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Children's Resources Bibliography
Bajema, Edith, Worship, Not for Adults Only: Issues in Christian Living (Grand Rapids: CRC Publications, 1990).
Good resource for a small group at church (or worship planning team) to use to work
through some good practical suggestions
Brown, Carolyn C., Forbid Them Not: Involving Children in Sunday School (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1994).
“this series offers specific suggestions for prayers, litanies, sermon
illustrations, and ways to present Scripture that will include children without
offending adults. Although it is based on the texts of the Revised Common
Lectionary, those who do not follow that lectionary can use the index to
locate suggestions related to any Scripture passage”
a great resource that truly tries to integrate children in the worship service
without being childish or having specific “child” time
Brown, Carolyn C., You Can Preach to the Kids Too! : Designing Sermons for Adults and Children (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1997).
a must read for pastors! In this book Brown argues for making the “main
sermon” more child friendly thus negating the need for children's sermons.
Though she offers some valid critique of children's sermons she also provides
helpful advice on how to do them well.
Buchanan, Aimee Wallis, Bill Buchanan, and Jodi B. Martin, Making Worship Real: A Resource for Youth and Their Leaders (Louisville, KY: Geneva Press, 2001).
takes each part of the worship service, gives a short explanation and then offers
several game/activity options to “teach” the topic
Castleman, Robbie and Ruth Bell Graham, Parenting in the Pew: Guiding Your Children into the Joy of Worship (Downers Grove, IL and Nottingham, Eng.: InterVarsity Press, 2002 [expanded edition]).
Dawn, Marva, Is It a Lost Cause? Having the Heart of God for the Church's Children
(Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1997).
Fairless, Caroline S., Children at Worship: Congregations in Bloom (New York: Church Publishing, 2000).
not a typical church situation… this book might stretch you a bit but it does
make one think.
Henderson, Dorothy, 45 Ways to Involve Children in Worship: Ideas for Worship Planners,
Worship Leaders, and Parents (North York, Ontario: The Presbyterian Church in Canada,
1997).
a helpful list of ideas to work from
Lou, Sue and Sylvia Washer, Get Ready! Get Set! Worship!: A Resource for Including Children in Worship: For Pastors, Educators, Parents, Sessions, and Committees (Geneva Press, 1999).
a fabulous resource for helping teach children about worship and including them
in worship.
Sandell, Elizabeth J., Including Children in Worship: A Planning Guide for Congregations (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1991).
The first half of the book which develops the philosophy, reasons for, and how
to's of children's worship is great!
includes some good practical suggestions for ways to include children in the
worship event
Sytsma, Mary and Jane Vogel, Sunday Morning Live: How and Why We Worship
(CRC Publications, 2003).
a great curriculum for teaching teens about worship
Witvliet, John, A Child Shall Lead: Children in Worship (Choristers Guild, 1999).
a sourcebook for Christian educators, musicians, and clergy
a great mix of both teaching and practical ideas
Books to Aid in Understanding Generational Differences
Carroll, Jackson W. and Wade Clark Roof, Bridging Divided Worlds: Generational Cultures in Congregations (San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2002).
helpful book–particularly the epilogue which gives the “blessing and bane” of various
types of generational churches (traditionally rooted, gen-focused, or blended)
in the end they argue for an intergenerational church as being the best testimony of
our beliefs though they admit that such a church does not come easily
Howe, Neil and William Strauss, Generations: The History of
a key text
McIntosh, Gary L., One Church, Four Generations: Understanding and Reaching All Ages in Your Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2002).
excellent overview of the various generations in the church
Rendle, Gilbert R., The Multigenerational Congregation: Meeting the Leadership Challenge (Bethesda, MN: The Alban Institute, 2002).
helps leaders understand the generations they are leading and the dynamics
caused by the presence of multiple generations in the church
Others Books to Consider
Ban, Arline J., Children's Time in Worship (Judson Press, 1981).
Benson, Dennis C., The Ministry of the Child (Group Publishing, 1985).
Becker, Peter M., Gary L. Bertels, and Shirley K. Morgenthaler, Children in Worship: Lessons from
Research (River Forest, IL: Pillars Press of Concordia University, 708-209-3173).
Berryman, Jerome, Godly Play: An Imaginative Approach to Religious Education (Minneapolis: Augsburg, 1995, 1991).
Biffi, Inos, An Introduction to the Liturgical Year (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995).
Bockelman, Karen G., Gathered and Sent: An Introduction to Worship, with illustrations by Nicholas T. Markell (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1999).
DeVries, Mark, Family-Based Youth Ministry (InterVarsity Press, 1994).
Flinn, Lisa and Barbara Younger, Boredom Busting Ideas to Involve Children in Adult Worship (Group Publishing, 1996).
Freudenburg, Ben and Rick Lawrence, The Family Friendly Church (Group Publishing, 1998).
Freudenburg, Ben, Family Friendly Ideas Your Church Can Do (Group Publishing, 1998).
Freudenburg, Ben, Through Children’s Eyes: 52 Worship Talks for Children (St. Louis, MO: Concordia Publishing House, 1996).
Fryar, Jane L., Changing Hearts, Changing Lives (Concordia Publishing House, 1995).
Halmo, Joan, Celebrating the Church Year with Young Children (Liturgical Press, 1988).
Juengst, Sara Covin, Sharing Faith with Children: Rethinking the Children's Sermon (Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1994).
Kenny-Sheputis, Christine, Take Me Home: Notes on the Church Year for Children (Liturgy Traning Publications, 1991).
Larose, Paul F., Working with Children and the Liturgy (Alba House, 1981).
Marrocco, Nancy, Homemade Christians: A Guide for Parents of Young Children (Ottawa, ON: Novalis, 1995).
Ng, David and Virginia Thomas, Children in the Worshiping Community (John Knox Press, 1981).
Ramshaw, Gail, 1, 2, 3, Church (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg, 1996).
Wezeman, Phyllis Vos, 100 Creative Teaching Techniques for Religion Teachers (Twenty-Third Publications, 2001).
__________ Touch the Water: 30 Children's Sermons on Baptism (Pilgrim Press, 2003).
__________ Taste the Bread: 30 Children's Sermons on Communion (Pilgrim Press, 2003).