Invited to serve on a design team for a national conference two years ago made me downright giddy. Two years in the planning offered the chance to leave my bubble of ‘practically everyone like me’ and engage in a creative forum with incredibly gifted people who may not look like me, work like me, process like me, talk like me, filter like me, see like me, speak like me, schedule like me, are the same age as me.  The one commonality? We all love and teach Jesus. A beautifully creative and accessible community that would challenge me…yep, I was ‘all in.’

Holding conversations with others ‘not like me’ teaches me to listen, to compromise, and to give in gracefully when a ‘win’ is defined as keeping the conversation going. Naturally drawn to hear the stories of folks, I am fascinated at the words and expressions of all of God’s people. But don’t we all linger where we are most comfortable? Collaborate only where it’s easy and frustration is limited? Share our ideas where we are most likely affirmed? Stay in the safe lane? Run from contention and differing processes?

The last two years of face-to-face meetings, monthly conference calls, and an enormous number of emails resulted in a national conference where folks new to Christian education were empowered, where experienced folks shared ideas, and where surprises abounded. I was responsible for championing the vendor and networking fair on the second day as well as the conference response stations on the last day.  Ideas and partnerships with those in my own local children’s ministry networking group and KidMin Ninja mentoring group in attendance made for closer relationships and lots of laughter as together we set up, cleaned up, pulled up, worked up,  lit up all three events.

The vendor fair was one afternoon with a variety of local talent and non-profits set alongside seminaries, authors, and denominational agencies. The greatest thing our denomination has to a national celebrity is a guy who stars in three minute discipleship training videos that cover everything ‘church’ from the colors of the church year to the church sacristy: Chuck Knows Church. We expected to have him for 15-20 minutes of photo ops. He stayed 56 minutes. That’s how long it took for the line to go down. He was in full character and was definitely among ‘his people.’ Think twenty somethings with Justin Timberlake. That’s the energy of Chuck among United Methodist Christian educators.  The next hour Flo Paris of the musical group Rain For Roots performed three beautiful songs with her daughters. The next hour we shared in a chef’s delight of afternoon appetizers. Yummy!

The networking fair gave conference participants ‘table time’ with folks who are the best at what they do for 15-30 minutes.  Not a workshop, nothing formal, very organic conversation. We offered a schedule of times and locations (three were happening at the same block of time). Some of the networks who gathered included: Developing VBS themes with a VBS publisher; Creating space for young adults in your context; Youth ministry confirmation ideas; and learning how to blog or to go to the next level in blogging.  We even skyped-in a networking leader who spoke of Connecting Worship and Christian Formation for All Ages. Networking and table life takes many forms, amen? A constant coming and going of people, up and down a staircase, in the same three rooms, for close to four hours, who wished to gather and share info on a whole array of topics and conversations. Access!

This season is over, but several new seasons are beginning. I am such a better person, a better collaborator, and a better team member for this experience. For my natural bent to being a chatterbox, I got plenty of practice to ask more questions and make less statements.  I met online, by phone, and then in-person, amazing resource leaders in the field of Christian education who I would never have otherwise had access to. Conversations and collaboration made me think and caused me to laugh my head off. Are you intentional about following Jesus professionally where it may not be so….you?

“Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble…because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9

Just last week I enjoyed the company of Christian educators at the 2016 National CEF (Christians Engaged In Faith Formation) Conference in Nashville. After participating in teaching, communities of practice, conversations, worship, workshops, table life, and laughter on the lawn, we finished the last day with an hour of response stations. Outdoor stations, enjoying nature, and giving hands-on responses to gather our thoughts and feelings before worship and returning home. These were those stations:

Response Station #1 – Kind Hands TV TRAY, STAND UP FRAME

We are called not only to ‘pray without ceasing’, but also to pray with our whole selves. How we use our bodies when we pray shares what is on the heart of the person who is praying to God.  The KINDNESS that comes from God tells us we belong to His family. We must be KIND because we belong to Him.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32

While standing, rub your hands together gently as if you were putting on lotion. Make sure to turn your wrists in all directions and touch all parts of your hands – between your fingers, the back of your hands, and even your wrists.

Share with God as you rub your hands, “Thank you, God, that You are kind when you ______ and ______ and ______. Help me to be kind when I ___________. Amen.”

Additional Resource: Body Prayer: The Posture of Intimacy With God by Doug Pagitt and Kathryn Prill

Response Station #2 – 10,000 Reasons TV TRAY, CLOTHESPINS, CUT PAPER & CONTAINER/BASKET, BIG FRAME, STANDUP FRAME

Let’s COUNT our blessings!

“For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing, 10,000 reasons for my heart to find, …to bless the Lord, O my soul. Worship His holy name.”

Write (or draw) a blessing from this week at CEF.  Clip it to the frame with a clothespin.

Additional Resource: Counting Blessings by Debby Boone and Gabriel Ferrer

Response Station #3 – Praying in Color TV TRAY, STANDUP FRAME, FABRIC RIBBON CUT INTO 4-5 INCH STRIPS & CONTAINER, SMALL FRAME

Take a strip of fabric and as you tie it onto the frame, share with God your regrets over the last year. Make a conscious decision to let it go and move on.  You may also choose to give thanks for lessons learned.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16

Additional Resource: Praying in Color: Drawing A New Path To God (Active Prayer) by Sybil MacBeth

Response Station #4 –Psalm 23 TV TRAY, STANDUP FRAME, 15 OIL ROLLERBOTTLES IN CONTAINER/BASKET, PSALM 23 BOOKMARKS

Anointing sheep’s heads with oil shielded them from annoying and even deadly insects, so anointing became symbolic of blessing, protection, and empowerment.

Using the anointing oil, anoint yourself (on the back of your hand, on pulse points, or on your forehead) and recite the 23^rd Psalm.

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.” 1 John 2:20

Additional Resource: A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller

Response Station #5 – Bubble Wrap Worries TV TRAY, BUBBLE WRAP CUT INTO STRIPS, 2 CONTAINERS, STANDUP FRAME

Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles, it empties today of its strength. Corrie Ten Boom

God loves you and knows the desires of your heart. He also knows what you think can keep you from fulfilling His call on your life as you use your gifts and graces back home.

Take a strip of bubble wrap and pop the bubbles as a symbol of giving your worries over to the One who has called you, will equip you, will go before you, will never leave you, and will teach you along the way.

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Matthews 6: 34

Additional Resource: Leadership Pain: The Classroom for Growth by Samuel Chand

Response #6 – A Fresh Word TV TRAY, KIDDIE POOL, STANDUP FRAME, BAG OF SAND, GLASS BEADS IN CONTAINER, FINE SHARPIES IN CONTAINER

Play in the sand with your hands and fingers.

When you choose a word to take with you in your heart, write that word on a glass bead and take the bead with you as a reminder of ‘the fresh word’ you received this week at the 2016 National CEF Conference.

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Additional Resource: Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21^st Century: Engaging All Ages & Generations by John Roberto

Response #7 – In Memory PVC PIPE STAND, FISH NET, WHITE TABLE CLOTHS, 2 COLORS RIBBON, STANDUPFRAME, TV TRAY, BASKET FOR RIBBONS

We all follow the saints of our journey. The saints who plowed the fields before us. The saints who spoke truth into our lives when we didn’t want to hear or maybe didn’t know to listen. The saints who have gone on to Glory, yet their influence upon our own calling lives on in us. We are their legacy.

Tie a ribbon in the net as you give a prayer of thanksgiving for the saints of your journey who have gone on to Glory, yet their influence continues in you.

“Leadership is not about titles, positions or flowcharts. It is about one life influencing another.” John C. Maxwell

Response #8 – In Honor (SAME STATION #7 AS ABOVE, ADD ON)

We all share in influencing others for the cause of Christ. We teach, we lead, we speak, and we pray. We laugh, we train, we offer an effective hand off to those coming behind us. They are our legacy. They are the lives in whom we speak truth and influence to fulfill God’s calling on their lives.

Tie a ribbon in the net as you offer a prayer of hope for those who you are influencing to answer the call to carry the banner of Christian education.

“The key to successful leadership is influence, not authority.” Kenneth H. Blanchard

As you end a growth event, like a conference, how do you process on the last day to gather your thoughts and prepare to return home to implement what you’ve gleaned and learned?

This week I am thrilled to be with other champions for Christian education at the 2016 National CEF (Christians Engaged In Faith Formation) Conference in Nashville and participating in a Community of Practice for engaging children in worship. I serve a church where intergenerational worship happens every week.  But getting there started with the first step of communicating the ‘why’. One way to begin the conversation of moving to sharing worship as a whole family of faith included months of sharing writings/blogs/research about that very thing on my personal Facebook page with our congregation.  These are some of the writings shared that helped us engage in the conversations:

• http://www.churchleaders.com/daily-buzz/260593-students-leave-faith-graduation-according-research-biggest-factor.html
• http://www.kveller.com/to-the-woman-who-told-me-my-kids-dont-belong-in-synagogue/
• https://refocusministry.org/2015/03/10/my-kid-doesnt-get-anything-out-of-church/
• http://www.patheos.com/blogs/ponderanew/2016/03/13/killing-the-church-with-sunday-school/
• http://worshipingwithchildren.blogspot.com/2013/03/welcoming-children-to-holy-week-services.html
• http://drewdowns.net/2011/10/07/4-keys-to-engaging-children-in-church/
• http://www.sarahwalkercleaveland.com/engage-kids-in-worship/
• http://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/engaging-children-in-worship
• http://www.moodychurch.org/tmckids/blog/teaching-children-engage-worship/
• http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/more-ideas-on-engaging-children-in-worship/
• http://www.faithformationlearningexchange.net/uploads/5/2/4/6/5246709/best_practices_-_children_faith_formation.pdf
• http://www.religioninsights.org/articles/take-action-include-children-your-worship-service-0
• http://www.reformedworship.org/article/june-2005/it-takes-congregationto-nurture-children
• https://refocusministry.org/2015/03/14/do-not-hinder/

This is just a sample of information that is available to continue conversations within a congregation…one at a time…over a period of time….of engaging and including children in worship.

We are ‘all in’ to include children in worship at my church. It works for us and sets us our mid-sized church apart from other churches in our area that provide separate worship for children and adults. Worshipping as a whole family of faith is now part of our culture. Where we wish to go this next season is to not only engage children in worship, but continue to make worship even more engaging for children. I can’t wait to find out what else we will learn and share this week as we endeavor to champion for children in worship. What other writings can you communicate to continue the conversation?

“What’s good for kids is good for adults.” Mark Burrows, Director of Children’s Ministries at First United Methodist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, author of Children First: Worshipping With The Family of God

“The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off – for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:39

There is nothing like a three hour CPR & First Aid course to remind me how much I can forget. Enlisting the help of the fabulous trainers of First Response, we offered a class last Sunday. I’d used these folks before and their trainers are thorough, funny, talk a mile a minute, and use 80’s tunes like the BeeGee’s Staying Alive and Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive to help us keep a steady beat of compressions.

I booked the First Response folks last May for an October date. I marketed the class inside the church through typical channels (social media, bulletin, newsletter) through August and September. First Response requires a minimum of 12 participants at a very reasonable rate. Knowing we needed to cover a couple of our college student nursery servants, and in case I couldn’t get the minimum, we added a small buffer to the fee we charged.

Two weeks before the class date, we promoted it through other social media channels and to our community on the signs along our roadside. I got two phone calls within a couple of days from a children’s caregiver and a girl scout leader calling to reserve a spot. On Sunday, three others just showed up along with an additional three of our own who were not sure they could make it (so they didn’t reserve a spot ahead of time) and did.

We had a total group of 18 folks from all walks of life, all ages and stages: a grandmother and her granddaughter, two caregivers from a senior adult care facility, our nursery caregivers, our head of trustees and his daughter, a twelve-year old boy scout working his way to Tenderfoot, two high school freshmen who serve in children’s ministry often, two day care workers, a girl scout leader, a mom and her daughter-in-law who serves as a teacher and expecting her second baby in a few months.

In all honesty, for fear of not making the minimum participants, I was sweating it ten days ago. But I was reminded again that we are called to provide an opportunity to do good things, God will do the number crunching and the people gathering. Our job is obedience.

Completely surprised at the community participation of 6 out of 18, I will be scheduling CPR & First Aid training as part of our regular calendar every fall. We will promote it just as much as an outreach to our community as to our own. We extended the gift of Christian hospitality to our neighbors and our own. Our own bumping elbows with our community for three hours…on a Sunday afternoon. My supply list: name tags and iced-down, bottled water.

My very favorite part (other than our youth naming their dummies after characters from The Walking Dead)? Our instructor arrived late due to Atlanta traffic of the last Braves game AND a Falcons home game, so it gave us a chance to share why we were there and get to know one another.  Yeah, I’m doing this every year!

“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Psalm 27:14