Resource Update Nov 05 pt 1

This is an update for the resource list originally posted June 2, 2005. An annotated book bibliography if that’s useful to anyone. I'm not going to turn the old list into links. Though it’s generally working, today isn’t one of those days. If the links are useful, you’ll still have to copy and paste the links into your browser. :) The ISBN's are for you, Scott! You can also find most of these books reviewed on Amazon.com

Articles:

"Suffer the Children? Why Kids Belong in Church" by D. Brent Laytham Covenant Companion August 2005 An Evangelical Covenant article. Timely.

Books:

1) Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey: Nurturing a Life of Faith by Catherine Stonehouse (Baker Books: Grand Rapids, MI 1998. ISBN 0-8010-5807-4. This lady has done a lot of research from scripture, child development, social science sources, and her own love for Christ Jesus and children. She touches the role of family and community in a child's faith walk. She looks at different approaches to teaching/imparting faith to children. She examines a child's faith journey. It isn't a quick/easy book to read unless you're hungry for this kind of information but it's very very readable. There's just a lot to think about.

2) Postmodern Children's Ministry by Ivy Beckwith Youth Specialties/Zondervan: Grand Rapids MI, 2004. ISBN 0-310-25754-9. I think her insights and observations are prophetic. It's a bit of a wake up call. She contrasts post-modern parents and families to previous generations and she strongly advocates change. She highlights changes in children's ministry that are beginning to happen in churches.

3) Parenting in the Pew by Robbie Castleman (Intervarsity Press: Downers Grove Ill, 1993. ISBN 0-8308-1627-5. This is for any parent who wants to bring their child to worship with them or maybe more for those who don't! Very parent friendly! This book is an enabling book and very engaging. She shares her passion for worshipping Jesus and her willingness to bring two little boys 17 months apart with her. (They're adults, now.) She touches negatives and positives, traditional worship and contemporary. The chapter I found most interesting was her chapter about the sacraments.

4) Real Kids, Real Faith: Practices for Nurturing Children's Spiritual Lives. Karen Marie Yust. Jossey-Bass: San Francisco, 2004. ISBN 0-664-50123-0. An interesting book - useful for parents and teachers. Written to be used by parents of any faith. Table of Contents: 1) What's Faith Got to Do with Childhood? 2) Creating a Spiritual World for Children to Inhabit, 3) Telling Stories That Draw children into a Life of Faith, 4) Helping Children Name God's Presence in Their Lives, 5) Praying with Children, 6) Supporting Children as They Grow in Spiritual Awareness, 7) Acting Out Our Spirituality with Children, Conclusion) finding a Faith Community to Call Your Own. See previous posts.

5) Young Children and Worship by Sonja M. Stewart and Jerome W. Berryman John Knox Press: Louisville KY, 1989. ISBN 0-664-25040-8 and the 2nd book

6) Following Jesus by Sonja M. Stewart publ. by Geneva Press, Louisville KY, 2000. ISBN 0-664-50123-0. Both are worth reading. Although the larger part of each book is a collection of actual story presentations used in the program, I think their observations and insights into young children encountering and interacting with God are priceless. They are saying that worship is as formational, perhaps more formational than instruction. I love the quiet space they provide in the midst of a clamoring world. I love the way they give God's stories center stage. I love the way they give children opportunity to interact with the story (the Word) without telling them what it means or what it's supposed to mean. I love the way they give children opportunity for personal response. Many who use this love it but others will say it may not be for every child. It's also not clear what happens when children leave this and move into other programs and venues. It is clear that that it gives children opportunity to encounter God.