In last week's email I linked to a hilarious video about contemporary worship that I highly recommend you watch (or watch again) right now. The video points out a common trait of more contemporary styles of worship: the "flow" tends to be the same from week to week ("Opening song, opening song..."). Further, there are often secondary, less obvious meanings ("...but we're tracking it.") The video pokes fun at contemporary worship, but a similar critique could be made of traditional worship and of a lot of Christian education curriculum. As one who frequently writes curriculum for publication, I know well that there are many good reasons for developing lesson "rubrics" or outlines that flow in a similar fashion from one week to the next. It's easier to write to a pattern, and it requires less preparation effort on the part of the teacher, to name just a couple of the reasons. When you review curriculum, one of the decisions you need to make is whether or not you like the "formula" or pattern that material uses, and be aware of it so that you don't get stuck in a rut in your educational settings.

A small curriculum publisher called Wayfarer puts out a downloadable youth/young adult ministry curriculum called Room 1228. I discovered it via a Facebook ad and decided to take a closer look. There are a number of things I really love about it, and I think it's a good representative example of where a lot of curricula is headed, but there also are features that just don't work for me. I'll tell you more in just a bit (and provide you with a special offer code so you can get a discount on purchases!) First, though, it's good to remember that there are MANY ways that a youth or young adult group can look, and you don't have to follow a prescribed pattern or flowchart. Some youth groups meet only once a month, while others meet weekly or even more frequently. Some college ministries provide a highly varying blend of trips, projects, lessons, speakers, and fun nights, while others follow a structured, predominantly large group/small group format. When you evaluate a particular curriculum for your setting, it's easy to immediately reject it because it doesn't fit your style, theology, or personal interests. My hunch is that many readers of this review will not typically use the format of Room 1228. If that's true for you, I hope you'll take a close look at the material as a way of reflecting on what you understand to be true about how youth and young adults learn, what your group's purpose is, and why you structure your group the way you do. Now, on to the review...

Unless you have been hibernating for the last couple of years, you know what it means to “go green”. Persons of all ages, including children, know words like “recycle”, “carbon footprint” and “environment”. Green Church: Caretakers of God’s Creation is a six-week study for children that explores many ways to live a “green life”, and also conveys that God created us to be stewards of God’s creation. Daphna Flegal and Suzann Wade have written this children’s study which may be used as part of an all-church program along with Burst: Green Church for youth (discussed previously by Tim) and Green Church: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rejoice! for adults.

The following review written by Tim Gossett was originally posted on July 2, 2009.

Review of The Void and the Vision by Dr. Carl Krieg

Wangaari Maathai grew up on a farm in Kenya. When she left Kenya to attend college in America, she took with her memories of a country clothed in green, with many trees and clear streams filled with fish. Although she was only away for five years, she returned to a very different Kenya. Many of the trees had been cut down and replaced with farms to grow export crops; in places the land was barren. Small farms that had provided food for each family to live on now grew food to export and families bought most of their food from the store. The effects of erosion were evident in the muddied streams.

There are many ways in which Wangaari could have responded to the changes in her native country. The inspiring story of the path she chose is told in the book, Planting the Trees of Kenya, by Claire A. Nivola.

Today's guest blogger is Rev. Dawn B. Young, Ed.D., the Director of Christian Education for the Louisiana Conference.

Certainly as citizens of the United States, and probably as Protestant citizens of the United States, we tend to have this deep seated rebellion against “rules.” Personally, I profess to a desire to be aware of all the ins and outs of all the rules and laws about which I can possibly gain information. Because, for me, it is in knowing the rules that I know where I can bend, maybe break them. We almost have an inborn sense of not wanting rules, or at the very least believe that the rules only apply to others. And then there is the Rule of St. Benedict. Why would someone with an acknowledged joy in rule manipulation develop such a pronounced pleasure in a Rule? The answer is as simple, and as complex, as the Rule itself. It is a way, a means to live your life as a Christian.

My first paid writing gig came about through the strangest of circumstances. A broken hotel ice machine led to a chance late-night conversation in an elevator, which later led to an offer to write a book. When it came out, I think I must have carried that resource around with me for 2 days straight with a big grin on my face. There is a certain thrill that comes with seeing one's name in print, I'd have to admit. Now, twelve years, eight books, and over 200 articles and blog posts later, I'm somewhat more comfortable with calling myself a writer...but I'm not all that keen about heavily promoting my work. However, since an Oprah appearance isn't in my future, I hope you will indulge me as I introduce you to my latest work, Burst: Green Church, which has just been released. I saw the final version yesterday, and I have to say in all honesty that it's my favorite—and probably most important—thing I've ever written. 

What does God look like?” “Where can I find God?” “What is God’s real name?” “Why do bad things happen?” “Do I have to love people who are mean to me?” If you spend time with young children, you may have heard some of these questions. If we are truthful, many of us who call ourselves adults sometimes have these questions, too. Although it does not have all the answers, (Oh, that it were so easy!) the book Hide & Seek with God by Mary Ann Moore can provide you with stories that will help you explore these questions with the children in your life.

The aisle of children's ministry books is not the first place I head when I visit my local Cokesbury store. The number of children's ministry books on my shelves is quite tiny in comparison to just about every other Christian education topic. (And if memory serves, I haven't yet reviewed a children's ministry book on Different Voice.) But this week, one new book will take its place on my "favorite Christian education resources" shelf, and it's a book for use with children between 8 and 12 years old: Building a Heart of Faith: Talking about God and Jesus with Kids. It's the first time I've come across a book that applies process theology to children's ministry, and it does so quite nicely!

Today's guest blogger is Rev. Dawn B. Young, Ed.D., the Director of Christian Education for the Louisiana Conference.

There is much talk and concern about how to engage young adults in the church. And interestingly enough, young people tell researchers that while they are not particularly interested in “church” they are interested in the things that churches do. Surprisingly, or not, a large majority of young people say that there are people in the world and issues of the world that need to be addressed and they are interested in working towards solutions. Hence, young adults who claim that the church is “hypocritical” and “judgmental,” want to engage in what amounts to mission. No group is more representative of this particular reality than those involved in the “New Monastic” movement. Although the leadership of New Monastic communities largely emerges from Christian related educational programs, they have attracted a large following of people who are not initially Christian. Let’s review several books that could serve as study tools to prepare a church for associating with or establishing a New Monastic community in their neighborhood, or would serve as a challenge to churches about living in a radical way even within the comfort of our own homes.