Six New Things – Week of October 11, 2021
Every day is an opportunity to experience the Divine in our midst:
- through practices of listening and seeing
- in community transformation
- as we celebrate saints
- through wise stewardship
- in acts of justice
- as we prepare for Christ to come again
ONE
Inspire children to see the Divine in the everyday with God’s Coming to Visit! (Flyaway), a fun exploration of the promise that God is always with us; adult practices may be inspired by Christine Valters Paintner’s Breath Prayer: An Ancient Practice for the Everyday Sacred (Broadleaf).
TWO
Cindy Wang’s You Are Revolutionary (Beaming) affirms young ones in being the Divine presence in their communities while Jen Bailey’s To My Beloveds: Letters on Faith, Race, Loss, and Radical Hope (Chalice) encourages youth and adults working toward community transformation.
THREE
Celebrate the saints through whom the Divine has transformed history with Michael W. Waters’ Liberty’s Civil Rights Road Trip (Flyaway) – told from a child’s point of view and based on a multigenerational pilgrimage led by the author, explore key people, places, and events of the civil rights movement. Authors’ notes assist adults in expanding conversations with children.
FOUR
Honor local saints with Saints Alive! An All Ages Service for All Saint’s Day (Iona), a downloadable service about what makes a saint and where they can be found – mainly in the world all around us.
Find more All Saints’ and Reformation resources in our lib guide.
FIVE
Develop saintly stewardship practices informed by the UMC’s All In Series, including worship, mission engagement, preaching, small group, campaign, and pledge letters.
Translate biblical stewardship into direct action with We Cry Justice: Reading the Bible with The Poor People’s Campaign (Broadleaf).
SIX
Continue a theme of justice and transformation in Advent preparations for the Divine Presence being born among us with two bundles from the UMC: God with Us – an worship and small group study series; and Reimagine Advent: Discover the Liberating Christ (UMC Religion & Race Resources), including liturgy, sermon, music and children’s activity prompts.
