Faith Alive Christian Resources, the publishing arm of the Christian Reformed Church and publishing partner of the Reformed Church in America, has developed two new curricula: Dwell is for students from kindergarten through eighth grade, while WE is an intergenerational curriculum for entire congregations.
Dwell is designed to create a break from the fast-paced culture in which we live.
“It is more quiet and reflective,” said Rev. Leonard Vander Zee, editor in chief for Faith Alive. “It focuses on the biblical story and how the children can really interact with the story and make it theirs.”
And, like all curricula produced by Faith Alive, it is distinctly Reformed.
It’s very much centered on the Bible and upon God as the main actor in the Bible, said Vander Zee, rather than on the Bible stories as simply lessons about how human beings should act.
With growing interest from churches in programs that involve whole congregations, Faith Alive has also created WE.
WE is an event-based program meant to be used with intergenerational groups. Each monthly event begins with a meal, with people of different generations sitting together. After a shared story, people at the table talk and do activities or crafts with one another, then rejoin the larger group.
“Young people need to hear faith stories, to hear older people talk about what faith means to them,” said Vander Zee.
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Melissa Holtrop
