https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:25:30 +0000 Mon, 20 Feb 2023 13:00:11 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/pathway-easter-simple-lent-bag-activity-families I’ve found that one of the most difficult concepts for kids to grasp about Lent is the length. At 40 days (46 if you include Sundays), the season is nearly twice as long as Advent, and without the normal rhythms of preparation we experience during the Christmas season. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/pathway-easter-simple-lent-bag-activity-families Mon, 20 Feb 2023 13:00:11 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/when-corporate-ladder-wrong-wall-open-wonder In the midst of a tense corporate merger, more than 50 staff members joined a spontaneous prayer meeting in the company auditorium because Colin Watson told his CEO, “We need to pray about this.” Years later, retired CRCNA Executive Director Colin Watson shares how being attentive to God at work Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/when-corporate-ladder-wrong-wall-open-wonder Tue, 16 Aug 2022 14:04:44 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/it-my-lunch-speaking-or-lord-open-wonder What does God’s voice sound like? How does God speak today? Summer Mohrlang, spiritual director with Soul Formation, responds to the questions we’re wondering about, including “What does a spiritual director actually do?” Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/it-my-lunch-speaking-or-lord-open-wonder Thu, 11 Aug 2022 13:15:34 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/appreciation-muscle-you-can-strengthen-open-wonder April Fiet describes herself as a pastor, parent, and recovering perfectionist. She’s also an author, weed-puller, and backyard-chicken-feeder. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/appreciation-muscle-you-can-strengthen-open-wonder Tue, 26 Jul 2022 13:23:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/new-podcast-season-fun-and-faith-forming-summer-listen We’re back for Season 2 of Open to Wonder! This time we’re exploring faith practices—the repeated ways of connecting with God that help us become more like Jesus. And you're invited to join us. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/new-podcast-season-fun-and-faith-forming-summer-listen Thu, 14 Jul 2022 13:56:19 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/how-storytelling-can-help-your-church-grow-faith When my father was about 10 years old, he was late getting out of the house for school one day. He grabbed his metal lunch pail and ran out the door to Aunt Lena’s waiting car full of all his siblings. Trudy Ash https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/how-storytelling-can-help-your-church-grow-faith Thu, 14 Jul 2022 13:49:37 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/how-holy-week-resource-families-inspired-crcna-staff Since its release in 2020, we’ve loved seeing the creative ways people have used the Dwell at Home resource, God’s Big Easter Story, to he Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/how-holy-week-resource-families-inspired-crcna-staff Tue, 12 Apr 2022 13:59:32 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/what-does-participating-lords-supper-mean-you Talking about faith together doesn’t have to be daunting. It can be as simple as asking a good question. Here’s one: what does participating in the Lord’s Supper mean to you? Megan Herrema https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/what-does-participating-lords-supper-mean-you Tue, 11 Jan 2022 01:00:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/faith-practice-celebration In A Habit Called Faith, Jen Pollock Michel writes, “Although Christians have a long and unfortunate history of making every pleasure a guilty one, [the narrative of the wedding at Cana] doesn’t tolerate asceticism fo Sandy Swartzentruber https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/faith-practice-celebration Mon, 13 Dec 2021 20:41:21 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/communal-psalm-celebration Celebration has been difficult over the past two years. But there is still much to celebrate—and celebration is actually a faith practice (or spiritual discipline).  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/communal-psalm-celebration Wed, 27 Oct 2021 17:59:55 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/join-faith-formation-ministries-around-table One of the blessings of technology is the opportunity to gather people across great distances for significant conversations about ministry opportunities and challenges.  Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/join-faith-formation-ministries-around-table Fri, 22 Oct 2021 14:40:03 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/meet-hosts-open-wonder At Faith Formation Ministries, we’re wondering: how is our faith formed in day-to-day life? Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/meet-hosts-open-wonder Thu, 07 Oct 2021 12:48:33 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/intergenerational-ministry-shift-changes-everything Now, more than ever before, congregations are expressing interest in deeper intergenerational ministry, in which people of all ages learn and grow, serve, and worship together. There are many benefits to intergenerational engagement in all facets of the life of a congregation. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/intergenerational-ministry-shift-changes-everything Wed, 22 Sep 2021 18:06:48 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/sparks-seats by Wendi Kapenga Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/sparks-seats Wed, 28 Jul 2021 15:53:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/zoom-practices-i-hope-we-keep-return-person-worship As pandemic restrictions ease, I hear choruses of “We can’t wait to get back to normal!” While reverting to our pre-pandemic way of being as church may seem desirable, the fact is that we are not the same people we were 16 months ago. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/zoom-practices-i-hope-we-keep-return-person-worship Tue, 13 Jul 2021 13:05:01 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/memory-action-faith-practice-remembering The theme of remembering echoes like a trumpet call through both the Old and the New Testaments: “But God remembered Noah.. . .” (Gen. 8:1) “I will remember my covenant between me and you. . . .” (Gen. 9:15) Sandy Swartzentruber https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/memory-action-faith-practice-remembering Thu, 08 Jul 2021 13:08:52 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/using-building-blocks-faith-faith-formation-framework What if all the faith formation activities in your church were built on a common foundation--a direction and a set of goals that would help all the people in your community, from the youngest to the oldest, grow in faith together?  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/using-building-blocks-faith-faith-formation-framework Tue, 22 Jun 2021 13:08:47 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/playlists-and-home-faith-formation A colleague and I recently spent an evening with a group of children’s ministry leaders via Zoom talking about how to practically engage families at home through the use of faith formation “playlists.” And, no, we’re not referring to the playlists you create on Spotify…. Trudy Ash https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/playlists-and-home-faith-formation Wed, 31 Mar 2021 11:31:45 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/naming-crazy-and-forging-ahead-family-faith-formation I recently read a book and attended a webinar by Bob Johanson, a distinguished fellow with the Institute for the Future in Silicon Valley. How I got there was through a very random book suggestion in an equally random email. Trudy Ash https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/naming-crazy-and-forging-ahead-family-faith-formation Mon, 01 Mar 2021 15:48:45 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/growing-parenting-adult-children One of the things we’re learning about emerging adults is that the world in which they are claiming their adulthood is vastly different from the world in which their parents came of age. Lesli van Milligen https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/growing-parenting-adult-children Fri, 26 Feb 2021 16:28:29 +0000