Connecting the Reformation with Children, Families and the Home

Connecting the Reformation with Children, Families and the Home Rev. Janelle Rozek Hooper Debbie Streicher

Keep these in mind. We will revisit them in a short while What are you currently doing in your congregation to engage children and families in faith talk? What have you heard or seen shared today that is new to you? What excites you and what will you take back to your congregation? How can we stay in touch and connect and network with one another?

What important aspects of the Reformation and our ever-reforming church would our children and households benefit from learning? How can we actively involve children, youth, and families in hands-on faith formation opportunities during worship, at home, and in the community?

People are empowered to do God s work as part of the priesthood of all believers. fathers and mothers are apostles, bishops, and priests

Thank you Augsburg Fortress! https://www.augsburgfortress.org/

Milestones Godly Play Set aside a season Art Hymnody Lord s Prayer Signing Involvement during worship

At the heart of Lutheranism is grace and wonder. http://www.godlyplay.org/

in the home, the community, and the congregation At the heart of Milestones Ministry are the Four Keys faith practices: Caring Conversations, Devotions, Service, and Rituals and Traditions. www.milestonesministry.org

How do we identify and connect faith to milestones in our lives? Name it Equip it Bless it Gift it Reinforce it Broken Bone

Set aside one Sunday a month for Reformation, or an entire season, perhaps Lent, or do a huge Reformation blow-out in October. Could include: children s message prayers during Prayers of Intercession children s bulletins ex. Sparkhouse Reformation Sunday making props and signs with words used in worship (ex: amen, praise, spirit) and invite children to raise these signs when the word is spoken during worship. learning to sign the Lord s Prayer use the Small Catechism as a guide to highlight one part each month. Ex: Introduce an overview of the ten commandments the first month, then highlight one commandment for the next ten months, and during month twelve revisit what was learned and celebrate this journey together.

https://www.wearesparkhouse.org/

sundaysandseasons.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihzipwxpevm

Have an artist discuss religious symbolism (in the worship space and/or around the building). Discuss medieval art s importance to the illiterate. Introduce diverse Christian symbols for an intergenerational art table event. Art ideas include creating new: paraments banner icon ex. Katie Luther digital art for social media, church web page ornaments (Chrismons) for the church Christmas tree if kicking off a Reformation year alongside the church year which starts with Advent. give guided tours of the Sanctuary to the children explaining each part used during worship including an explanation of the designs seen on candles and the paraments.

Luther loved hymnody and wrote many songs as a way to get theology into the hands/voices of the people. Luther appreciated making theologically sound music that was relatable. How can you get good theology into the hands/voices of our children? --sing a Martin Luther hymn sing a global hymn Introduce Justin Roberts make an intentional decision not to sing certain children s music (such as Jesus Loves the Little Children that uses demeaning colors for different races or Lord I Lift Your Name On High which says we have a debt we need to pay God for our sins) and instead teach a new song and sing it regularly so it becomes a new favorite

http://www.justinroberts.org/home.php

engage more children in cantoring or using musical instruments, could a young person in your congregation chant the leader refrain of the psalm? Or the gospel acclamation?, What about the doxology? sing and sign scripture songs use puppets and choreograph movements to hymns and scripture songs It is not uncommon for churches to have joint Thanksgiving services in November. The end of November also aligns with the beginning of Advent and the new church year. Consider partnering with one or more non-lutheran churches. Give thanks for the unity shared in Christ and build new relationships over pie!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjzrwk6bz3q

In light of the worship reforms of the Reformation (both elements of communion shared by congregation and pastor, priest not facing altar but people, worship held in native tongue and not English) take a worship inventory. In light of children s needs in worship are there aspects of your congregation s worship that need reforming? Is there room in your sanctuary for a Prayground? Rocking chairs? Children s leadership? Repetitive songs that don t have to be read to be sung? Contact Rev. Janelle Hooper for consulting and advice.

Milestones Rally Day Story Bibles Luther movie Indulgences Activity Take a stand where you can do no other Faith Practices for the Home Blessing Bowls

in the home, the community, and the congregation At the heart of Milestones Ministry are the Four Keys faith practices: Caring Conversations, Devotions, Service, and Rituals and Traditions. www.milestonesministry.org

Five Principles for living and passing on faith: Faith is formed by the power of the Holy Spirit through personal, trusted relationships often in our own homes. The church is a living partnership between the ministry of the congregation and ministry of the home. Where Christ is present in faith, the home is church too. Faith is caught more than it is taught. If we want Christian children and youth, we need Christian adults.

Four Keys for practicing faith: Caring Conversations Devotions Service Rituals and Traditions

In celebration of the 500 th Anniversary, there is a Milestone Moment designed for you to use at home or as a faith community. Click here to download.

Use Rally Day as a kick off for Reformation. Celebrate how your church is grounded in history but ever changing to share the good news with your community. Be as invitational as possible. -Include Spark Story Bibles in the pews or to young families, bringing the Word to the people as Luther translated the Bible into German for the people. I Wonder by Elizabeth Caldwell

http://www.elca.org/our-work/congregations-and-synods/program-planners

www.faithink.com

https://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/category/286447/bibles

https://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/category/286447/bibles

Bake good and sell as indulgences then give money to outside charity, ideally one that promotes interfaith dialogue or serves multiple faith traditions. Connect with Lutheran World Relief, discuss fairness and generosity. Take a stand where you can do no other, lift up a social justice issue with advocacy through the ELCA. Have it relatable for youth-- malaria, food backpacks Introduce faith practices all ages can learn and also do in the home to connect worship and faith formation throughout the week. Host a monthly fellowship time for all ages to have caring conversations, pray, and bless one another to build relationships within the congregation.

Past and current The Little Lutheran and Living Lutheran Ask the youth! Non-fiction children s books Skits and Acting out Bible readings Biblical Storytelling

Faith Story sharing. The Reformation is way more than 95 theses nailed to a door, it is the stories of people s lives changed and working for change. Consider incorporating a faith story of a church reformer (women and men, Lutheran and non-luth.) Have not only faith stories of folks in the past but have congregational members of all ages share theirs too. Small children could share their faith story with pictures that become bulletin cover art. Use past editions of The Little Lutheran including Vo. 9, Issue 3 from October 2015 on Luther. Living Lutheran magazine.

Accompany youth to address (in whatever form/method/media is most fitting) assembly about three things: what about their heritage they are inspired by what about their congregation makes them feel connected how they hope the church may change in the future..

Introduce Biblical storytelling and encourage ways to retell scripture stories through skits, signing, puppets, or acting out. video children interviewing adults and asking questions about their faith or simply ask children faith related questions and invite families to view and participate in a discussion. use a story Bible like Spark that has questions related to the Bible story and invite youth and children to read scripture and write a skit about how their own lives relate to this scripture..

What are you currently doing in your congregation to engage children and families in faith talk?

What have you heard or seen shared today that is new to you? What excites you and what will you take back to your congregation?

How can we stay in touch and connect and network with one another?

Additional Resources: Ever-Reforming: A Reformation 500 Cross-Generational Study A Collaborative Ministry of the North Carolina Synod edited by Mindy and Eric Childers. www.nclutheran.org Teaching Children about Martin Luther and the Reformation Montana Synod edited by the Rev. Amanda Applehans http://tinyurl.com/javwfg8

https://www.creativecommunications.com/

www.faithfulteaching.org Group Page Organization Page

http://www.youthministrylinks.org/

Contact info: Rev. Janelle Rozek Hooper janelle.hooper@elca.org http://www.youthministrylinks.org/ Debbie Streicher dstreicher52@gmail.com https://milestonesministry.org/