Formation Resources
Included below are some of our favorite resources for Christian Formation. These will be updated from time to time, so check back often!
Click here if you have a resource suggestion, or email [email protected]!
Quicklinks to Resource Categories:
Women Worth Knowing Lenten Series - The Episcopal Women's History Project
Resource type: Zoom Sessions, Online
The Episcopal Women's History Project presents a new series for the season of Lent in 2021! The group will give their presentation on Zoom, telling the stories of six women who have had an impact on the Episcopal Church. The Zoom calls will take place on the following Thursdays: 2/18, 2/25, 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, and 3/25. To register in advance for this experience, click here!
Come, Pray: The Prayer I Need This Day - SSJE Brothers
Resource type: Video Series, Live-stream, Online
This Lenten series is centered on a weekly 20-minute video and invites participants to explore and experience diverse prayer practices alongside the Brothers through joining live-streamed worship, special services, and online teachings. The series premiers on February 14th and will be updated each following Sunday during the season of Lent.
Journey to the Cross: Lenten Season Devotionals
Resource type: Devotionals, Daily, Online
Journey to the Cross, the devotional series for Lent, returns to d365.org, beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 17th. This series features scripture, prayer, and meditative thoughts accompanied by gentle music.
Church at Home - The Bible Project
Resource type: Curriculum, Video Series, Online
A free resource designed for youth and families to help in these unprecedented times to continue to engage in Scripture with engaging multimedia Bible studies. Easy to understand, and very informational.
The Bible Study: Youth Edition - Zach Windahl
Resource type: Curriculum, Bible Study, In-person
A 90-day bible study that engages youth in scripture, and focuses on how each book of the Bible relates to their lives.
Faith in An Anxious World - Fuller Youth Institute
Resource type: Curriculum, Discussion Group, In-person
This 4-week curriculum is designed to help open channels of communication between young people and their peers, their parents, and the church about mental health. It integrates anxiety into conversations about discipleship and holistic, faithful living.
Books of the Bible - The Bible Project
Resource type: Curriculum, Video Series, Online
Free animated videos that explore the books and themes of the Bible. Accessible and easy to understand.
Confirm not Conform
Resource type: Curriculum, Confirmation
Confirm not Conform provides a safe place for confirmands to explore the breadth of the Christian tradition, to ask questions and express their doubts, and to discover what they truly believe.
The Self-Compassion Workbook for Teens - Karen Bluth
Resource type: Book, Mental Health, Mindfulness
The Self-Compassion Workbook for Teens offers valuable tools based in mindfulness and self-compassion to help you overcome self-judgment and self-criticism, cultivate compassion toward yourself and others, and embrace who you really are.
Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults) - Bryan Stevenson
Resource type: Book, Racial Justice
In this work, adapted from the New York Times #1 Bestseller, Stevenson's story is one of working to protect basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society--the poor, the wrongly convicted, and those whose lives have been marked by discrimination and marginalization. Through this adaptation, young people of today will find themselves called to action and compassion in the pursuit of justice.
Grace In the Midst of Trial - The SSJE Brothers
Resource type: Article Compilation, Online
During this challenging time, the Brothers share from their own traditions, resources, and practices for living well which have been sources of grace to them.
Seabury Resources for Aging
Resource type: Older Adult care, Online or In-person
Seabury Resources for Aging is a non-profit organization that serves the greater Washington D.C. Area. Their mission is to provide personalized, affordable services and housing options to help older adults live with independence and dignity.
The Path Ahead: Spirituality and Purpose Later in Life
Resource type: Video Presentation, Online
View this presentation on the spirituality of aging by Elizabeth Boyd and Rev. Susan Walker at Province III's Synod and Council meeting in October 2020.
Sacred Ground Film Based Dialogue - The Episcopal Church
Resource type: Curriculum, Video Series, Online
A film and readings based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Part of the Episcopal Church's long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice. Can be done individually or in a church study group.
Sustaining Earth, Our Island Home - The Episcopal Church
Resource type: Personal Development, Program, Online
This Carbon Tracker is a web-based application that helps individuals, households, congregations and even dioceses to measure carbon footprints and take steps to shrink it to fit a sustainable life.
Love is the Way - Bishop Michael Curry
Resource type: Book
This book will lead readers to discover the gifts they need in order to live the way of love: deep reservoirs of hope and resilience, simple wisdom, the discipline of nonviolence, and unshakable regard for human dignity.
The Space Between Us - Sarah Bauer Anderson
Resource type: Book
A timely and necessary book; shows that following Jesus is our best hope for navigating the most complex issues in culture. For those who are looking to build a bridge with the people politics and religion has isolated them from, and for those who won't settle for the growing space between us and who believe there's a better way.
Dream Big - Bob Goff
Resource type: Book
A life-proven journey to rediscover your dreams and turn them into reality. Bob Goff draws on a lifetime of living and dreaming large to help you reach your larger-than-life dreams.
Ready to Rise - Jo Saxton
Resource type: Book
Ready to Rise tackles the real life issues women face — workplace harassment, sexism, low self esteem, financial woes, power battles, and old wounds — while providing meaningful wisdom from Jo’s own journey to leadership.
How to be an Anti-Racist - Ibram X. Kendi
Resource type: Book
In the New York Times Bestseller, How to Be an Antiracist, Kendi takes readers through a widening circle of antiracist ideas—from the most basic concepts to visionary possibilities—that will help readers see all forms of racism clearly, understand their poisonous consequences, and work to oppose them in our systems and in ourselves.
Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope - Jasmine Holmes
Resource type: Book
In Mother to Son, Jasmine Holmes shares a series of powerful letters to her young son. These are about her journey as an African American Christian and what she wants her son to know as he grows and approaches the world as a black man. She invites us to read over her shoulder as she reminds Wynn that his identity is firmly planted in the person and work of Jesus Christ, even when the topic is one as emotionally charged as race in America.
Purpose Driven Youth Ministry - Doug Fields
Resource type: Book
An indispensable guide to creating and maintaining youth ministry for the long run. It will help to create a solid spiritual team that builds the foundations of the Christian faith into the hearts and lives of young people.
Free Range Worship
Resource type: Prayer Stations, Online/In-person
Free Range Worship, with curator Lilly Lewin, has tons of great resources for creative worship and prayer for people of all ages for in-person and digital online gatherings. Great for family ministries, youth groups, churches, camps, retreats, and Christian Schools.
Sustainable Youth Ministry - Mark DeVries
Resource type: Book
Based on his own experience and on his many conversations and interviews with churches in crisis, DeVries pinpoints problems that cause division and burnout in youth ministries and dispels strongly held myths. He then provides the practical tools and structures pastors and church leaders need to lay a strong foundation for youth ministry.
When Relationships Matter - Reggie Joiner, Tom Shefchunas, Kristen Ivy
Resource type: Book
With the best practices, training tips, and real-life stories from ministry leaders across the country—this resource will help ministers to create an effective small group culture in your church.
Growing Young Video Series - Fuller Youth Institute
Resource type: Curriculum, Video Series, Online
In this 9-episode series, Growing Young authors Kara Powell, Jake Mulder, and Brad Griffin offer proven research and stories from churches nationwide as they guide youth leaders to think about how each core commitment can transform a church in its unique context.
It's Personal - Virginia Ward, Reggie Joiner, and Kristen Ivy
Resource type: Book
In "It's Personal," the authors provide ways to disciple young people in a way that is relational. They suggest five major strategies related to identity, worth, empathy, love and belief.
Sticky Faith - Kara Powell and Chap Clark
Resource type: Book
Describes a powerful strategy to show ministry leaders how to actively encourage their young people’s spiritual growth so that it will stick with them into adulthood and empower them to develop a living, lasting faith.
When I Pray for You - Matthew Turner
Resource type: Book
When I Pray for You celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children, and shares with children how much care and concern a loved one feels for them.
Breathe and Be - Kate Coombs
Resource type: Book
These simple poems in Breathe and Be help children learn mindfulness as they connect to the beauty of the natural world.
God's Dream - Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Douglas Carlton Abrams
Resource type: Book
Focused on a wish that everyone will see they are brothers and sisters, no matter their way of speaking to God or the shade of their skin. Encourages children to be compassionate, kind, and to forgive others, and includes colorful illustrations. Geared towards children aged 2-8.
Godly Play
Resource type: Curriculum, In-person
The Godly Play approach helps children to explore their faith through story, to gain religious language and to enhance their spiritual experience though wonder and play.
The Hopeful Family - Amelia Richardson Dress
Resource type: Book
The Hopeful Family is a guidebook for parents who are building a life of meaning and hope even in a time of unease. Readers will be reminded of the hope that is part of the Christian story and find both inspiration and evidence to step more fully into a framework of abundance and optimism.
Faith in an Anxious World - Parent Podcast - Fuller Youth Institute
Resource type: Podcast, Online
Tune in to gain tools and tips to have new conversations with your teenager about anxiety and healthy living.
The Gift of Failure - Jessica Lahey
Resource type: Book
Focuses on the critical school years when parents must learn to allow their children to experience the disappointment and frustration that occur from life’s inevitable problems so that they can grow up to be successful, resilient, and self-reliant adults.
The Pandemic Population - Tim Elmore
Resource type: Book
Identifies eight strategies to help Generation Z rediscover hope after coronavirus. A timely treatment on how to lead youth in a crisis.
Websites with Additional Resources
Grow Christians - https://www.growchristians.org/
Parent Cue - https://theparentcue.org/
Building Faith - https://buildfaith.org/
Illustrated Ministry - https://www.illustratedministry.com/
Download Youth Ministries - https://www.downloadyouthministry.com
Forward Movement - https://www.forwardmovement.org/
Teaching Cultural Compassion - https://www.teachingculturalcompassion.com
Church Publishing - https://www.churchpublishing.org
Way of Love Resources - https://www.episcopalchurch.org/way-of-love/
Creation Care Resources - https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/creatio...
These are just a few favorites! Search our full list of resources here.
