Tools for Faith Formation 

Resources to aid in the Christian education of anyone – at any age!
Here’s a marvelous curation of materials to help congregations of every size and shape. 
How Do I Become a Certified Christian Educator? 
Vickie Dieth is our presbytery’s Educator Certification Advisor.
Reach Vickie via email or 850-766-9561 if you are wondering whether certification might be for you!

PC(USA) Resources

Presbyterian Giving Catalog: Igniting Generosity with a Playful Twist at APCE! As we journey through the season of Lent into Easter, what better way to engage our youth than with innovative, hands-on activities? The Presbyterian Giving Catalog is thrilled to have sparked curiosity and generosity at this year’s Association of Partners in Christian Education (APCE) annual event with an exciting I Spy Activity — a testament to how simple ideas can profoundly touch lives and communities.

While the APCE event may be over, the spirit of discovery and giving continues. Encourage children to delve into the Giving Catalog I Spy Activities, designed to nurture young hearts and minds toward passionate generosity.

Here’s how to keep the momentum going:

  • Embark on a Generosity Quest: Use our I Spy Activity Instructions to help youth explore meaningful gifts that can change lives.
  • Color for a Cause: Download our I Spy Coloring Sheets from chickens to veggies and let the creativity flow. Use each masterpiece to contribute to a quilt-style tapestry of giving.
  • Social Sharing with Heart: Share your I Spy discoveries and coloring creations on social media with the hashtag #GenerosityPGC. Let’s spread the word and inspire a community-wide wave of kindness.

Let’s harness the excitement from APCE and continue to foster a culture of giving in our Sunday schools. The Presbyterian Giving Catalog is your partner in this journey of generosity, one playful spy and color at a time. Find the I Spy Activity instructions and coloring sheets here.

PC(USA) Office of Christian Formation and their new Faith Practices Toolkit provides endless resources and features the collaboration of 5 collective partners:

Presbyterian Mission Agency provides numerous resources around multiple topics, including Intergenerational Mission.  Click on this link to access their website and use free tools available to all.

A recent addition from the Office of Christian Formation, Why Presbyterians Are Like That, is a 10-session Bible study designed for college students and young adults.  The Office of Christian Formation has partnered with UKirk Collegiate Ministries to offer this series of free downloadable PDF Bible studies based on one Presbyterian chaplain’s suggestion of 10 reasons Presbyterians are the way we are. The study was written by Austin College chaplain and director of Church Relations the Rev. Dr. John Williams. To learn more or for individual lesson PDFs, click here. There will be an adaptation of this resource available in early 2023 for other adult class settings.

Camps and Conferences

Montreat

Other Resources 

From Britanny DiGiamarrino, Small Church Coordinator:

FREE VBS Curriculum from the Fuller Center

Restoration Therapy Resources by Brianna White, St. Andrews (Macon)

Big Ideas in Youth Ministry Facebook Page & Podcast

Hope4CE Facebook page 

Parents Take 5 Podcast 

New Resources from the PC(USA) Store

The PC(USA) Store has a new digital Christian Education and Ministry catalog for 2024-25 containing direct links to resources for the easiest way to learn more about our resources. Don’t forget about our interactive digital catalog that showcases curriculum options for all ages in your congregation, plus books for engaging Matthew 25, Advent and Lent, group study, children’s ministry, and leadership. Korean and Spanish language resources are also included.

Also worth a watch is our video on How to find Curriculum on PC(USA) Store. This three-minute video will help you navigate our website like a pro when looking for curriculum. We have some great information about our resources on our website and this video shows you where find them.

The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators

The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators has a resource page for remote ministries at:

apcenet.org/remote-ministry-resources

Building Faith:

Curated resources for faith formation, including seasonal ideas for all ages.

Virginia Theological Seminary:

buildfaith.org

CRC Toolkits:

Resources gathered (curriculum, blogs) on a variety of topics (intergenerational, children, storytelling, older adults.)

Christian Reformed Church: 

CRCNA.org

Disparity Trap:

Disparity Trap, a board game to prompt “conversations around race, wealth, and privilege in the USA and how those constructs impact society. “Step into someone else’s shoes and experience the disparities within a position different from your own.” 

More Info On Disparity Trap

Finger Labyrinths:

Downloadable labyrinths to paint, color, and embellish with personal messages or meditations.

The Labyrinth Society:

labyrinthsociety.org

Flame Creative Children’s Ministry:

Ideas to help parents and children’s church leaders.  Creative storytelling and prayers, coloring pages, church seasonal activities.

Mina Munns:

flamecreativekids.blogspot.com

Frolic

Uniquely created for babies and toddlers, these resources introduce little ones to faith concepts in age-appropriate ways.

wearesparkhouse.org

Follow Me: Biblical Practices for Faithful Living

This thirty-six-unit curriculum is based on practices Jesus did and taught us to do as faithful followers. Written for people of all ages who wish to live out their faith, this new curriculum examines where these practices are found in the Bible and how they have been used in the Christian faith then and now.

pcusastore.com

Ideas and Resources for Church Musicians:

Printable and digital resources for creatively integrating visual arts in worship for all ages.

Ashley Danyew:

ashleydanyew.com

Illustrated Resources:

Children’s bulletins and messages, intergenerational coloring posters and coloring pages

Ilustrated Ministry: 

illustratedministry.com

Milestones Ministry:

Taking Faith Home bulletin inserts and faith discussion cards based on the Revised Common Lectionary.  Milestone event recognition modules.  Birthed from Vibrant Faith Ministries.

Milestonesministry.org

The Network:

Resources and ideas for ministry with all ages using an interactive platform

Christian Reformed Church

Network.crcna.org

Opening Doors to Discipleship 

is an excellent resource for teacher training and adult studies and these studies will soon be used for those who would like to become certified as a Christian Educator

 

Picture Book Theology:

Website with ideas for how secular picture books connect with the sacred for use in churches, retreats, in parochial schools, and at home

Hanna Schock

Picturebooktheology.com

Praying in Color:

Active, visual, and meditative form of intercessory prayer.  Website explains how to pray using this approach. Books with instructions and pre-printed prayer pages to apply to learning in Scripture, practicing lectio divina and praying in other ways.

Sybil MacBeth

Prayingincolor.com

Storypath:

Online library of books for children and older youth with ideas for use in worship and Christian education settings. Book reviews, lesson plans using the books and lectionary reading tied to books.

Union Presbyterian Seminary

Storypath.edu

Sunday LIFT
(Living in Faith Together):

Resources that invite all ages to share food, learn, worship, and have fun in small groups around tables. Replaces or supplements traditional Sunday school. Can also be used at home.

GenOn Ministries 

Genonministries.org

Theocademy 

offers online courses/videos for new members, elders/deacons, adults, and even confirmation. Created by Synod of Mid-America.

Treasure Box Tuesday:

Weekly email of resources for children and family ministries.  Links to articles, products, books, conferences.

Traci Smith

Traci-smith.com

Visual Faith Cards:

Practice that guides through imagery into deeper faith formation. Used in multiple settings including Bible studies, youth groups, storytelling, intergenerational gatherings. Available as a database or printed cards.

Vibrant Faith

Vibrantfaith.org

Worship arts resources:

Downloadable resources that help all ages lead in worship.

GenOn Ministries

Genonministries.org

Worshipping with Children:

Lectionary blog offers help for specific Sundays for intergenerational worship. Ideas include reading Scripture, prayers and liturgy that engage all ages.

Carolyn Brown

Worshipingwithchildren.com