https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:00:43 +0000 Wed, 31 Aug 2022 13:29:42 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/only-wrong-way-pray-not-pray-open-wonder Jill Weber, Global Convenor of The Order of the Mustard Seed, lives near the ruins of a 12th century monastery on the Waverley Abbey Estate in the United Kingdom. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/only-wrong-way-pray-not-pray-open-wonder Wed, 31 Aug 2022 13:29:42 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/intergenerational-activities-faith-practice-remembering This resource is part of a series of interactive, intergenerational ideas for engaging people in faith practices through worship and/or midweek gatherings, brought to you by Worship Ministrie Karen DeBoer https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/intergenerational-activities-faith-practice-remembering Wed, 20 Apr 2022 13:42:47 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/intergenerational-activities-faith-practice-celebrating This resource is part of a series of interactive, intergenerational ideas for engaging people in faith practices through worship and/or midweek gatherings, brought to you by Worship Ministrie Karen DeBoer https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/intergenerational-activities-faith-practice-celebrating Tue, 19 Apr 2022 17:58:01 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/around-table-design-summer-series-faith-practices Interested in exploring the faith practices during worship and/or mid-week gatherings? Looking for ways to weave experiences with faith practices into what you do so that all ages are encouraged and equipped to intentionally weave faith practices into their daily life?  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/around-table-design-summer-series-faith-practices Mon, 28 Feb 2022 19:23:09 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/3-fun-and-intergenerational-ways-practice-gratitude In One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp observes, "Slapping a sloppy brush of thanksgiving over everything in my life leaves me deeply thankful for very few things in my life. Sandy Swartzentruber https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/3-fun-and-intergenerational-ways-practice-gratitude Thu, 14 Oct 2021 13:35:49 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-remembering-family When we’re intentional about weaving stories of God’s faithfulness into the memories we make and share with our children, we form patterns that they can sew into their own faith practices. Here are five ways to practice remembering God’s faithfulness.  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-remembering-family Wed, 04 Aug 2021 23:41:55 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/creative-prayer-resources-kids-and-teens I will turn 60 this year, and I can STILL remember verbatim certain lines from the prayers my mother and grandparents used to pray. They each had special phrases that they would repeat in their prayers at mealtimes and before bed. Some of those phrases still give me comfort.  Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/creative-prayer-resources-kids-and-teens Tue, 22 Jun 2021 14:18:59 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/practice-walking It didn’t seem like much at first. On March 23, 2020, I decided to start walking daily. With the first wave of Covid-related lockdowns, I knew I would need to do something that would benefit both my physical and emotional health. Chris Schoon https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/practice-walking Wed, 14 Apr 2021 16:43:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-celebrate-your-family As followers of Jesus, we celebrate to remember and anticipate God’s abundant goodness, creativity, faithfulness, beauty, and love. This practice invites families to cultivate joy with the God who rejoices in us (Zeph. 3:17). Here are five “delight-full” ways to do so. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-celebrate-your-family Mon, 22 Mar 2021 22:40:32 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/difficult-spiritual-discipline-listening These days it feels to me like everyone is packing a giant flyswatter, ready and eager to verbally whap those with whom they disagree. This is true across the theological and political spectrum. We see it daily on our Facebook and Twitter feeds. We hear it on news programs and talk shows. Sandy Swartzentruber https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/difficult-spiritual-discipline-listening Tue, 09 Mar 2021 13:13:29 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-listening-your-family As a faith practice, listening involves training our attention to recognize God’s voice (John 10:1-6) in the midst of all the other voices calling for our attention. It involves learning to be fully present with God and with our neighbor. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-listening-your-family Wed, 03 Mar 2021 14:43:33 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/training-ourselves-listen-well “God gave you two ears and one mouth for a reason. You were meant to listen twice as much as you speak.” Chris Schoon https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/training-ourselves-listen-well Wed, 03 Mar 2021 14:36:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/cultivate-what-spiritual-discipline Our Journey 2025 describes our first milestone this way: “Cultivate practices of prayer and spiritual discipline, transforming our lives and communities by the power of the Holy Spirit.” As people have started engaging with this milestone, some have Chris Schoon https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/cultivate-what-spiritual-discipline Thu, 11 Feb 2021 13:42:27 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/covid-moments-z-how-making-list-helped-me-practice I recently read an article about families and COVID-19 called: Families Keep Going, In Pandemic and Health by Rachel Anderson. Trudy Ash https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/covid-moments-z-how-making-list-helped-me-practice Sun, 07 Feb 2021 21:48:45 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-justice-and-mercy-kids Justice and mercy are the tangible expressions of loving our neighbors as God has loved us. They are the ways that we live like Jesus here and now, affirming the goodness of God’s image in others. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-justice-and-mercy-kids Wed, 27 Jan 2021 16:01:01 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/engaging-scripture-living-gods-story My son’s kindergarten class was invited to watch a dress rehearsal of Snow White that the eighth-graders of his school were preparing to perform. Having read or heard the story several times, my son knew it well. Phil Reinders https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/engaging-scripture-living-gods-story Mon, 18 Jan 2021 17:48:28 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-hospitality-kids If you’ve ever entered a home as a guest and left feeling like you’re family, you’ve experienced hospitality. People who practice hospitality make space for guests, visitors, and strangers, extending to them the privileges of family. God calls all of us to practice hospitality! Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-hospitality-kids Tue, 01 Dec 2020 00:51:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/practice-hospitality When I was serving as outreach minister at Plymouth Heights CRC (Grand Rapids, Mich.), our ministry staff spent a day with the staff from Harderwyk Ministries (Holland, Mich.) to learn from their experiences around worship, discipleship, congregational care, church leadership, and outreach. Chris Schoon https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/practice-hospitality Tue, 24 Nov 2020 00:44:22 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-generosity-kids Generosity is freely sharing with others the many gifts God has given us, and our God is an abundantly generous God! When we feel gratitude for God’s many gifts to us, that gratitude overflows in generosity. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/5-ways-practice-generosity-kids Tue, 03 Nov 2020 15:11:48 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/generosity-helping-our-neighbor-flourish I think I was just eight or maybe nine years old. My mom took me and one of my sisters with her to pick up some groceries. As we were going through the aisles, Mom told me to go ahead and pick out my favorite meal. Without hesitating, I grabbed a few boxes of Kraft macaroni and cheese. Chris Schoon https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-practices/generosity-helping-our-neighbor-flourish Tue, 03 Nov 2020 15:08:51 +0000