https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 19 Apr 2024 04:40:35 +0000 Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/easter-activities-families-churches-and Celebrating holy days is an important way to help children experience God’s redemptive activity through the rhythms of the church year. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/easter-activities-families-churches-and Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/celebrating-christmas-your-dwell-group An important part of your children’s ministry year is celebrating holy days with your Dwell group. Throughout the Dwell curriculum, a Christmas story is usually included in unit 3. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/celebrating-christmas-your-dwell-group Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/how-create-your-own-nativity-scene-using One of my favorite parts of decorating for Christmas is pulling out my nativity scenes. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/how-create-your-own-nativity-scene-using Thu, 30 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/why-dwells-childrens-resources-are Probably the most misunderstood element of the Dwell curriculum’s age-graded materials is its children’s resources. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/why-dwells-childrens-resources-are Tue, 05 Sep 2023 13:30:15 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/dwell-leader-trainings-everything-you-need When my son was 3 years old, he turned to me one day at lunch and said matter of factly, “God doesn’t like bad guys.” Immediately I responded that no—God, of course, loves everyone! To which he replied, “But he had David kill Goliath!” Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/dwell-leader-trainings-everything-you-need Thu, 27 Jul 2023 17:46:44 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/5-ways-families-can-explore-waiting-and-hope-advent-season In my first Advent season working in children’s ministry, I brought new meaning to the word busy. Not wanting to miss a single memory with my kids, who were 1 and 3, I said yes to everything, desperate to treasure the years when my kids were little. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/5-ways-families-can-explore-waiting-and-hope-advent-season Mon, 21 Nov 2022 13:58:14 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/3-simple-ways-help-families-form-faith When Dwell Flex launched in 2020, the goal was to help churches in a variety of settings with resources to meet each church’s specific needs. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/3-simple-ways-help-families-form-faith Thu, 11 Aug 2022 13:07:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/3-things-i-learned-weaving-gratitude-sabbath-rest About this time last year I realized I was burnt out and not experiencing the rest I needed. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/3-things-i-learned-weaving-gratitude-sabbath-rest Thu, 07 Oct 2021 12:53:07 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/introducing-our-updated-dwell-digital-site We’re excited to announce our most recent Dwell Digital updates! Our updated site is easier than ever to use, and allows us to refresh the curriculum materials as needed. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/introducing-our-updated-dwell-digital-site Tue, 03 Aug 2021 13:58:25 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/how-dwell-flex-equipping-churches-flux As I reflect back on life a year ago, I’m amazed both by how far we’ve come and how far we still are from what I thought life would look like at this point. Last summer I imagined we’d be past the COVID finish line as fall approached, able to completely return to life as normal. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/how-dwell-flex-equipping-churches-flux Wed, 28 Jul 2021 18:24:32 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/5-ways-bless-your-church-free-dwell-home Family life is busy. I don’t think I truly understood the truth of that statement until I lived the reality of school drop-offs, full work weeks, meal planning and prep, baths, attempting to keep the house clean, and remembering to somehow find a place in all of that to rest. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/5-ways-bless-your-church-free-dwell-home Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:05:11 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/starting-small-creating-consistent-faith-practices-one-baby Over the years, I tried several times to get back into running, but until recently, was unable to restart what used to be a favorite practice. In the past, I’ve tried to pick up where I left off—trying to put in a five-mile run when I hadn’t run at all in the past year. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/starting-small-creating-consistent-faith-practices-one-baby Tue, 15 Jun 2021 12:33:44 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/creative-simple-ways-make-and-use-gods-big-pentecost-story One of my favorite things about our DWELL at Home devotionals is all the fun, creative ways you can use the story symbols. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/creative-simple-ways-make-and-use-gods-big-pentecost-story Mon, 05 Apr 2021 13:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/seeking-justice-inch-inch-practical-ways-honor-image-god In day to day life, I experience what I call “extreme empathy,” meaning that at times I feel the pain of others very deeply—almost as if it’s my own. Because of this extreme empathy, often when I look at the world around me, I am overwhelmed by the pain and sorrow that is seemingly everywhere. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/seeking-justice-inch-inch-practical-ways-honor-image-god Sun, 07 Feb 2021 11:58:58 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/how-practice-gratitude-transformed-my-familys-weekly A little over a month ago, I realized that I was not feeling refreshed or experiencing rest during my weekly sabbaths. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/how-practice-gratitude-transformed-my-familys-weekly Fri, 30 Oct 2020 15:03:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/leaders-guide-dwell-flex-everything-you Launched in 2020, Dwell Flex is a multi-age, multi-setting version of Dwell. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/leaders-guide-dwell-flex-everything-you Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:53:13 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/coordinators-guide-dwell-flex-everything Launched in 2020, Dwell Flex is a multi-age, multi-setting segment of Dwell. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/coordinators-guide-dwell-flex-everything Fri, 28 Aug 2020 13:36:05 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/how-dwells-simplified-session-plans-will One thing I’m learning about our current season of life is that less is more. Parents, volunteers, and church leaders are overwhelmed, each taking on new tasks and responsibilities as a part of our new way of life. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/how-dwells-simplified-session-plans-will Tue, 28 Jul 2020 15:02:58 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/resources-using-dwell-covid-19-world As I’ve connected with Dwell leaders across the continent over the past few months, discussing their plans for the coming year, one thing is for sure: no two churches look the same right now. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/childrens-ministry/dwell-curriculum/resources-using-dwell-covid-19-world Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:34:14 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/garden-city-looking-forward-hope Throughout most of my adult life, summer has meant getting my hands dirty in some form of a garden. Jill Benson https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/garden-city-looking-forward-hope Tue, 07 Jul 2020 12:04:25 +0000