Advocate April 2024

Dear Friends,

As

past few months

early church and live into our calling as the people of God in relationship with our world. Wow—that’s pretty extraordinary stuff!

With our schools out, college students home on break, BBQs and getaways in full swing for the summer months, the church gets to change things up a bit too—to lean into the extraordinary. Vacation Bible camps, intergenerational events, mission trips, youth conferences, retreats, and church camps all launch into their busiest season of the year. We do this because these extraordinary programs offer churches unique opportunities to build strong Christian relationships across the generations, live in communities where Jesus can be experienced in and through all the activities of each day, and all of us can live into our faith through our

involvement with mission and service projects that make a real difference in our world. As you plan for these special days, I’d like to pass on one small idea from a church near me that you might like to weave into one of these extraordinary things you are planning for this summer.

How about a Story Walk?

A Story Walk is where you take a really great picture book, cut it apart, laminate the individual pages, then tack the pages onto garden stakes, a fence or walls creating a pathway for people to follow and read the story as they journey through a garden, a forest path or even inside a building.

A Story Walk lends itself well for groups to chat together about the story they are reading, or for individuals to slowly meditate upon. You

could create a Story Walk for all ages as a piece of a Vacation Bible camp, intergenerational dinner, a Sunday after worship gathering or just about anything else you might want. It would change things up a bit with an adult study group. If you’d like to consider a wonderful book to use this summer, I can highly recommend What Grew in Larry’s Garden by Laura Alary as a perfect book choice for a garden walk during Ordinary Time. The story involves two neighbors, Grace, a younger child and Larry, an older adult. Grace peers over the fence at the tiny, but beautiful and fruitful garden Larry tends. Over conversations about extraordinary rainbow chard, buttery beans and rosy tomatoes a friendship grows as they work together in Larry’s garden. Grace learns a lot about gardening from Larry and as the produce grows she also learns about sharing the fruit of their labor with Larry’s students and the people the students gift the produce to. One day Grace arrives to find

Larry mourning the loss of his treasured plants. Another neighbor built a high fence keeping out the sun that the plants need to survive. Grace comforts Larry and then shares seeds and a letter with the neighbor. The fence comes down and the circle of friendly garden neighbors grows. My friend created a wonderful Story Walk using What Grew in Larry’s Garden with her congregation. At the end of the path there sat a table with heirloom tomatoes for everyone to continue to expand the gardening circle wide and share produce with others. I hope you find extraordinary ways of sharing and caring with the world this summer.

Grace and peace, Tori Smit

New APCE Book Club has

something for everyone!

Do you find yourself awash in pages and pages of professional reading but very little reading for your soul, for your self-care, for your well of well being?

Then look NO FURTHER! APCE has just launched a Book Club for any and all members who would like to gather to read, explore, and dive into books both fiction and non-fiction, “work related” and just for fun!

The group will meet monthly via Zoom with NO requirement to make each and every meeting! Come as you can, enjoy the fellowship of fellow educators and simply find some respite in books!

Each book club will meet on the 3rd Thursday at 2pm est… registration for the zoom link will be published on all APCE social media! and below.

Upcoming dates and books:

May 16

West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge

April 18

I Think You’re Wrong (But I’m Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations by Beth Silvers and Sarah Stewart Holland

June 20

Generation Alpha by Mark McCrindle and Ashley Fell

What is Your Favorite Ministry-Related Podcast?

Inquiring Minds Want to Know!

On Facebook recently, the Communications and Resources Team asked the question “What is your favorite ministry-related podcast?” And we got those answers and more! Check out the next few pages showing some of your favorites, and click here to see the entire podcast list.

Around the Table

Michelle Thomas-Bush & Cliff Haddox

A look at how conversations around the table and at home can improve and enrich family connections and spirituality and faith

https://open.spotify.com/show/1SHw9D Xt2rq30YG8WYQhad

https://music.amazon.com/.../fbf.../arou nd-the-table-podcast

Big Ideas in Youth Ministry

Michelle Thomas-Bush & Cliff Haddox

A resource for those who work in and participate in youth ministry.

https://podcasts.apple.com/.../big-ideasin /id1294854029

BibleWorm With Amy Robertson & Robert Williamson Jr.

BibleWorm is a weekly podcast hosted by biblical scholars Amy Robertson and Robert Williamson and based on the readings of the narrative lectionary

https://www.biblewormpodcast.com/fee d.xml

The Lazy Genius with Kendra Adachi

This podcast helps you in being geniuses about the things that matter and lazy about the things that don’t. The best part? You get to decide what that means for your life.

https://www.thelazygeniuscollective.c om/lazy

Created Creative

Ruth Hetland & Dawn Trautman

Embark on a journey with Ruth, creator of the wildly popular ConseCrate subscription box for ministers, and Dawn, veteran life coach to leaders, to churches and non-profits through her business Big Picture Big Purpose, as they navigate the labyrinth of creativity

https://open.spotify.com/show/7BZTNATYyWKJjU1S1pzlLc?

si=63f71e6c997a4682

Faith in the Cracks

Karen Wright

Just like new plants sprout in the cracks of the sidewalk, faith can grow and develop in the cracks of our lives. Whether the cracks are cracks of time in our daily schedule or cracks in our lives from changes, pressures, or life in general, when we allow God’s word to seep into the cracks, new things can blossom.

https://faithinthecracks.com/? fbclid=IwAR0uoeqB8MPxpmwoRyKcjMKcHez8AGrH6F

SpeDb5znquaWDTP7IP5Tl8dY

Holy Post

Phil Vischer & Skye Jethani

Join the host for a fast-paced and often funny conversation about pop culture, media, theology and the fun, fun, fun of living a thoughtful Christian life in an increasingly postChristian culture.

https://open.spotify.com/show/0uuW 6iCQVmwGCpHN4BzC8K? si=dGsB27KDTnK9Wir8UBoIug&fbc lid=IwAR19JAZRHlRFInLTMnkBX1 9DYFdqxw8dJKy5EzCCHacH0cteh Yv4TjAoa2c&nd=1&dlsi=cf7089a7d 99b47c6

The Mockingcast

Sarah Condon, R.J. Heijmen, & David Zahl

The Mockingcast is a bi-weekly podcast by Mockingbird Ministries, an organization which seeks to connect the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life in fresh and down to earth ways. https://themockingcast.fireside.fm/

NoStupidQuestions

AngelaDuckworth&MikeMaughan ResearchpsychologistAngelaDuckworth(authorofGrit)andtechandsports executiveMikeMaughanreallyliketoaskpeoplequestions,andtheybelieve there’snosuchthingasastupidone.So,theyhaveapodcastwheretheycan askeachotherasmany“stupidquestions”astheywant.

https://freakonomics.com/series/nsq/

New Heights

Jason & Travis Kelce

Football’s funniest family duo team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about their games and share unique perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. Plus, entertaining stories from a combined 21 years in the league, off-field interests, and engaging conversations with special guests.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/new-heights-with-jason-and-traviskelce/id1643745036

Off Menu

Ed Gamble & James Acaster

Comedians Ed Gamble and James Acaster invite special guests into their magical restaurant to each choose their favorite starter, main course, side dish, dessert, and drink.

https://podcasts.apple.com/.../offmenu-with.../id1442950743

More Podcast recommendations can be found at:

Advocate Podcast Resource

Awards and Scholarships

APCE

Award: SUSTAIN Lifetime Achievement

Educators who are selected for APCE awards will be honored at the awards ceremony during the APCE Annual Event. Awardees will receive an APCE pin or necklace and a certificate of recognition. Nominations for awards will be eligible for consideration for a total of three years There may be up to two persons recognized for SUSTAIN–Life Achievement. ALL nomination forms submitted must be completed in all four areas of ministry on the form, in addition to meeting the award’s particular criteria (see criteria below). Award recipients will provide a biography and photo for publicity purposes.

The SUSTAIN Lifetime Achievement recipient is a retired educator whose life of service will be long remembered and emulated. Their work continues to inspire and sustain generations in their congregation, their denomination, or APCE region, or even nationally.

Nominees for APCE’s SUSTAIN— Lifetime Achievement award must be retired from full-time professional service and fulfill these criteria:

1. Fifteen or more years of membership in APCE or our partner denominations’ educational organizations.

2 Creative and distinguished accomplishments in educational ministry.

3. Faithful and effective service to the church and profession.

Up to two awards per year may be given. The award includes the early-bird Annual Event registration fee paid, lifetime membership, three nights’ hotel stay during the Annual Event, and one additional ticket to the awards ceremony meal

Nomination deadline: June 1, 2024, by 5 p.m. (Eastern), for potential 2025 Annual Event recognition.

2024 SUSTAIN Award Winners

Bruce Harvey (L) and John Johnson (R)

God says to the Israelites, “I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?,” and Union Presbyterian Seminary is doing a new thing with The Center for Excellence in Christian Education. As the world continues to change, so, too, does the landscape around Christian Education. Pastors, educators, and families are seeking new ways of doing faith formation, and the Center for Excellence in Christian Education stands ready to meet those needs as a nexus of creativity and innovation in educational leadership, research, and practice. Announced at the 2023

APCE Annual Event, the Center brings the lessons and gifts of the past to face forward and meet the new opportunities and challenges facing faith formation today

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The Center takes advantage of its location at the crossroads of academy and congregation by bringing together educational practitioners and scholars, faculty and students, pastors, and congregational leaders to cultivate and curate relevant and dynamic resources, engender opportunities to develop pedagogical practices, strengthen the field of Christian Education, and foster innovative technological methods and resources. Supporting and equipping congregations, church leaders, parents, and all who nurture faith are vital to the Center’s work and can be seen through the relaunch of StoryPath, a new blog focused on Educational Technology and its use in the church, and the Curriculum Connection. Amid ongoing conversations about curriculum development, the Curriculum Connection provides a collection of

Reformed and Presbyterian educational materials and resources for congregations written by practitioners, seminary leaders, and students. The curriculum will be available for purchase at a sliding scale based on congregational size

Partnerships are critical to the work of the Center, and a partnership with APCE has been part of the Center’s foundation from its beginning. APCE brings educators together by advancing educational ministries in the Church. The relationships formed through Annual Events and cohorts offer new life to educators and congregations in the work of faith formation The Center echoes APCE’s belief that growing in faith matters and will partner with APCE to bring about necessary changes in faith formation. APCE’s belief that growing in faith matters and will partner with APCE to bring about necessary changes in faith formation.in its work. The Center is

committed to being present at APCE Annual Events and to reserving a seat on its Advisory Council for an APCE representative. Together APCE and the Center will enrich, sustain, and empower the faithful work of perceiving the new things that God is doing in faith formation and Christian Education.

Located on the Charlotte campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary, the Center for Excellence in Christian Education is directed by Rev Dr Rebecca Davis and supported by Program Associate Sarah Dianne Jones. More information about programs, initiatives, and events can be found on the Center’s social media and website.

FROM THE HISTORIAN

WHAT DOES APCE HAVE TO DO WITH CURRICULA ANYWAY?

Goals of the early organizations that eventually merged into the Association of Partners in Christian Education sought to address professional standards, continuing education, and relationships to congregations and pastors. Annual meetings in the 1930s became a centerpiece of the meetings— a time to forge relationships, become familiar with the programs of the church (such as new curricula), and receive intellectual stimulation from respected speakers.

For the next thirty years, the organization’s life centered on that annual meeting. In 1962, no meeting was scheduled, so educators could attend the Covenant Life Curriculum Seminars. Because the

Moravian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Associate Reformed, and Reformed Church in America denominations were partners in this new curriculum, those educators became a part of ACE, a precursor to the current APCE.+

The original group of educators who met together at Leadership Training schools in the early 1970s determined to meet annually for presentations, discussion, and fellowship. Presentations were often about books, models of teaching, and curriculum.

From its beginnings, the organization now called APCE has had a strong connection to promoting quality curricula.

Evaluating Sunday School and Vacation Bible School curricula was essential to helping congregations to grow in the faith. Many APCE Annual Events provided workshops that told how to evaluate curricula with regard to the Reformed faith. These were all meant to encourage professional Christian Educators and congregations with volunteer Christian Educators to research curricula they were currently using, as well as the plethora of new curricula that was beginning to be published. As faith-centered publishing houses flourished in the 70s, 80s, and 90s many denominations created their own Sunday School and VBS curricula. But nondenominational publishing houses also began to showcase their curricular offerings, often with attractive and interesting titles and cartoon characters. Christian Educators were looking to APCE for ways to highlight

quality curricula with Reformed faith theologies rather than by bright colors, gadgets, and toys.

In the 2000s, the PCUSA developed an educational training system called Opening Doors to Discipleship; there were separate modules where individuals or groups could learn more about their denomin on their own. These modules were used to train officers and leaders in local congregations. One of the modules was focused on curriculum evaluation. When the ODTD system was revitalized in 2022, the module was included. Now the system is used to help train Certified Christian Educators and Lay Pastors, as well as individuals within the Reformed faith. In the module that centers on evaluating curriculum, you can learn how to eliminate and narrow down to a manageable list of options based on your church’s needs.

Then, you will discover how to review curriculum resource samples to discern if they are theologically and educationally a good fit for your church. Videos, handouts, and internet links are also included from other resources.*

Why is it so important to evaluate curriculum for our churches? We know that it does matter what we teach about God. Each of our partner denominations have their own guidelines for curriculum, but we realize that none of us has the completely correct set of ideas. We all share curricula as needed, just as we continue to work together to develop new methods and models of teaching Just as those first groups who created APCE, we all can come together to ensure our curricula are of good theology and good quality The more we learn about learning in the church, the more we can share with each other and strengthen the Christian faith.

+ from articles for The Advocate by Martha Bettis Gee *from Opening Doors to Discipleship https://odtd.net/educationalpractices/evaluating-curriculum/

Submitted by Sharon Vanpelt, APCE

Historian

THANK YOU SHARON

Sharon has served as APCE’s Historian for over 2 years. She has been wonderful to curate our history. She will still be active in APCE, you will be seeing her around.

WELCOME NEW HISTORIAN Priscilla Andre-Colton

Priscilla has served in multiple leadership roles for APCE over the years. At Annual Event 2024, she lead a workshop on how to make cards to use in ministry. Please feel free to email her at historian@apcenet.org.

CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NEWS

Holy Conversations is an intentional focus within the Cumberland Presbyterian Church to highlight God’s call to serve as a Minister of Word and Sacrament. It is a call to ordained ministry – whether as the pastor of a church, a chaplain, a minister in youth/family/education ministries, or wherever the Holy Conversations call you.

Holy Conversations is also an intentional focus within the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for EVERYONE to pray that God will raise up ministers to serve, to recognize gifts for ministry in a person’s life, and to initiate conversations with that person about God’s call to ordained ministry. There are the following resources to help churches, presbyteries, and individual members to have those important conversations: worship liturgies, additional worship ideas, a call devotion

reader’s theater, a planning calendar, monthly prayer activities, a year-long devotional guide, and an introductory video. Our 192nd General Assembly has named 2024 as “The Year of God’s Call” and the third Sunday in January as a time set aside to pray that God will call people into ordained ministry AND that people will listen and discern God’s call in their life.

Pam Phillips-Burk,

Team Leader for the Pastoral Development Ministry Team and heading up Holy Conversations

CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH IN NORTH AMERICA

As we move away from Easter and toward ordinary time, one of my favorite resources to share is our free DWELL at Home Pentecost devotional: God's Big Pentecost Story: A Celebration for Families While Christmas, Easter, and Pentecost are usually seen as the three major holy days in the church calendar, there’s a tendency to celebrate the first two and forget the third. That’s why I love this devotional. It makes it easy for families to celebrate Pentecost in a simple way, reflecting on the Acts scripture and the beautiful diversity of God’s family.

There are some great ideas for sharing this resource with the families in your church in this post: A Fabulous (and Free!) Idea to Help Families Celebrate Pentecost at Home This post is full of creative ways to use the symbol included in the devotional: Creative, Simple Ways to Make and Use God’s Big Pentecost Story Symbols.

If you enjoy this resource, there are lots more on our DWELL at Home website. Though these are companion pieces to our DWELL curriculum, they are used by many churches.

Another great resource to share with families this summer is Everyday Family Faith. Its laminated cover makes it perfect for taking to the pool or the beach. Check out this post for a fun idea for sharing this resource with families: A Super Fun Way to Help Families Form Faith This Summer.

It’s been a time of transition for the Christian Reformed Church, with nine individual ministries combining into one agency: “Thrive” (read news story here).

We’re grateful for your continued partnership and support, as we live into this new structure. You can check out all of “Thrive’s” resources at crcna.org/thrive/resources

Thrive Staff September 2023

Educator Certification within APCE

Billie Sutter, Certification Course Coordinator

Following the Annual Meeting in St. Louis in January 2024, APCE is now composed of six denominational partners! Our amazing partners are: The Christian Reformed Church in North America, The Cumberland Presbyterian Church, The Moravian Church, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, The Presbyterian Church (USA), and The Reformed Church in America. Each denomination recognizes, supports, and honors their Educators in various ways, but two offer denominationally recognized Certification for Christian Educators: The Moravian Church and The Presbyterian Church (USA).

In response to APCE’s commitment to equipping and empowering educators, part of the mission of the Advocacy Ministry Team is to oversee the offering of certification courses one at Annual Event each year and to offer Polity, Program and Mission in the year of General Assembly. Preceding the 2024 APCE Annual Event, a course in Biblical Interpretation was taught by Rev. Dr. Justin Reed, Assistant Professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. At the 2025 APCE Annual Event in Memphis, the Certification Course will be Worship and Sacraments.

The Moravian Church and The Presbyterian Church (USA) have established their own requirements to meet their certifying body’s standards. The requirements are close enough that APCE offers Certification Courses at its Annual Event and now is working to offer a few PC(USA) specific courses online in the fall as well. Anyone is welcome to participate in the classes offered by APCE, even if they are not pursuing Certification.

Although there are denominationally specific courses in Polity and Moravian Theology, and Programs/Mission, courses in Reformed Theology, Biblical Interpretation, Human Growth and Faith Development, Worship and Sacraments or Religious Education, Theory and Practice can help anyone working in Christian Formation as they deepen their knowledge and develop their abilities.

Over the history of the Reformed faith, the nurture of children, youth and adults has been an historically recognized principle in our denominations – a task of those who are responsible for the spiritual formation of the congregation. In some places, those people are volunteers In others, a Christian Educator or Director of Spiritual

Formation has that responsibility. While in yet other congregations, the Pastor has primary responsibility. Some congregations see the need for specialized educational leaders with specific responsibilities for the faith development of children, youth, families, university students, adults, seniors, or some combination of those The Church is charged to meet the preparation needs for all of those who provide leadership in the ministry of Christian formation, and APCE is pleased to assist in that charge.

Moravian Educators will want to be in touch with Christy Clore (cclore@mcsp.org) and Lane Sapp (lsapp@mcsp.org) in the Southern Province or Marie Couts (mcouts@sbcglobal.net) in the Northern Province to learn more about the two levels of Certification available to them: Associate in Christian Education or Director of Christian Education. PC(USA) Educators can find out more about becoming a Christian Education Associate or a Certified Christian Educator at the website of the Educators here.

At APCE ‘s 2024 Annual Event, we celebrated the Certification of three PC(USA) Certified Christian Educators and the Endorsement of one Certified Education Associate.

The newest CCE’s are: Joelle Brummitt-Yale (Salem Presbytery), Jennifer Juhasz (Maumee Valley Presbytery) and JoAnne Sharp (Shenandoah Presbytery). Joshua Gilhart (Baltimore Presbytery) is the newest CEA The Advocacy Team was pleased to present them with stoles to mark their accomplishments Congratulations to each of them for their amazing work and achievements!

Those studying in the Biblical Interpretation class preceding this year’s Annual Event were: Adrienne Hendricks, Becky Moser, Beth Middleton, Candy Pendleton, Jennifer Grainger, and Jolene Patterson. Ask them about the challenging but exciting work they did in class!

As APCE’s Certification Course Coordinator, please be in touch with me if I can assist you: billiepsutter@gmail.com.

Writing for the Soul: an APCE Spiritual Practice Workshop

Mondays April 15, 22, 29

2-3:30 pm Eastern

Come spend some time with fellow APCE members using writing as a spiritual practice. With inspiration and prompts from poetry, images, objects, and more, we’ll explore our memories and imagination We’ll pay attention to our words, to God, and to one another as we play and pray on the page. In this online Eastertide experience designed to help you fill your well again, we’ll write a lot, and read and share a little. No writing experience is necessary, and grammar and spelling don’t count.

Bio: Rev. Julie Hester is a pastor and writer living in North Carolina, and a grateful APCE member She leads in-person and online writing workshops for faith and community groups, specializing in writing for healing and writing as a spiritual practice. You can subscribe to her free weekly writing prompts at https://writingincompany.substack.com/

Register here:

https://apcenet.org/writing-for-the-soul-class/

Cost:

Retired APCE Members: $20

APCE Members: $30

Non-members: $40

Faith at Home

Traci Smith

“I send home faith-at-home activities, but I never know whether or not families actually do them.”

“It feels like I’m speaking into a void ” “The parents and caregivers I work with seem to be appreciative, but I don’t know if they are really practicing faith at home or not.”

This is just a sampling of things I’ve heard over and over again from faith formation leaders, pastors, and Christian Educators in the last ten years as I’ve coached, consulted, spoken, and written about faith at home. There are increasingly more materials to use for families to practice faith at home, but there seems to be a gap between getting the materials home with families and getting families to actually use them as a part of their daily life and routine.

Here’s one thing I’ve learned: It’s simply not enough to get books and resources into the hands of parents and caregivers. If it were, my job as an author and resource creator would be so much easier! The truth is, though, helping families develop robust faith at home habits is more than just getting the right resource in their hands. They need you, dear faith formation leaders, to show them the way.

As you consider what is best for your own congregation, I’d like to offer three ways of looking at your role when it comes to helping families develop strong faith at home habits and routines.

First, you are a curator Many of the leaders I work with do this well. You’re always on the hunt for a product, book, resource, or activity that will be perfect for the families in your care. It’s your job to sift through all of the offerings out there and select the ones that you think will work well for the families you know Be judicious and minimalist. This isn’t about having dozens of new practices, it’s about finding the handful that will work for each unique family. My books have dozens of faith practices in them. This is because families are all different The correct approach, though, is not to work your way through dozens of practices and never make any of them a habit. It’s far more powerful to settle in on the few practices that can be repeated over and over and make their way into a family’s routine and daily life

As you read through books of faith practices (or write your own), spend some time selecting practices you think might work for the specific families in your care.

Next, you are a private tutor and teacher To the extent you are able, work with the families in your care oneon-one and in small groups to teach them the practices in as much detail as you can. Don’t assume that parents find faith practice intuitive. Some do, but others might need to talk through some of the practical details When should I do this faith practice? What materials do I need? What should I do when my child doesn’t want to participate? Some parents will benefit greatly from handson support and teaching, including the materials they might need to start a faith at home practice If it’s impractical for you to work one-on-one with families, try gathering them in workshops or small groups where they can learn a practice or two together.

Finally, you are a coach. Coaches keep you on track and they meet with you regularly to assess your progress. Don’t assume that just because a practice has been selected and taught it will make its way into the family routine. Families need you to check in, ask how it went, and help them troubleshoot Don’t be afraid to set high expectations. Gently and kindly call parents to faith at home practice over and over again. Ask pointed questions: “What practices are you doing together as a family?” or “How does your family grow spiritually

together?” Talk through what they’d like to do, make a plan, and then follow up Families do this well when they are in groups together, too, where practices can be reinforced together.

You see the families in your care four hours a month, if you’re lucky. If you want to have a profound impact on the faith development of the children, one of the most valuable things you can do is spend time curating for, teaching, and coaching parents. They are the ones who will help set the habits that last a lifetime

Blessings to you as you do this holy work

Traci Smith is the author of Chalice Press’ bestselling Faithful Families series She is currently the director of Family Faith Every Day, a program funded by Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Christian Parent and Caregiving Initiative. Family Faith Every Day is a program of Chalice Media. To learn more, visit www chalicepress com/faithfulfamilies or www.TraciSmith.com.

The Mission of Mission Trips.

Bill Buchanon

As the summer approaches, many youth groups are planning mission trips. At Youth Mission Co, we strive to turn away from “toxic” models of mission and instead create formative experiences for youth that lead to a lifetime of seeking justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God. In planning these kinds of experiences, here are some things to consider.

Framing is Everything

Our expectations set how we experience something. Here is some language we use in framing a trip.

This is a Pilgrimage Pilgrims arrive with empty hands and open hearts. We are here to witness God already at work. We come with humility to learn and grow.

This is an Immersion Experience

We are entering a new environment. We are here to learn from the people we meet. Where there is work to be done, we humbly come alongside others to pitch in.

Decenter Productivity

Many groups who spend a week with us are excited about how much they

are going to “get done.” Certainly, we want to be helpful to our partner agencies where we volunteer… and… I have found that it is when youth stop to notice things and people that the real growth happens This pause can mean the difference between a trip that temporarily relieves some symptoms of injustice and one that inspires youth to address the systems of injustice that cause those symptoms.

Don’t Hide the Brokenness

Our society is so segmented. Many of us live in neighborhoods with people who look like us, have the same education levels as us, are at the same economic level as us, and often think and believe the same ways we do

A trip like this can nudge us to encounter and begin to understand people who are struggling in poverty, experiencing homelessness, or living with challenges we don’t have. As we encounter others in difficult situations, an adult chaperone’s instinct might be to turn a youth’s eyes away, shielding them from seeing or hearing things that are “unpleasant.” However, seeing the brokenness is part of the point. While keeping our youth safe, we must also let them be proximate to the pain of the world and discuss it with them. After all, if they don’t see and understand what is wrong in the world, how could they be expected to address it?

The Long Term Change… in us!

What happens afterward matters as much, perhaps more, than the trip itself. How did this experience change our perspectives? What is God calling us to do now? Asking these questions and keeping the conversation going throughout the year reminds young people that the best way to make the world a better place is to consider how we might live differently in it.

Rev. Bill Buchanan is the Executive Director of the non-profit ministry Youth Mission Co and an ordained pastor in the PCUSA. To learn more about this ministry, visit youthmissionco org

Retired Educator Connections February Zoom Gathering Highlights

The APCE Communications and Resources Ministry Team has voted to give APCE Retired Educators a discount on online workshops offered through apcenet.org.

With that in mind, you might be interested in an APCE Spiritual Practice Workshop coming in April, “Writing for the Soul” led by Rev. Julie Hester on Mondays, April 15, 22, 29 from 2:3:30 PM Eastern on Zoom. https://apcenet.org/ event/writing-for-the-soul/ 2024-04-15/

A screenshot of the February participants shows all of their smiling faces!

In Mark Yaconelli’s book, “Between the Listening and the Telling,” he states that “Every human being longs for a good question and a listening ear.”

With that in mind, Bonnie Edwards and Roberta Dodds-Ingersoll would love for you to submit ideas for future topics for our Connection Zoom Gatherings.

Simply email one of them (below) with your great ideas.

Debby Madden announced that she has been asked to lead an “All APCE Book Club” that will be starting in April. More information is on the APCE website.

The APCE history books, APCE: 50 Years and Beyond, are available for free. If you would like a copy, simply email Roberta or Bonnie with your postal mailing address and they will drop one in the mail to you.

There is an excellent article by Mike Ferguson of Presbyterian News Service summarizing Anne Wilson’s 2024 Annual Event workshop featuring a panel of fellow faith formation enthusiasts. The workshop was entitled “Fresh Elastic for Stretched-Out Educators.” It might be fun to see how you would respond to the questions posed in the workshop

The closing poem (left) entitled “Blessings” by Carrie Newcomer, was read on the Zoom call.

Future Zoom Connections are scheduled for Thursdays at 12:00 (Eastern); 11:00 am (Central); 10:00 am (Mountain); 9:00 am (Pacific) on:

May 9

Aug 8

Nov 7

Roberta Dodds-Ingersoll

robertadoddsingersoll@gmail.co

m

Bonnie Edwards

edwardsbonnie2020@gmail.com

APCE Annual Event 2025 Local Event Co-Chairs

As our 2025 Annual Event cochairs Jaime Staehle and Tatayana Richardson make preparations for everything from the venue (the beautiful Memphis Peabody Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee) to the theme (“A Stirring in Our Souls”) to preachers and other leaders (TBA), we also wanted to introduce APCE’s membership to the three local co-chairs who will be our “boots on the ground” folks getting ready for the event in Memphis.

Click on the Duck to learn more about the 2025 APCE Annual Event!

Lucy Cummings is an elder at Idlewild Presbyterian Church in Memphis, her church home for 39 years She serves as the Executive Director of Pinecrest Camp and Retreat Center, a ministry that holds space for listening deeply for God and connecting people with creation. Previously, she led the recreation ministry for two local churches. A later-in-life student, Lucy has just completed her M.Div. and is seeking ordination in the PCUSA She delights in preaching and figuring out what makes a congregation tick. Building relationships is a deeply satisfying experience for her.

K.C. Warren is an elder at First Presbyterian Church Memphis where she chairs the Joyful Noise Committee She has planned and been a leader of Christian education for the church’s children and youth for more than 30 years. In addition to her responsibilities at the church, K.C. is the past board president of Choices Memphis Center for Reproductive Health. She currently serves on the boards of Zion Community Project, and LeMoyne-Owen College, the only historically Black college in Memphis. Stephanie Bussey-Spencer Patton is currently serving as pastor of Oakland Presbyterian Church in Oakland, Tennessee, adjunct faculty at Memphis Theological Seminary where she also consults for the Center for Faith and Imagination, and serves as Spiritual Director through First Presbyterian Church Memphis. Stephanie has been a Spiritual Director for eighteen years, an ordained Presbyterian pastor for thirty-six years, a Certified Christian Educator since 1988, and a passionate teacher throughout her adult life

Lucy Cunmmings

Stephanie Bussy-Spencer

K C Warren

AE Online in Spanish— Connections and Community: A Conversation with Spanish-language Coach Patty Arcia

This year, the Annual Events Ministry team was delighted to welcome Patty Arcia to our leadership as the Spanish Language Host for the Annual Event Online. This opportunity to be more intentional in inviting Spanish language participants to connect with the conference and one another has reaped benefits not just for those participants, but for APCE as a whole.

It was in the preparations leading up to the 2022 Annual Event that the need for

Spanish language options for the online was raised APCE was fortunate that the PC(USA) Office of Global Languages partnered with us to underwrite translation services.

Recognizing the need for a more personalized touch in communicating with participants, Patty Arcia, who serves as Outreach Director at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, entered the conversation, and subsequently joined the team Arcia shared that this year, around two dozen individuals signed up for this opportunity, with a strong core of 7 or so faith leaders participating in every aspect of the event.

While there were limitations (such as some participants in Cuba experiencing difficulty signing on due to unstable wifi connections), the blessings of the community and the connections formed far outweighed the burdens and hurdles. In thinking about who our Spanish language participants are,

Arcia lifted up three different participants from three different contexts to show the diversity within that constituency:

One participant whose ministry was entirely out in the community (not just good evangelism practice, but a necessity since this particular congregation did not have a building)

Another participant whose congregation was housed in a majority anglo congregation's building

And, finally, a participant who served a multi-generational, bilingual congregation where members ranged from first generation folks who spoke Spanish exclusively, to second- and thirdgeneration members whose first language was English.

In sharing this, Arcia stressed that there is no “one-size fits all” identity, but rather a whole range of experiences and contexts in which Spanish-speaking Christians are engaged in faithful ministry. Using the question card resources from the PC(USA)'s new "Around the Table" initiative brought about a conversation that Arcia lifted up as a highlight of the event. Sharing observations and insights together in Spanish while using a Spanish

language resource built deep connections and provided opportunities to learn from one another. While programs and models may look different, the ways we see and experience God and God's beauty in the world as we seek to partner in the ministry of Christian Education undergirds all of our shared work.

What is the future of Spanish at the Annual Event? Patty shares that her dream is to have a workshop offered in Spanish (and translated into English) that could focus on best practices in multicultural ministry.

Amigos y amigas hispanohablantes, esperamos que puedan acompañarnos en el evento anual de APCE 2025, ya sea en persona, en Memphis, Tennessee o nuevamente de forma virtual, del 29 de Enero al 1 de Febrero. Para asistir al evento en persona, hay acceso a multiples becas y descuentos para hispanoablantes. El Evento virtual en español es totalmente gratis, debido a la asociación entre la Oficina de Formación de Fe de la IP (EE. UU.), la Oficina de Recursos en Idiomas

Globales de la PCUSA y APCE Para recibir mas información sobre el evento anual de APCE 2025, en persona o de forma virtual, envíenos un correo electrónico a aeonline@apcenet.org.

Annual Event 2024 Marketplace Highlights

The 2024 APCE Annual Event Marketplace was the hub for all things Christian Education. It was housed in the beautiful Union Station Hotel in St. Louis, Missouri. With nearly sixty (60) vendors, there was something for everyone.

From throwing pottery in the Artisan Market to milling around the bookstore, conference goers were able to engage with partners from across the nation

Camps and Conference centers shared their summer opportunities and retreats happening throughout the year. Small businesses sold their jewelry, stoles, art installations, curriculum and more.

Our denominational representatives and partners offered resources and conversation about their ministries. Seminaries and foundations were present to share all the ways our ministries can partner with the good work of their organizations.

Valuable resources were available for Mental Health training, inclusion and diversity, and justice movements.

The Marketplace team hopes to provide new opportunities every year to feature homemade and creative options for gifts along with the resources and products for a wide variety of ministry experiences.

Did you know?

Half of the proceeds from the Marketplace goes to the Awards & Scholarship Ministry Team for future scholarships to the Annual Event.

Do you know of a vendor you would like to see in the Marketplace in 2025? Send their contact information to aemarketplace@apcenet.org.

Are you a vendor who would like to join us next year in the Marketplace? For more information and to register for a booth or tabletop, go to Marketplace Information – Association of Partners in Christian Education (apcenet.org).

Annual Event

includes an animal-themed workshop

Thom Cunningham, whom APCE honored as its ENRICH Educator of 2024, led a workshop during APCE’s Annual Event he called “Elephants, Ostriches and Cows Oh My!”

Cunningham is the director of Faith Formation and Mission at First Presbyterian Church of Deerfield, Illinois. The workshop title came from conundrums that churches must often deal with: the elephant in the room, folks who bury their heads in the sand waiting for things to get better, and sacred cows, among other common reactions to stress and change.

“These images come from a place of anxiety, don’t they?” Cunningham said, citing this Swedish proverb: “Worry often gives the smallest things the biggest shadows.”

Cunningham asked participants to name the thing their faith community is most worried about. The answers they shared included growing, adapting to a new pastor, having enough money and worshipers, needing more young people in worship, and remaining relevant

“The church used to be the place that spoke up and everyone listened. When that no longer worked, we started to change the model of the church to reflect the society we live in,” Cunningham said.

To reflect the increasingly important role technology plays in churches working to deliver their worship services to anyone with access to the internet, Cunningham said he considered opening the workshop by pretending to be on his phone and ignoring workshop participants. “When I do pastoral care,” he joked, “I like to have my laptop and phone with me so I can do three things at once ”

“The pace of life,” he said, “is part of the struggle.”

He and other church educators are working to come out on the right side of the scarcity vs abundance debate “The church was the place that believed God would provide [wandering people] food in the middle of the desert,” he said, “yet we live in a world that acts like scarcity is the problem.”

For many churches, money pressures are only part of any perceived scarcity. Cunningham employed the German term “Zeitkrankheit,” translated as time sickness, to indicate how “time governs us, and it rules us.” Church families “are programmed to the nth degree,” and yet churches “continue to say, ‘We have to do more,’” Cunningham said. “This time sickness is real, and it’s something most of our churches experience.”

The church “has time, and we have the ability to wait The church is one of the longest-lasting institutions in the world. It’s almost as if God is with us,” he said with a grin. “God has been there all along.”

Cunningham included a poem from Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, who wrote this verse in his book “Hearts on Fire”:

“Only God could say what this new spirit Gradually forming within you will be.

Give our Lord the benefit of believing That his hand is leading you, And accept the anxiety of feeling yourself

In suspense and incomplete.”

“Waiting can be difficult,” Cunningham said. “But there is the moment when Sarah laughs. When [she and Abraham] trusted God, things went better ”

“Jacob cheated his way to greatness, and then he had to wait in the desert with his head on a rock and a dream inside him. God was there, and he may not have seen it ”

“There is a burning bush in your church,” Cunningham said. “I suspect if you came to this conference as someone committed to faith formation and are committed to transforming lives, you’re someone who already knows that. God is opening doors. If you don’t see them yet, I hope you’ll wait.”

“As educators from churches big and small which speak multiple languages or only one, I pray the burning bush is in you already, and you’ll have the courage to change the world you live in,” Cunningham said. “Christ goes with you as you do it.”

FUTURE ANNUAL EVENTS!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

ANNUAL EVENT 2026

January 21 - 24, 2026

in Pittsburgh, PA

at Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown

More information to come.

ANNUAL EVENT 2027

January 27 - 30, 2027

in Portland, OR at Portland Marriott Downtown Waterfront

More information to come.

From the Resource Center Bookshelf

TThere are numerous books that have been released in recent months that are notable, so it is hard to select only one or two to highlight. But two have caught the attention of some of our users.

A children’s book stands alone and are not just for kids. Max and the Purple Worry is one of the newest publications from Flyaway Books. When has there ever been a time when children were not experiencing worry? Whether it is a school test, family discord or the daily news, there are times when worry can become overwhelming, all-consuming, and frightening. It is enough to make anyone want to crawl under their desk. The lesson of learning to do your best is one for all ages. It can be hard to learn. Max and the Purple Worry by Kelly Black, illustrated by Jess Rose, is the story of one who puts worry behind him.

Resilience (also purple) shows the positive way. The emotion of worry is present at one time or another in the lives of every child, youth and adult. Children can learn and practice coping mechanisms. Educators and parents can help them to be successful. This book is one to use in classrooms, children’s messages, youth groups and homes.

A second book that is very popular now is A is for Alabaster: 52 Reflections on the Stories of Scripture by Anna Carter Florence. This book, while it can be read weekly for personal devotions, it can also be used for staff devotions, book discussion

groups and Sunday School classes. With this book as a guide, groups can read thoughts on stories from the Old and New Testament using the alphabet. There is a short helpful discussion guide included. Both of these books are available through the pcusastore.org.

Vacation Bible School is rapidly approaching. We find that many churches tend to use the latest published VBS materials. But in the last few years, we have found that others want to use a curriculum with themes that are easier to adapt to a different schedule, or a theme that fits their church programming Fort a list of some new and some older VBS curricula that may fit your needs this year. Click here

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