x 365. 3. It is now possible to customize and personalize faith formation around the life tasks and issues, interests, religious and spiritual needs, and busy lives of people. 21 st Century Faith Formation 4. It is now possible to engage people in a wide diversity of programs, activities, and resources that incorporate a variety of ways to learn on your own, with a mentor, at home, in small groups, in large groups, in the congregation, and in the community and world delivered in physical gathered settings and virtual online settings. 5. It is now possible to connect people to each other in physical places and virtual spaces. 6
Targeting the Diversity Vibrant Faith & Active Engagement in the Community Minimal Engagement with Faith and the Community Spiritual but Not Religious Not Religiously Affiliated 21 st Century Faith Formation Creating Networks of Personalized & Customized Faith Formation Activities & Resources focusing on addressing people s spiritual and religious diversity by offering a wide variety of religious content and experiences Older Adults Mature Adults Children & Families Mid- Life Adults Adolescents & Families Young Adults 7
The Long Tail of Network Offerings Characteristics Networked Connected Personalized Virtual & Physical Lots of Variety Fashioned around People 8
Families with Children Network Ge ng Started in Faith Experiences Bringing Sunday Worship Home Whole Family Programs Mentors for Parents Intergenera- onal Experiences Paren ng Educa on & Support Groups Children s Programs & Events Parent Faith Forma on Milestones Faith Prac ces: Bible, Prayer, Rituals. Service 9
Youth Network Parent Educa on & Support Groups Youth Group Confirma on Program Parent Faith Forma on Adolescent Life Issues Intergenera- onal Experiences & Connec ons Youth Network Parent- Teen Ac vi es & Resources Youth Leadership Bible Study & Religious Learning Milestones Service Projects Mission Trips Prayer & Spiritual Forma on 10
Young Adult Network Social Media Connec ons Weekly Gathering & Worship Life Issues, Transi ons, & Milestones YA Community Events Scripture Enrichment Discovering Faith (Alpha Course) Faith Enrichment Third Place Care Jus ce, Service, Mission Spiritual Enrichment Baby Boomer Adult Network Blog Social Media Scripture Enrichment Faith Enrichment Peer Connec ons Spiritual Enrichment Intergenera onal Experiences & Connec ons (Re)Discovering Faith Jus ce, Service, Mission Sunday Worship through the Week Family & Grandparents Mature Adult Life Issues, Transi ons, & Milestones 11
New Mobile Technologies 12
New Digital Technologies New Digital Resources 13
The collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum on display includes examples of pre- 20th- century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture, and decorative arts; and 19th- and 20th- century American and European photographs. edx Online education 14
Vibrant Faith @ Home Busted Halo 15
LifeChurch.tv LifeChurch.tv 16
Personalizing Faith Formation Personalized pathways for discipleship & faith growth.... u Guide people in discerning their religious and spiritual needs u Equip people with the resources and tools to learn and grow at their own pace u Provide mentoring and support for the journey Personalizing Faith Formation Assessing Spiritual Growth Reflecting on Growth & New Needs Working with a Mentor/Guide Sharing with the Community Finding Resources on the Network Engaging in Formation 17
Environments for Faith Formation Community & World On Your Own Mentored Church Community Face- to- Face & Virtual @Home Large Group Small Group 18
Online Blended Physical Fully online with options for face- to- face interaction in physical settings. Mostly or fully online with regular interaction in physical settings. Online platform that delivers most of the program with support, mentoring, and small groups. Programs in physical settings guided by a leader with online components. Programs in physical settings with online resources to supplement the program. Imagine the Possibilities.... u Flipping the classroom so that children and teens are doing project- centered learning with their parents or peers accessing content online through the network website and connecting via a secure social network such as Edmodo AND then refocusing class time on practicing, demonstrating, and performing. 19
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Imagine the Possibilities.... u Providing courses, presentations, demonstrations, small group Bible study, and topical learning all with online content that can be conducted via Skype or Google+ with reflections on a blog, Google+ Circle, Twitter, Facebook group, or Edmodo. 21
Imagine the Possibilities.... u Providing online Bible and theology courses using free courses from itunes University or a seminary/university. 22
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Imagine the Possibilities u Developing an online prayer center where people can find daily prayer experiences, offer prayer intentions, pray for others, learn about spiritual practices.... 25
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Imagine the Possibilities u Developing justice and service resources where youth (and their parents) can learn about social issues, explore Biblical and church teaching on justice, and find ways to act together through local & global projects. 27
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Sunday Worship Share It Blog/Facebook Ques on A er Worship Sharing @Home Conversa on Ac vity Live It Living the Message Daily Living Chris an Prac ces Service/Mission Idea Ac on Project Sunday Worship Study It Taking Faith Home Sermon Video + Study Guide Daily Readings Scripture Commentaries Online Bible Study Pray It Weekly Table Prayer Praying with the Saints AM & PM Prayer Lec o Divina 29
Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ the King November 20, 2011 Carrying on the Mission of the Shepherd-King Ezekiel 34:11 12, 15 17 Psalm 23:1 2, 2 3, 5 6 1 Corinthians 15:20 26, 28 Matthew 25:31 46 SCRIPTURE REFLECTION Most of us might not realize the responsibilities that came with the job of a shepherd, but this once-important position is key to understanding many Biblical passages and Jesus identity as Shepherd-King. In Jesus day, the shepherd had the awesome responsibility of protecting a highly valued animal. No fences or convenient ways existed to bring massive amounts of food to a large herd. Without the shepherd, the animals were easy prey to wild beasts and were often lost to the expanse of the land. Shepherds were not casual overseers but were constantly on guard over their flocks. The passages this week rely on an understanding of the shepherd s duties. In Ezekiel we find a shepherd who has not done his job, thereby putting the flock in danger. A new shepherd the Lord comes to save the abandoned herd. In light of the New Testament and their faith, Christians understand this shepherd as the Lord Jesus. Parallel to Ezekiel s scenario, Matthew tells about a shepherd who comes to sort the good from the bad while rescuing the weakest members of the flock. Because the weak animals of the flock are overlooked to protect the majority, Jesus surprises his audience by delegating responsibility for them and clearly defining their tasks for them. His words are the basis for what Catholics have traditionally called the corporal works of mercy. SHARING FAITH What traits do you associate with the title of shepherd? Where do these ideas about shepherds come from? What images from today s world might be used to describe Jesus unique style of leadership? What skills and personal qualities did shepherds have in Jesus time? Why do you think Jesus chose to identify himself with a shepherd? What prevents you from seeing God in all people? LIVING THE LITURGY Many find guiding principles for life in this passage from Matthew s account of the Gospel. Look out for the citation of this Sunday s Gospel on license plates and t-shirts. Think about why this particular passage might speak to people. Make a crown for the center of your table. Decorate it with symbols or words that tell about the qualities of Christ the King. Leave the crown in place until next Sunday, when Advent begins. Look at a hidden picture book or puzzle. After finding some of the missing objects, decide what makes the things you are looking for so hard to find. Discuss strategies for the rest of your search. Talk about how we miss seeing the presence of Christ the King in our families, neighborhood, and world. The Word to Go 2011 2011 Archdiocese of Chicago: Liturgy Training Publications. All rights reserved. Orders 1-800-933-1800. Imprimatur granted by Reverent John F. Canary, STL DMIN on May 27, 2008. Art by Martin Erspamer, OSB. 30
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Life Issues 32
Discovering Faith 33
Discovering Faith Introduction Dinner: Is there more to life than this? Week 1: Who is Jesus? Week 2: Why did Jesus die? Week 3: How can we have faith? Week 4: Why and how do I pray? Week 5: Why and how should I read the Bible? Week 6: How does God guide us? Week 7: How can I resist evil? Week 8: Why & how should we tell others? Week 9: Does God heal today? Week 10: What about the Church? Weekend: Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do? How can I be filled with the Holy Spirit? How can I make the most of the rest of my life? A Third Place gathering space in the community, offers hospitality, builds relationships, hosts spiritual conversations, provides programs and activities, and nourishes the spiritual life of people. 34
Building Congregations Around Art Galleries and Cafes Life in Deep Ellum is a cultural center built for the artistic, social, economic, and spiritual benefit of Deep Ellum and urban Dallas. Through its four pillars of Art, Music, Commerce, and Community, it strives to promote life and growth in our city through creative initiatives and strategic partnerships. Life in Deep Ellum is about a way of life, cultivating purpose, and guiding people into relationship with God. 35