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Faith Formation: Prayer

Resources including: Children & Family Curricula & Storytime; Confirmation/Affirmation of Baptism; Denominational Resources; Tween & Teen Mental and Spiritual Health; Sexuality & Identity; and Online/At-Home Tech

Welcome

Welcome to The Ministry Lab's curated list of resources geared toward Bible study with young people. Here you'll find:

  • Websites and Curricula suitable for sharing online or in person
  • Blogs, Podcasts & Articles with helpful tips and worthwhile content
  • Activity Suggestions & Resources
  • Books and Downloadable resources to share with or through parents

If you don't find a resource to fit your need, you might also look in our Contemplative Practices/Introductions guide, or don't hesitate to consult with The Ministry Lab's director, Emily Meyer, who is happy to assist you.

Books

Mennonite pastor, liturgist, author, and Spacious Faith blogger, Joanna Harader, shares numerous Contemplative Arts practices on her website, free of charge.

Find her extensive list of Spiritual Practice Materials (PDFs), here, including:

Prayer and Conversation Cube image 1Traci Smith's Prayer and Conversation Cubes are easy to download, simple to assemble, and create prayer and story-sharing opportunities in classes, small groups, and family settings.

Help families in your congregation make prayer and conversation at the dinner table fun and easy! You may send out the file as a digital copy or printed file. Cube assembly is simple (requires a scissors and glue); instructions are provided. The prayer cube contains five simple family prayer ideas and one "choose your own or roll again." The conversation starters provide six easy ways to get your children talking! Blank cubes and a tip sheet are also included.

Frolic Storybook Collection: Complete 13-book Set, Paperback Edition

SparkHouse's Frolic storybooks present common early childhood (pre-K-K/2-3 yrs.) challenges encountered by the charming Frolic friends. Using the faith practice of prayer, each friend manages the challenge and finds a solution.

8-Pack The Faithful Families Toolkit: A Companion Workbook to Faithful FamiliesThe Faithful Families Toolkit is designed to be used in groups but can be used individually. Each workbook includes space for parents to journal their experiences and track their progress, helping them see real spiritual growth within their family. Based on Rev. Traci Smith’s proven methods for faith formation, this workbook complements her popular book Faithful Families: Creating Sacred Moments at Home.

Download a Sample.

Picture of 3-Minute Prayers for Brave Boys     Picture of 3-Minute Prayers for Courageous Girls     Ain't Burned All the Bright          Daddy and Me     Dear Mama God cover mockup     Picture of Decisions, Decisions Devotions for Kids          Everyday Prayers for Families     The Examen Book: Exploring Every Day with God: Mitchell, Paul, Broussard,  Katie: 9780829451276: Amazon.com: Books     Faith Practices     A Family Prayer by Shay Youngblood     Front Cover Preview Image - 1 of 13 - Feminist Prayers for My Daughter: Powerful Petitions for Every Stage of Her Life          The Lord's Prayer Illustrated Prayer Booklet     Little Prayers for Everyday Life     The Lord's Prayer Sticker Sheets      Loved     Mommy and Me          Prayers for Faithful Families: Everyday Prayers for Everyday Life     Prayers for the People by Terry J. Stokes     Simple Prayers for Children     Picture of Sing, Wrestle, Spin     Sparrow's Prayer     There's No Wrong Way to Pray     What Do I Do with Worry?     Wonder Awaits!     This affirming book celebrates the curiosity and thought-provoking questions children ask.

This family discussion guide accompanies There's No Wrong Way to Pray.

Activity Suggestions

Mennonite pastor, liturgist, author, and Spacious Faith blogger, Joanna Harader, shares numerous Contemplative Arts practices on her website, free of charge.

Find her extensive list of Spiritual Practice Materials (PDFs), here, including:

Picture of Bread of Life

The Great Banquet: Parable Series     

Narrative Yoga: Connects a Children's Story with RCL Bible texts for Sunday worship

"Choose Love" connects Elizabeti's School to Matthew 21:23-32
"Stepping Into the Unknown" connects Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach to Exodus 16:2-15

"Live and Let Live" connects The Grumpy Pets to Romans 14:1-12
"Work It Out" uses the story Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse to Matthew 18:15-20

INTERESTED IN PERSONALIZED STORY & STRETCH
LESSON PLANS FOR YOUR FAMILY OR COMMUNITY?
CONNECT WITH MICHELLE AT MICHEL.OMBRELLA@GMAIL.COM

Tween/Teen Devotions & Journals

Picture of Choose Adventure     Picture of Choose Extraordinary                    Dream Up Now: The Teen Journal for Creative Self-Discovery     Prayers for the People by Terry J. Stokes     We Rise Higher: Poems and Prayers for Graduates     Picture of You Are Worthy, Girl. Never Forget That!     You Can Talk To God Like That: The Surprising Power of Lament to Save Your Faith

Websites & Curricula

Unearthing Us: Poems and Practices for Discovering Our Fullest Selves     Unearthing Us Facilitator Guide: 21 Sessions Based on the Poetry of Joe Davis

The 21 sessions in the Unearthing Us Facilitator Guide correspond to the 21 poems in Unearthing Us: Poems and Practices for Discovering Our Fullest Selves by Joe Davis. 

  •  Sessions move through stages of planting, growing, and flourishing that connect to the thematic progression of poems in Unearthing Us.
  • Leaders are invited into pre-work activities to prepare their hearts and minds for facilitating each session. 
  • Sessions include creative responses to each poem along with biblical exploration, community connections, and journaling prompts. 
  • Many groups can use these sessions: senior high youth, intergenerational events, Bible study groups, retreat participants, and other gatherings of people who want to explore poetry and faith together. 

 All sessions are written by Rev. Dr. Jia Starr Brown, an educator, activist, and curriculum designer who provides access to education, tools, and community that we all need to live whole and liberated lives.

THIS LIVING THE KIN-DOM STUDY BY RIVA TABELISMA gives fresh eyes to the Lord's Prayer. Often learned by rote, the Lord's Prayer is a rich guide for how we can live out God's kin-dom in our lives. Tabelisma invites participants in this study to step away from our automatic recitation of the prayer and dive deep into the meaning of each line over the course of eight one-hour sessions. Each of the sessions examines a section of the Lord's Prayer from Matthew 6:9–13 as it is recorded in the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. 

Here's a wonderful list of Inclusive Versions of the Prayer of Jesus. I don't know who compiled it, but most of the prayers are cited for use!

P.S. I would not use the title, 'The Prayer of Jesus': so far as we know, this was never a prayer Jesus prayed. This is the Prayer Jesus Taught Us, the prayer Jesus instructed his followers to pray.

forma/Faith@Home shares weekly and semi-daily RCL “lectionary-based readings and reflections” for discussions in youth group or at home; age-appropriate options for toddler through high school

is an online daily devotion that includes leading questions that could be discussion starters.

In Our Library

The Awakened Life for High School Students     The Blessing Cup: Prayer Rituals for Families and Groups  -     By: Rock Travnikar     1094071          1072481     1289656     Image 1                    Stock image for Daybook for New Voices: A calendar of Reflections and Prayers by and for Youth for sale by Rainy Day Paperback     Don't Forget to Flush: A Bathroom Devotional for Kids     Downtime: Helping Teenagers Pray - eBook  -     By: Mark Yaconelli     Mary: Seeing God through the Eyes of a Mother  -     By: Eugene H. Peterson     Ruth: Discovering Your Place in God's Story  -     By: Eugene H. Peterson     The Gift of Hard Things     Go Deep: Spiritual Practices For Youth Ministry  -     By: Doris Kizinna          cover image GOD WENT TO BEAUTY SCHOOL     Growing Souls: Experiments in Contemplative Youth Ministry - eBook  -     By: Mark Yaconelli     9780829818536: Holy Things for Youth Ministry: 13 Practical Sessions     Imaginative Prayer for Youth Ministry          omg / devotionals for teens + young adults (COVER)     Prayer & Prayer Activities: For Worship with Adults, Children and All-Ages, Years A, B & C [With CDROM] Cover Image          The Prayer Experiment Notebook By Miranda Threlfall-Holmes, Mina Munns Cover Image     Savoring God - Finley, Kathleen, and Finley, Kathy     Soulshaper Soul Shaper : Exploring Spirituality and Contemplative Practices in Youth Ministry     9780687030798: Soul Tending: Life Forming Practices for Older Youth and Young Adults     The Teenage Prayer Experiment Notebook  -     By: Miranda Threlfall-Holmes     9780898693959: Tween Prayer: Friendship with God     Wonder, Fear, and Longing, Paperback