It seems like we never stop planning. Just as we get everything into place for the beginning of the program year, we start working on Advent and Christmas. And then Epiphany. Lent. Help, Easter's around the corner! After Pentecost we'll take some time to breathe and renew. Except by that time there's a VBS, and we're back to the beginning of the program year again.
STOP! BREATHE!
Just as important as planning for the program year is planning rest and renewal for yourself and your staff, including your volunteer staff. If you don't plan for it, it won't happen.
This was brought home to me yet again when I spent three days last week at the Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY for Education for Ministry (EfM) Mentor training. I haven't been to Holy Cross for more than a decade, when I went there for an individual retreat. I always intended to go back, but it just never seemed like the right time. Given the pattern of life at the monastery, we did have some time to ourselves. And because the theme of our formation training was Transitions, there was time when we were doing individual work. Although it wasn't truly a retreat, it felt a lot like one, especially in the mornings before breakfast.
Stop. Breathe. Take care of yourself.
It's a cliche image these days, but remember the flight attendant spiel about the oxygen masks. Put yours on first, then assist others who need help with theirs. If you don't take care of yourself, who's going to do it? And if you don't take care of yourself, how will you be able to continue to care for your staff, and more importantly, your learners?
My original intention had been to write about planning in terms of supplies for your program. Planning for self care seems more important.
Stop.
Breathe.
Renew.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Thank You, Helen
As we work through the editing process for the first sets of the new lesson plans, there is someone we need to thank.
Helen Barron has played a major role in bringing Lesson Plans That Work into fruition. Beginning in 2002 she worked with Robyn Szoke, then Staff Officer for Children's Ministries and Christian Education, and me, then Program Assistant for Children's Ministries and Christian Education, to produce the current set of plans, which replaced an outdated existing curriculum. We based the new plans on the Gospel readings of the Revised Common Lectionary because every indication was that General Convention 2003 would approve it for use in the Episcopal Church. As it turned out, we were way ahead of the curve. The Revised Common Lectionary was not approved until General Convention 2006.
Throughout the three year process of preparing the lesson plans, Helen never missed a deadline and kept a sense of humor, which made it easy for me to maintain the pace of my work getting the plans edited and delivered to Gary Williams, who was the primary web person for the Ministries with Young People Cluster.
Once the first plans were up for all three years of the lectionary cycle, Helen went back and wrote lessons for the Sundays of Epiphany and after Pentecost that we needed for future years. From there she went on to develop and pilot the first intergenerational plans, followed by completing the other intergenerational plans. We were just beginning to talk about next steps when the Church Center reorganized in 2008.
When I became the Program Officer Trainee for Congregational Life (and then for Children's Ministries) with overall responsibility for the Lesson Plans, Helen and I once again began talking about next steps. Even before my Director suggested we might want to have "different voices" for the Lesson Plans, Helen herself had suggested we might want to have different people writing for the different seasons. Helen and I bounced ideas around, and I polled my networks. Helen served as my sounding board as the department figured out the best way to move forward with a set of plans based on the Old Testament readings. Once we had a framework in place, Helen worked with us to develop Writers Guides for the Lesson Plans.
Not only has Helen been a major part of the Lesson Plans project, she has been a great support to me in my work throughout my eight plus years in Children's Ministries at the Episcopal Church Center. She has always had time to listen as I talked through things. She has sometimes been the "squeaky wheel" that kept some of our projects on the right track.
For all of this, Helen, and much more, I thank you. Blessings on your continued ministry.
Jeff
Helen Barron has played a major role in bringing Lesson Plans That Work into fruition. Beginning in 2002 she worked with Robyn Szoke, then Staff Officer for Children's Ministries and Christian Education, and me, then Program Assistant for Children's Ministries and Christian Education, to produce the current set of plans, which replaced an outdated existing curriculum. We based the new plans on the Gospel readings of the Revised Common Lectionary because every indication was that General Convention 2003 would approve it for use in the Episcopal Church. As it turned out, we were way ahead of the curve. The Revised Common Lectionary was not approved until General Convention 2006.
Throughout the three year process of preparing the lesson plans, Helen never missed a deadline and kept a sense of humor, which made it easy for me to maintain the pace of my work getting the plans edited and delivered to Gary Williams, who was the primary web person for the Ministries with Young People Cluster.
Once the first plans were up for all three years of the lectionary cycle, Helen went back and wrote lessons for the Sundays of Epiphany and after Pentecost that we needed for future years. From there she went on to develop and pilot the first intergenerational plans, followed by completing the other intergenerational plans. We were just beginning to talk about next steps when the Church Center reorganized in 2008.
When I became the Program Officer Trainee for Congregational Life (and then for Children's Ministries) with overall responsibility for the Lesson Plans, Helen and I once again began talking about next steps. Even before my Director suggested we might want to have "different voices" for the Lesson Plans, Helen herself had suggested we might want to have different people writing for the different seasons. Helen and I bounced ideas around, and I polled my networks. Helen served as my sounding board as the department figured out the best way to move forward with a set of plans based on the Old Testament readings. Once we had a framework in place, Helen worked with us to develop Writers Guides for the Lesson Plans.
Not only has Helen been a major part of the Lesson Plans project, she has been a great support to me in my work throughout my eight plus years in Children's Ministries at the Episcopal Church Center. She has always had time to listen as I talked through things. She has sometimes been the "squeaky wheel" that kept some of our projects on the right track.
For all of this, Helen, and much more, I thank you. Blessings on your continued ministry.
Jeff
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Feedback, Please
Advent will arrive before we know it! Here in the office we are busy working on the lesson plans for Year A. As you know, we will be releasing a new set of plans based on the Old Testament readings of the Revised Common Lectionary. We hope to have them up in early September.
As part of the process of adding the second set of plans, our web person has been reworking the Lesson Plans web pages. While the look won't be all that different, we hope that you will find them a little easier to use. I'll remind you again, but when the new format appears, please let us know how it works for you. In fact, tell us what works and doesn't work for you right now on the Lesson Plans web pages!
And while I'm at it, and since this post is titled "Feedback, Please", let us know which plans you use most often and which ones you find the most helpful. And which ones don't you use. And why.
We want to make this resource as user-friendly and as helpful as possible. We can only do that with your help.
So thank you.
As part of the process of adding the second set of plans, our web person has been reworking the Lesson Plans web pages. While the look won't be all that different, we hope that you will find them a little easier to use. I'll remind you again, but when the new format appears, please let us know how it works for you. In fact, tell us what works and doesn't work for you right now on the Lesson Plans web pages!
And while I'm at it, and since this post is titled "Feedback, Please", let us know which plans you use most often and which ones you find the most helpful. And which ones don't you use. And why.
We want to make this resource as user-friendly and as helpful as possible. We can only do that with your help.
So thank you.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Begin Again
Some school districts begin their school year this week. It seems early to those of us who grew up in places where school usually didn't begin until the week of Labor Day. Summer isn't over for another six weeks, and already we find ourselves reflecting back on what we did over the "Summer." For me, this time of year always brings a sense of restlessness. For 19 years of my life this time of year was the time to prepare for school--often moving not just into another grade or year of college, but into new spaces and locations. I've ever quite been able to shake that rhythm.
And so it is with our so-called "western" culture, and even our church. We become more and more separated from the rural/agricultural rhythms of our forebears, yet we can't quite shake it. The harvest is underway, and there is time again for education and other things.
Are we ready for the return of Sunday School? Of our Adult Forums? Christian Formation Hours? Supplies laid in for the year? Volunteers recruited and trained?
Fall is coming.
It's time.
Begin again.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Why We Do What We Do
Here at the Church Center we have Morning Prayer three days a week during the summer. The psalm appointed for this morning was Psalm 78:1-39, and while most of it talks about the Israelites and their behavior in the Wilderness ("a stubborn and rebellious generation"), the opening verses caught my attention:
1 Hear my teaching, O my people;*
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;*
I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
3 That which we have heard and known,
and what our forefathers have told us,*
we will not hide from our children.
4 We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord,*
and the wonderful works he has done.
5 He gave his decrees to Jacob
and established a law for Israel,*
which he commanded them to teach their children;
6 That the generations to come might know,
and the children yet unborn;*
that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
7 So that they might put their trust in God,*
and not forget the deeds of God,
but keep his commandments;
To tell the story from generation to generation. That is part of our work, and it is part of the Children's Charter for the Church, the framework of the Office of Children's Ministries' work in the greater church. In part, it states:
1 Hear my teaching, O my people;*
incline your ears to the words of my mouth.
2 I will open my mouth in a parable;*
I will declare the mysteries of ancient times.
3 That which we have heard and known,
and what our forefathers have told us,*
we will not hide from our children.
4 We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the Lord,*
and the wonderful works he has done.
5 He gave his decrees to Jacob
and established a law for Israel,*
which he commanded them to teach their children;
6 That the generations to come might know,
and the children yet unborn;*
that they in their turn might tell it to their children;
7 So that they might put their trust in God,*
and not forget the deeds of God,
but keep his commandments;
To tell the story from generation to generation. That is part of our work, and it is part of the Children's Charter for the Church, the framework of the Office of Children's Ministries' work in the greater church. In part, it states:
What are some of the reasons you are involved in this ministry? Post a comment and let us know.THE CHURCH IS CALLED:
- to proclaim the Gospel to children, in ways that empower them to receive and respond to God’s love;
- to give high priority to the quality of planning for children and the preparation and support of those who minister with them;
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