Youth Ministry 2021: The Comeback
What’s your new year looking like? For one church, it’s a return to the physical building. Here’s how youth minister Miriam McKenney created a plan for maximum safety and fun in a big pop-up tent.
Jesus
Holy Cross: Living into Its Meaning
As Christians, we may venerate the Holy Cross by kneeling before it and saying prayers. However, the best way to demonstrate our veneration of the cross is to emulate Jesus who died on it.
Jesus in a Pink Sash or John Wayne Jesus?
New children’s books and Bibles are challenging all of us to ask: what if God is bigger than our stereotypes?
Parenting
Ten Thoughts for Younger Me
If you could talk to your younger self, what would you say? Miriam reflects on twenty-six years of being a parent as her youngest, a 2021 high school graduate, prepares to leave home.
Bringing Saint Joseph to the Center
Today is the feast of Saint Joseph, but before we talk about that, I need to share with you one of the best Christmas presents I received this year: a llama needle felting kit!
Reservations & a Borrowed Wedding
Later today I’ll call 600 Kitchen & Bar in downtown Kalamazoo and ask a question I’ve never asked before. “Yes, hello, are you taking reservations for shipping container tables for February 28?”
Context of a Cure
Imagine for a minute that the three main characters of the story—the servant, the centurion, and Jesus—are standing in front of you.
What the Good Book Club is teaching us
The Good Book Club is wrapping up its fourth week today with the conclusion of chapter 10. Our household is participating once again this year, albeit more slowly. So rather than reading about blind Bartimaeus over dinner tonight, we’ll be back in chapter 8 discussing the costs of following Jesus.
The Good Book Club is Coming
I think this season of the Good Book Club will be especially appropriate for families with younger children for a number reasons.
Advent Care Package for Youth: What’s in the box?
A post from the Forma Facebook page a few days ago reminded me: what am I doing for Advent with my youth group? Of course, I should have been thinking about this weeks ago. But here I am, scrolling through the list of ideas and putting together my Advent care package. But it’s not too late, especially in God’s time.
