Formation Resources

To aid in your remote ministry, here are several Bible studies that address fear, something many people around the world are feeling right now. Read these studies together and discuss over phone calls, email, online meeting platforms or on social media.

#1: Combatting Fear | English, Spanish
#2: Building Hope | English, Spanish
#3: Hope Rooted in God | English, Spanish
#4: The Impact of Death | English, Spanish
#5: Integrating Healed People Back Into Our Community | English, Spanish

Additional formation-related resources for this time:

• Trinity Cathedral is posting ongoing resources and lessons for children and families
• Good Shepherd, Augusta, is providing prayer and worship resources
• Church Publishing has made a variety of resources free for the time being
• ChurchNext is offering online formation resources
• Call on Me, a prayer book for young people, is available free until April 15
• Netflix Party is an online tool to facilitate groups watching Netflix shows/movies collaboratively
• Tucked In: Bedtime Stories and Prayers with Episcopalians and others
• Ministry Architects: Innovative Ideas for Unprecedented Times
• SCETV is providing additional learning and teaching resources on their television channels

• God's Word, My Voice: A Lectionary for Children by Lyn Zill Briggs. This collection of the Revised Common Lectionary readings is paraphrased for children. Read aloud in Sunday morning worship, it will help kids read the word of God and understand its meaning for their lives.
• Children Formation Curricula Overview: A simple comparison chart of a variety of curricula; developed by Sharon Ely Pearson, the Christian Formation Specialist for Church Publishing and updated annually.
• Household Bible Reading with Lectio Divina: Introduces families and small groups to the practice of studying the Bible using Lectio Divina. “Sometimes the Bible can be confusing and difficult to understand. With Lectio Divina we give ourselves permission to let the Bible be what it is. Questions will undoubtedly surface. If you like, search for the answers. Seek out conversations. Or simply let the questions be.”

• Confirm not Conform: Confirm not Conform is a confirmation program that celebrates questions and choices. It provides a safe place for young people to explore the breadth of the Christian tradition, to ask questions and express their doubts, and to discover what they truly believe.
• Faith @ Home: A year-round weekly email includes four separate lectionary based reflections and prompts for families (however that is defined) and friend groups. During this time of more people being at home, Faith @ Home is working on a new program to provide daily resources for all people to stay engaged while being at home.
• Illustrated Ministries: Creates illustrated resources for the church and the home, encouraging creativity and active engagement with faith. They are currently releasing free materials for parents and children staying home here.
• Household Bible Reading with Lectio Divina: Introduces families and small groups to the practice of studying the Bible using Lectio Divina. “Sometimes the Bible can be confusing and difficult to understand. With Lectio Divina we give ourselves permission to let the Bible be what it is. Questions will undoubtedly surface. If you like, search for the answers. Seek out conversations. Or simply let the questions be.”
• How2charist: A digitally instructed Eucharist and could be a great activity to learn about all that goes on during a church service.

• The Work of the People: The Work of the People is a series of videos on topics ranging from beauty and justice to identity and vocation. Many of the presenters are well-known: Barbara Brown Taylor, Brené Brown, Brennan Manning, Richard Rohr. The videos provide thoughtful reflections that can be used as content for a faith formation series. The Work of the People starts at $7/month for a personal subscription and goes up from there. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark is a six-part series for Lent and includes a discussion guide.
• ChurchNext: ChurchNext provides engaging and convenient online learning from Episcopal experts on liturgy, evangelism, welcome, discipleship, stewardship, and other important topics. To help individuals and congregations stay rooted and grounded in Jesus during the Corona Virus pandemic ChurchNext has launched Prayer and Worship in Our Homes, a free five-course class open to anyone who would like to take it.
• Good Book Club: This Forward Movement initiative invites organizations of all kinds to read a particular book of the Bible throughout a liturgical season.
• Education for Ministry: Lay persons face the difficult and often subtle task of interpreting the richness of the church's faith in a complex and confusing world. They need a theological education which supports their faith and also teaches them to express that faith in day-to-day events. As the emphasis on lay ministry has grown, Education for Ministry has come to play an important role by providing a program that develops an informed and knowledgeable laity.