Laura Keeley
My name is Laura Keeley and for the last 20 years I have been the Co-Director of Children’s Ministries (with my husband Bob) at 14th Street CRC in Holland, MI. I really enjoy working with children and I have had the opportunity to see many children grow and mature in their faith. This has been a great joy and is one of the best parts of the job.
I began my career as an elementary teacher. For seven years I taught in both public and Christian school classrooms in Michigan, New Jersey and Colorado. I received my Bachelor’s degree from Calvin College in Elementary Education and a Master’s degree from the University of Colorado at Denver in the Teaching of Reading. I left full time classroom teaching when my first child was born. I now have four married children. Over the last ten years, I have done some writing of curriculum, Christmas dramas and books on Faith Milestones, Church Staff Handbook and Psalm Devotional for Families. I also work for the CRCNA Faith Formation Ministries as a Regional Catalyzer.
Posted in: Coffee Time: Can We Intentionally Form Faith While Drinking Coffee?
Thanks Roger for this helpful comment. Placing things that encourage faith based conversation is more what I had in mind. Inspire, not require.
Posted in: What Song Inspires Your Mission?
"How Deep the Father's Love for Us" by Stewart Townend touches my soul.
Posted in: Moving On
Thanks Jolanda and Kim! I am looking forward to Jolanda's leadership on the Network!
Posted in: Left Overs?
What a great idea, Karen. Thanks for sharing.
Posted in: Worship in a Word
I would chose the word "Center". During worship I put aside all the business of life and center myself on God.
Posted in: Using the Psalms with Kids
Hi Marvis, I am not aware of many resources. My husband Bob and I are working on this for a project. Eerdman's has a great picture book called Psalms for Young Children by Marie Helene Deval. Here is also a list of other Psalms picture books from the Calvin Institure of Christian Worship web site. Maybe other people have suggestions I'm not aware of..
Posted in: The Answer Is God!
Hi John, You have a good point. We want to make sure our curriculum is appropriately challenging.
Your comments has prompted me to think more about Bible memory so I may write about that soon.
Posted in: The Answer Is God!
Parent and grand parent involvement is very important part of a child's faith formation. Many Sunday School curriculums include send-home papers, bookmarks, email or other reminders with devotions, Bible Stories, memory work and activities for the kids to do at home with the parents. If these resources were used, the Sunday School lesson would be reinforced. I think much of this is ignored or throw out. Getting parents to look at and follow up on these materials is a really big challenge.
The Nuture blog is another resource that can support parents and grandparents as they raise children of faith.
Posted in: Calendar Check
For each week in Lent the children return to congregational worship from Children's Worship for communion. I have printed a Bible verse on card stock that connects to the Lord's Supper such as I Corinthians 10:17. The verse is given to the children in Children's Worship with a purple pen. Following some of the ideas in the book Praying In Color the children focus on the verse by reading it and drawing around it during their response time as we prepare for communion. The kids take the paper with them when they return to congregational worship.
Posted in: Before You Gift a Graduate With a Bible, Do This
Great idea, Karen. In our church a verse is written in each Bible that is given to 2nd graders. The verse is chosen by the pastor for that child. In worship during the presentation the pastor reads the verse to the child before the Bible is given to the child. Often that verse is one that the kids recall when they profess their faith.