Youth & Family Ministry Resources
Ideas to Help Pass on the Faith
 

If you're looking for ideas to help with your youth or family ministry, you've come to the right place.

The Northeastern Iowa Synod's Home Life Work Group offers this page of ideas, experiences, crafts and educational resources to help Sunday school teachers, youth and family ministers, pastors, parents and others pass on the faith to children and families in their congregations.

Currently, you'll find ideas and resources on the topics listed below. Many more will be added, so come back often to see what's new or to submit deas of your own!

• Teaching Prayer

• Lent & Easter

• Bible Studies

• Confirmation

• Senior High Lessons & Activities

• Helps, Ideas, Examples

• Living the Faith

• Policies, Forms, Publications

• Family Ministry & Parenting

• Networks

• Youth Ministry Blog & Calendar

• Networks

SHARE YOUR IDEAS

If you have an idea or resource that you would like to share or if you would like more information about any of the items listed on this page, send an email or call the synod office, 319-352-1414.

Submit your idea or question.
 

Swap Meet Schedule & Themes

Many of the ideas on this page come from the quarterly "swap meets" sponsored by the Home Life Work Group as part of its Christian Formation Network.

Professionals in youth and family ministry gather to share their creative ideas and experiences and learn what their colleagues from other churches are doing. Each swap meet focuses on a seasonal theme.
 
Thursday, April 8, 2010
"Pentecost and VBS" Bethlehem Lutheran, Cedar Falls

August 2010
"Rally Sunday and Fall Curriculum"
(date, time and location to be determined)
 

TEACHING PRAYER

LENT & EASTER

Prayer Resources
A list of resources from the ELCA about ways to pray
 

Request a Prayer
A website to request a prayer or tell about an answered prayer
 

"10 Ways to Jump Start Your Prayer Life"
Suggested ways to deepen our prayer lives.

You'll find hundreds of ideas, experiences and resources for teaching about and celebrating Lent and Easter. Many of the ideas come from youth leaders of Northeastern Iowa ELCA churches:

• Lenten Fair

• Christian Education Sunday

• Last Supper Rotation

• Holy Week Decorations
  and more...

Read More: Resources for Lent & Easter
 

BIBLE STUDIES

CONFIRMATION

Faith Lens
Engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life
 

Reel World
Movie discussion guides

Ignite! Series
High school Bible study series

No Experience Necessary
Explore the Bible as partners in God’s mission

Here We Stand
A confirmation curriculum that combines Web and traditional print resources

Confirmation Helps from Old Lutheran
Confirmation resources for students and leaders

A Confirmation Day Skit
A skit about life after confirmation

Guidelines for Confirmation Mentoring
Boundaries for Mentoring Relationships
Characteristics of an Effective Mentor
Introductory Meeting for Mentors
 

SENIOR HIGH LESSONS & ACTIVITIES

HELPS, IDEAS, EXAMPLES

"Flushing Guilt Away"
A lesson in forgiveness

Passionate Spirituality
Live what we believe
 

"The Body of Christ"
An experience in disabilities
 

All Saints Eve
Celebrating saints of the church

Green Youth Ministry
Resources and activities for environmental conservation

Family Camp Fire
Music, fun and games around a Saturday night campfire

In the Event of A Death
An ecumenical celebration of a life

Screening Volunteers
Screening options to keep kids safe
 

ELCA Help Sheets
Answers to frequently asked questions about youth ministry

Fundraising/Budgeting for Youth Ministry
Resources for fundraising and budgeting

Staffing For Youth Ministry
Resources for staffing and developing a Youth Ministry Program

"100 (and more) Ways Youth Can Minister and Be Ministered To"
Creative ministry ideas for youth

One Year's Worth of Youth Activities
A full year schedule of activities for junior high/middle school and senior high youth.
 

LIVING THE FAITH

Resources to help live the Christian faith:

"Way to Live:  Christian Practices for Teens"

"Practicing our Faith"
 

POLICIES, FORMS, PUBLICATIONS

FAMILY MINISTRY & PARENTING

Sample policies, forms and resources for youth leaders:

• Policy for Synod Youth Ministry Events

• Synod Event Participant Forms

• Medical Release & General Permission Form

• Church Internet and Computer Policy

• Youth Ministry Survey Form

• PG-13 Movie Release Form

• Name & Photo Release

• Definition of Effective Youth & Family Ministry

• ELCA Standards and Guidelines for Youth and Family Ministers

Ideas to benefit the whole family:

EWOK -- Evening Without the Kids
A monthly Parish Life Group group for parents who would like a night out together without the kids. Volunteer child care is provided at the church by confirmation youth or others qualified.
 

Youth Ministry Blog

The Handy Dandy Youth Ministry Blog is a place for people who love and are passionate about youth and family ministry to share ideas and their enthusiasm for ministry.

http://handydandyym.blogspot.com
 

YOUTH MINISTRY CALENDAR

NETWORKS

The Northeastern Iowa Synod Youth Ministry Calendar 2009-10

Synod Youth Ministry Network
Youth ministry leaders who serve congregations in this synod and support one another
 

ELCA Youth Ministry Network
Non-profit, membership-based organization that works to strengthen and empower adult youth ministry leaders

COMING SOON!

Youth Ministry E-NEWSLETTER

Watch for new ideas and resources to be added for these topics:

Advent, Pentecost, Ascension, Christmas, Epiphany, Sunday School, and more...
 

Bringing youth ministry news to Lutherans in Northeastern Iowa

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