News from The Christian Education Network of the ELCA

December 2017 (2)

Our Mission:

Supporting lifelong faith formation in the home and congregation.

From the President's Desk

How precious is your steadfast love, O God! All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings. Psalm 36:7

I had forgotten one of the greatest gifts I had been given until it was gifted to me again this year. Our bishop gave each rostered leader a copy of "Daily Texts 2018." The Daily Texts grew out of a spiritual renewal of the Moravian Church and was first published in 1731 in Herrnhut, Germany. Each week offers a Watchword and hymn verse. Each day includes an Old Testament verse, a New Testament Verse, a prayer (based on Luther's TRIP formula) and a set of verses that will lead you through the Bible in a year.

As we continue in these 12 Days of Christmas, we look ahead to a new year. If you are looking to take on a new habit this year, why not begin each day with the Daily Text? Make it part of your daily devotions. Use it with your ministry teams and councils. Immerse yourself in Scripture and prayer. Begin each day offering thanks and praise before you head into the business and busyness of all that we do. And may God bless you and all those whose lives you will touch in this new year.

On this journey together,

Pastor Juli Lejman-Guy

President

Resources

February is Black History Month

Ministry Links Online offers numerous resources for Black History Month and Martin Luther King's birthday.

Notable is The Crafting Freedom Website which provides educators with a user-friendly resource on the African-American experience during the era of slavery. Here you'll find ready-to-use lesson plans, videos, PDF slide shows, teacher tools, and student handouts

Lent

What is Lent in a Bag?

B uilding Faith offers a great resource for sending from the congregation out to the "domestic church" by distributing small bags (cloth, paper, or Ziploc bags) with symbols of the season. These assist individuals and families in practicing Lent at home. In addition to the items, include instructions, and reflections (on purple paper of course) to go with each item. Here are many different takes on this.

Check out the CENetwork on Pinterest!

Good Reads

Talking to our children about racism and discrimination is as necessary as it is uncomfortable for most parents (especially white parents). Necessary because racial bias in children starts as early as from the age of 3; uncomfortable because it means we have to address our own racial biases, too.

The books on this list are a selection of picture books and novels about the past and the present. They can be helpful for talking to your children (Elementary to High School) about racism and its devastating consequences.

Purchase on Amazon!

How You Can Support the Christian Education Network

You can become a member or make a one-time donation via PayPal on our website; or, y ou can purchase from AmazonSmile and designate The Christian Education Network as your charity. We receive a percentage of the proceeds! Simply go to smile.amazon.com.