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Program Resources

  • Lights Symbols And Angels

    $12.95

    Lights, Symbols And Angels is a compilation of related worship resources that will enhance the Advent/Christmas worship life of any congregation, large or small.

    O Come, Blessed Light Of The World! is ideal for raising awareness of the Advent season for families. Those using the material will learn about the Advent candles, read God’s Word for the day, and have a challenge of action each week. Devotions include a reading, reflection, and prayer.

    Celebrating The Advent Wreath is a special Advent service which can be used for mid-week or women’s programs. Reflections on each candle will help participants learn more about the Advent wreath.

    Christmas Symbols And Songs is a program which blends sharing the meaning of traditional Christmas symbols with the singing of a variety of carols. It’s excellent for a fellowship potluck, women’s tea or program, mid-week worship service, or an intergenerational event.

    Angels Inspire Our Worship is an order of worship with a skit that’s ideal for a youth program. The skit, Hark! It’s Harold And The Angel Band, dramatizes an imaginary encounter between Gabe (the archangel Gabriel disguised as a stock boy), Mr. Grumpy and Mr. Grumpier (old men shopping at Heaven’s Grocery Store), and an angel band led by Harold.

    Angels In The Outfield is a resource for a Sunday worship experience, mid-week service, or special Advent program. The worship is designed around the ministry of angels, using a baseball theme with appropriate hymns featuring angels.

    A Christmas Celebration is a communion/candlelight service for Christmas Eve with readings, litanies, and carols.

    A prolific and enthusiastic writer of worship resources, Cynthia E. Cowen has been an established writer with CSS Publishing Company since 1991. She received a B.A. degree in education from Northern Michigan University and is a graduate of the Northern Great Lakes Synod Lay School for Mission. Cowen has served as a licensed lay minister in the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the ELCA at Calvary Lutheran Church, Quinnesec, Michigan, and is currently a rostered Associate in Ministry in Youth And Family at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Iron Mountain, Michigan. She was elected to the Executive Board of the Church Wide Women’s Organization of the Women of the ELCA in 1996, and served on its Printed Resources committee.

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  • Special Days And Seasons Of The Christian Year

    $6.99

    This resource offers a concise survey of the special days and seasons of the Christian year. In addition to a brief explanation of the lectionary, it also includes the key symbols, customs, Scriptures, and hymns most associated with each season.

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  • Creative Bible Lessons From The Old Testament

    $22.99

    Okay, so they used mule mail instead of e-mail — but they were still surprisingly modern men and women. With emotions, decisions, and dilemmas as raw and real as the students sitting in front of you every week. David and Rahab, Daniel and Ruth–even with their rough edges, they passionately loved Jehovah in a way today’s adolescents can understand and emulate. Here are 12 Old Testament character studies, including– Believe it or not -Abraham: Living by faith is not for wimps – Faith overcomes a fast past -Rahab: What you live is what you believe. Everything else is just talk. – The waiting game -Joseph: Trials and temptations can make us strong. – Benchwarmer to first string -Moses : Often God uses the least likely person to do great things. – Right woman, right place, right time -Esther : God has created each one of us for a purpose. – Keeping promises -Ruth: Commitment means more than saying the right words. – Bad days for good people -Job: Suffering may be the condition from which humans benefit the most. – The long way home -Jonah: Sometimes we simply say no to God. — And to help you teach the lesson are clips from easy-to-get videos . . . games for mixing and games that teach . . . in-depth, ready-to-use questions guaranteed to spark small-group discussion . . . original role plays, scripts, dilemmas faced by these ancient but very human believers in their Yahweh. For youth workers, Sunday school teachers, and CE directors, Creative Bible Lessons from the Old Testament will help your students understand that the God who offered hope and courage to ancient history-makers still does the same for teenagers today.

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  • Christmas Classic Celebration

    $7.95

    A Christmas Classic Celebration is a unique candlelight service that incorporates scenes of Christmas that are all around us. Popular Christmas songs such as “Silver Bells:” “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?” are combined with the traditional Christmas hymns.

    Six brief meditations are spaced throughout the service and are given in the place of a sermon.

    Easy to present, this service requires no rehearsals or props, yet involves the entire congregation in singing the familiar songs of Christmas while moving from the Annunciation to the joy of Jesus’ birth.

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  • Men Mentoring Men

    $32.95

    And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “… Go therefore and make disciples …”

    Men Mentoring Men is a resource designed to assist Christian men to fulfill Christ’s commission. The contents are not merely information. It is an action-oriented guide which requires relationship and mutual accountability. Each session will challenge men to share their victories and their struggles … to maintain a weekly journal as well as being committed to regular Bible reading.

    This resource guide deals with foundational Christian principles and practice: how to pray … study the Bible … be led by the Holy Spirit … how to share one’s faith. Men will learn about responsibility for marriage, parenting, finances, sexual issues and more.

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  • Choir Members Companion

    $5.99

    The Choir Member’sCompanion is designed for use by individual choir members in a local church adult choir. The book is intended for purchase by the choir director to be given to choir members as gifts or as a way for choir members to better understand musical symbols, terminology, and symbols used in choral music. The Choir Member’sCompanion is designed for use by individual choir members in a local church adult choir. The book is intended for purchase by the choir director to be given to choir members as gifts or as a way for choir members to better understand musical symbols, terminology, and symbols used in choral music. CONTENTS: 1. Introduction to Choir Membership 2. Basic Music Reading Skills 3. Musical Road Map 4. Basic Vocal Techniques 5. Sight-reading New Music 6. How to Mark Your Music 7. Preparation for Worship 8. Preparation for Other Performances 9. Glossary of Musical Terms and Symbols

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  • Crowd Breakers And Mixers

    $24.99

    1. Gags & Skits
    2. Mixers
    3. Meeting-Opening Contests
    4. Musical Crown Breakers
    5. Quizzes & Word Games
    6. Stunts
    7. Whole-Group Participation
    121 Pages

    Additional Info
    Welcome to the Ideas Library From Youth Specialites!
    So what’s the Ideas Library? Simply the most complete collection of practical youth ministry programming ideas on this planet. The ideas books set the pace for 20th-century youth ministry. And now they’re updated for 21st century youth groups-reorganized from the inside out for busy youth workers who need the perfect idea, and need it now.

    * Games
    * Games 2
    * Creative Meetings, Bible Lessons, & Worship Ideas
    * Holiday Ideas
    * Crowd Breakers & Mixers
    * Discussion & Lesson Starters
    * Discussion & Lesson Starters 2
    * Administration, Publicity, & Fundraising
    * Drama, Skits, & Sketches
    * Special Events
    * Camps, Retreats, Missions, & Service Ideas

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  • Special Events

    $24.99

    1. Games And Sports Events
    2. Scavenger Hunts
    3. Treasure Hunts
    4. Other Hunts
    5. Theme Events
    6. Food Events
    7. Special Events With A Point
    8. Outings & Overnighters
    9. Races & Rallies
    10. Other Parties & Special Events

    207 Pages

    Additional Info
    More than 400 creative events for community building, outreach, and fun!

    * FOOD EVENTS: If there’s one thing kids know and appreciate, it’s food. Here’s everything from elegant feasts to slobfests galore.
    * GAMES AND SPORTS EVENTS: You don’t have to be a jock to have fun playing these sporting events.
    * OUTINGS AND OVERNIGHTERS: If you’re crazed enough to take a group of adolescents on the road-whether across town or across the state-here are plenty of trip ideas.
    * RACES AND RALLIES: Your group have a need for speed? Whether it’s cars, bikes, buses, or toilets-if it can be raced, you’ll find an idea for it here.
    * SPECIAL EVENTS WITH A PURPOSE: More than fun. These events carry significant spiritual, moral, or community value.

    And more-hunts and parties and theme events of all kinds!

    Whether you’re a youth worker or recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp-SPECIAL EVENTS is your storehouse of proven, youth-group tested ideas.

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  • Holiday Ideas

    $24.99

    Over 200 festive ideas for cranking up celebrations for every holiday imaginable! – Christmas . . . Here’s your one-stop Christmas programming center. You’ll find everything you need for the merriest Advent and Christmas season ever — goofy games, crazy carols, outrageous outings, and silly skits to fill even the biggest Christmas stocking. And, of course, Christmasy meetings and lessons to help your kids focus on the real reason for the season. – Easter & Lent . . . Worship activities, reenactments, Bible lessons, meeting plans, and service projects, all designed to commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Plus games, puzzles, craft projects, and scavenger hunt ideas — all tied to an Easter theme. – Valentine’s Day . . . Play a memorable February 14th with these icebreakers, games, songs, activities, and Bible lessons — all about love, whether human or divine. – Thanksgiving . . . Wait until you see the potful of ideas that youth workers from Cape Cod to all points west have cooked up for you — Thanksgiving craft projects, skits, outings, parties, service projects, and Bible lessons. Plus More . . . All kinds of party and meeting ideas for St. Patrick’s Day, New Year’s, Halloween, Super Bowl Sunday, April Fool’s Day, Mother’s and Father’s Day celebrations, and graduation. Whether you’re a youth worker or a recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp — Holiday Ideas is your storehouse of proven, youth-group tested ideas.

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  • Discussion And Lesson Starters 2

    $24.99

    Nearly 150 more riveting, attention-getting openers that will pull your kids into animated discussion!
    *A PRIMER ON LEADING DISCUSSION-Starting a discussion, and keeping it going…the importance of confidentiality…asking questions that get responses…and working with different personalities.
    *35 CREATIVE WAYS TO START A DISCUSSION OR LESSON ON ANY TOPIC-Techniques general enough to fit just about any subject, but still quirky enough to attract adolescent attention.
    *DISCUSSION & LESSON STARTERS, BY TOPIC-What subject are you teaching this week? First, look up your subject-advertising ethics, atheism, the Bible, church, death and dying, discipleship, evangelism, priorities, spiritual gifts, television…or 30 more topics, all arranged alphabetically. Then choose the opener that fits your purposes and your group.

    In fact, many of these are virtually complete lessons in themselves, with questions, activities, parables, object lessons-all designed to draw opinions, thoughts, and feelings from your students.

    Whether you’re a youth worker or recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp-Discussion & Lesson Starters 2 is your storehouse of proven, youth group tested ideas.

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  • Games 2

    $24.99

    166 Pages In 11 Sections

    Additional Info
    So what’s the Ideas Library? Simply the most complete collection of practical youth ministry programming ideas on this planet. The Ideas books set the pace for 20th – century youth ministry. And now they’re updated for 21st century youth groups – reorganized from the inside out for busy youth workers who need the perfect idea, and need it now.

    Whether you’re a youth worker or recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp – GAMES 2 is brimming with notoriously wild, creative, and youth-group tested games!

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  • Discussion And Lesson Starters

    $24.99

    Contents

    159 Pages In 4 Parts

    Additional Info
    More than 200 proven openers, questions, and activities that get students involved in your lessons!

    *A Primer On Leading Discussions-starting a discussion, and keeping it going…the importance of confidentiality…asking questions that get responses…and working with different personalities.
    *35 creative ways to start a discussion or lesson on any topic—techniques general enough to fit just about any subject, but still quirky enough to attract adolescent attention.
    *Discussion & lesson starters, by topic-what subject are you teaching this week? First, look up your subject-apologetics, attitude, dating, disabilities, family, the will of God…and more than 30 topics, all arranged alphabetically. Then choose the opener that fits your purposes and your group.

    In fact many of these openers are virtually complete lessons in themselves, with questions, activities, parables, object lesson-all designed to draw opinions, thoughts, and feelings from your students.

    Whether you’re a youth worker or recreation director in a church, school, club, or camp—Discussion & Lesson Starters is your storehouse of proven, youth group tested ideas.

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  • These Are The Candles

    $7.95

    Here is a resource that will dramatize the lighting of the Advent candles during your worship service. The lighting of each candle is proceeded by a statement, which the author suggests may be read from offstage.

    The series of statements reveal the significance of the traditional Advent characters: the angel, the shepherds, the wisemen, Mary and the Christ child.

    This simple but dramatic resource provides an explanation of the deeper meaning of the events preceding Jesus’ birth, as they spell out the relationship of these individuals to Christ, the Light of the World.

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  • Stories For The Gathering

    $13.99

    For groups large and small, this new collection of stories gathered by William R. White will captre the imagination of listeners of all ages. The author provides pastors and other Christian storytellers with more than fifty contemporary and traditional stories arranged under the four themes: Christmas and Other Festivalx, Lent and Easter, Faith/Hope/and Promise, and Wisdom and Foolishness.

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  • Devotions For Choirs

    $14.99

    These brief, easy-to-use devotions are ideal for use during choir rehearsal or before a choir program. Each devotion includes Scripture, devotional reflection, and a prayer

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  • Advent Christmas Resources For Young And Old

    $12.95

    These resources were carefully selected from almost 100 manuscripts submitted. They were chosen for their creativity and content, but also for their adaptability to churches of any size. None of them require complicated props or settings, nor do any require lengthy rehearsals.

    This collection of resources will enliven the worship of any church, involving members young and old in the presentation.

    -A Christmas Play: Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room
    -A Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service
    -A Christmas Program For Children (Or Entire Congregation)
    -An Old Fashioned Christmas Pageant
    -Two Worship Services For The Christmas Season
    -A Worship Service And Choral Reading For Christmas
    -A Christmas Play: Mary After The Angel

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  • Its A Matter Of Faith And Life 3

    $21.95

    This book, one of a three-part series, is a narrative reflection on Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Its uses are many:
    A companion guide for catechism classes.
    A manual for new adult member classes.
    A preaching resource.
    Inspirational reading for those who want to know more about the faith-life of a Christian.

    The book began as a video series broadcast on the Michigan City, Indiana, cable system. The series was also used in the catechetical instruction of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Michigan City, where Dr. Albertin is pastor.

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  • Its A Matter Of Faith And Life 2

    $29.95

    This book, one of a three-part series, is a narrative reflection on Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Its uses are many:
    A companion guide for catechism classes.
    A manual for new adult member classes.
    A preaching resource.
    Inspirational reading for those who want to know more about the faith-life of a Christian.

    The book began as a video series broadcast on the Michigan City, Indiana, cable system. The series was also used in the catechetical instruction of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Michigan City, where Dr. Albertin is pastor.

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  • Its A Matter Of Faith And Life 1

    $23.95

    This book, one of a three-part series, is a narrative reflection on Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. Its uses are many:
    A companion guide for catechism classes.
    A manual for new adult member classes.
    A preaching resource.
    Inspirational reading for those who want to know more about the faith-life of a Christian.

    The book began as a video series broadcast on the Michigan City, Indiana, cable system. The series was also used in the catechetical instruction of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Michigan City, where Dr. Albertin is a pastor.

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  • Help Im A Sunday School Teacher

    $15.00

    SKU (ISBN): 9781571532015ISBN10: 1571532013Mary DuckertBinding: Trade PaperPublished: July 1996Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press Print On Demand Product

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  • Creative Bible Lessons In Romans

    $16.99

    Think of it as a lean, mean Bible doctrine course–without the lecture. But with lots of options, videos, music, and drama. And small group work. And reproducible, interactive worksheets with eye-catching designs and soul-searching content. (Like, what else do you expect from St. Paul when he sits down to write the meatiest book of doctrine in the Bible?) in the 12 clear, complete sessions of Creative Bible Lessons in Romans. Author Chap Clark guides kids (and you) through the Big Ideas in this first-century letter to Christians trying their darndest to live godly lives in an ungodly culture. (Sound familiar?) From the not-so-savory picture the apostle paints of humankind in the opening chapters. . .through his celebration of grace and acceptance in midbook. . .to his tightly reasoned argument that love should fuel a Christian’s decisions and relationships–here are topics made to order for teenagers living at the turn of the 21st century. Teach your way through Romans with these read-to-go sessions. Or scavenge whatever you want of the creative scripts, handouts, and other options to customize lessons of your own. Any way you use it, Creative Bible Lessons in Romans is your no-doze ticket to solid Bible doctrine.

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  • Creative Bible Lessons In John

    $22.99

    1. Jesus Encounters Nathanial (John 1:43-51) Dealing With Doubt
    2. Jesus Encounters The Money Changers (John 2:13-25) Respecting God
    3. Jesus Encounters Nicodemus (John 3:1-36) Receiving New Life In Christ
    4. Jesus Encounters A Nobleman’s Son And A Crippled Man (John 4:43-5.18) Coping With Crisis
    5. Jesus Encounters The Crowd (John 6:46-60) Accepting God’s Incredible Gift
    6. Jesus Encounters A Blind Man (John 9:1-41) Accepting God’s Love
    7. Jesus Encounters Mary And Martha (John 10:40-11.46) Facing Death
    8. Jesus Encounters Mary And Judas (John 11:57-12.11) Making Wise “Investments”
    9. Jesus Encounters Peter (John 13:36-38; 15:18-16.4; 18:12-27) Handling Opposition
    10. Jesus Encounters His Disciples #1 (John 15:5-17) Producing Fruit In Our Lives
    11. Jesus Encounters His Disciples #2 (John 14:15-27; 16:5-16) Recognizing The Holy Spirit
    12. Jesus Encounters Mary Magdalene (John 19:23-25; 20:1-3,10-18) Believing The Impossible

    99 Pages

    Additional Info
    Do you want to teach solid Biblical Truth to your kids without their eyes glazing over as soon as you say “open your Bible”? Now you can, with Creative Bible Lessons in John: Encounters with Jesus.

    Following in the successful path of Youth Specialties’ instant bestseller Creative Bible Lessons on the Life of Christ by Doug Fields, veteran family life and youth workers Janice and Jay Ashcraft have created 12 lively, ready-to-use lessons that actually make it fun to dig into Scripture. The Ashcrafts utilize creative learning techniques to spark your kids’ interest and keep them actively involved in lesson, including:
    *Learning Games
    *Discussions
    *Video and Music
    *Skits, Melodrama, and Roleplays
    *”Digging Deeper” Investigations
    *Interactive Worksheets
    *And much more!

    These lessons are clear, easy-to-use, and complete. You’ll be able to build in-depth, creative Bible teaching into your busy schedule with Creative Bible Lessons in John: Encounters with Jesus.

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  • Visions Of Lent Year 3

    $12.95

    A new and unusual service for Lent…!

    At the beginning of Lent each family in the congregation is invited to lend a plant from home (silk or live), following a Jewish Shavuot custom. The following Sundays in Lent build on this focal point as an object is added each week. Two readers participate in a dialogue explaining the symbol for that day. A child brings the symbol forward and holds it during the dialogue. In this way several families are able to participate.

    Visions of Lent Year 3 also includes:
    * Sample bulletin insert prior to Lent
    * Example of plant reminder that can be used in bulletin
    * Sample Torah for bulletin inserts
    * A suggested worship service for Palm/Passion Sunday

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  • Last Covenant

    $7.95

    These two dramatic choral readings will place a permanent imprint on the conscience of all who speak and hear them. They won’t be heard as much as they will be felt. The pain and the anguish, the emptiness and hatred of that Friday long ago will fill the senses with such powerful rage that anyone in attendance will be transformed from passive bystanders to active participants in the quest for life as the glorious news of the risen Christ is known on Sunday.

    Both choral readings involve five voices, which may be chosen from the congregation or can be performed as a choir litany. The combination of these voices will convey the strong emotions and images of the drama of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Both can be substituted for the sermon. No costumes or props are required.

    With an order of worship, Easter Day’s reading includes congregational singing of nine hymns with the choral reading. The Last Covenant is a wonderfully effective way to involve the entire congregation in “”The Greatest Story Ever Told.””

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  • How Does Your Choir Grow

    $14.99

    HOW DOES YOUR CHOIR GROW? by David F. Donathan Once a church musician has the basics under control, attention often turns toward the next step. “How Does Your Choir Grow?” covers all the bases with special attention to recruiting and maintaining choir members–a key task of every choir director. Shows how to recruit, organize, maintain, publicize choir, and have fun, fellowship, and spiritual growth.

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  • Leading Adult Learners

    $20.99

    A handbook for adult Sunday school classes, this book includes reproducible handouts as well as guidelines and training helps.

    Leading Adult Learners offers practical help in determining what topics to study and the best teaching styles for particular age groups. It includes information about publicity and teacher and leader training, and also numerous survey questionnaires to help determine class format and study preferences. Guidelines/responsibilities for class officers are also provided.

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  • Peace : Christian Living In A Violent World

    $6.99

    Discover the potential for peacemaking and peace in each day’s events and especially in the ways you touch one another’s lives. These are troubled times and violent times. Experience the power of God’s gift of peace as you probe ways to solve differences and pursue justice with faith and courage in daily life. Six lessons.

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  • Faith : Confidence And Doubt In Daily Life

    $6.99

    What does Christian faith have to do with our ordinary day-to-day life? This question is presented in personal ways for you and your small group. Explore faith in life-cycle experiences–moods and situations, joy and discouragement, confidence and doubt.

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  • Death And Grief

    $6.99

    Those who grieve can bring themselves, their stories, their anger, and their bewilderment to a small understanding group.

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  • Starting Small Groups And Keeping Them Going

    $19.99

    Starting Small Groups – and keeping Them Going offers step-by-step guidelines for churchs just starting small groups, as well as helpful ideas for supporting existing small groups.

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  • Visions Of Lent Year 2

    $7.95

    Visions of Lent Year 2 — Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles) offers congregations a weekly presentation to be included in the regular Lenten worship service. This follow-up to Volume 1 (which concentrated on the Feast of Passover) focuses on the Palm Sunday story and six elements within that story that were significant parts of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. The festival is rooted in Leviticus 23:33f, where God commanded Moses to declare the festival to the people of Israel as a reminder of the temporary shelters they lived in when He delivered them out of Egypt.

    Preparation for this worship series is very simple. Lent I begins with a plain, “symbolic” booth which is placed somewhere within the sanctuary. For the next five weeks objects are gradually added inside the booth.

    Objects include:
    Lent 2 — citron (or other citrus fruit) in an attractive yet simple container
    Lent 3 — musical instruments (flute, cymbal, lyre, harps, trumpets, etc.)
    Lent 4 — donkey figure or picture
    Lent 5 — a large crown
    Lent 6 (Palm Sunday) — palm branches

    Each presentation involves four participants including: minister, a youth and two other readers. Parts are brief and need not be memorized.

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  • Who Me Do A Program 1

    $17.95

    The title of this book is a cry often heard by leaders of organizations. This resource is a response to that cry. Designed to be a 12-month guide, there are programs for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Halloween, the Christmas season, Lent and more.
    The programs are designed for easy implementation at women’s meetings, youth gatherings and congregational events. Leader’s helps are provided to indicate what props, songs and readers are needed. This collection of 15 programs is reflective, at times humorous, and includes skits, meditations and other suggestions to fit particular seasons.

    Programs for various months include:
    * February — A Heart Filled With Love
    * March — From Slavery To Sainthood
    * May — A Humorous Look At Some Hopeful Women
    * July — God’s Picnic Basket
    * August — The Armor Of God
    * October — In Pursuit Of The Right Spirit
    * November — The Exodus Murmurs
    * … and eight more

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  • I Come Away Stronger A Print On Demand Title

    $39.99

    Millions of Americans are joining small groups. Among the religious, prayer fellowships, accountability groups, house churches, Bible-study groups, and covenant groups are being touted as the wave of the future. But are small groups delivering what they promise? Are members really finding the support, encouragement, and deepening spirituality they seek? Or are the answers ambiguous?

    I Come Away Stronger, the complement to Robert Wuthnow’s Sharing the Journey, presents fourteen case studies of small groups – from a women’s Bible study, to a peace fellowship, to a group for senior citizens. What small groups are like nationally and how their members understand spirituality can be gauged from the results of a national survey presented in the appendix.

    This survey is given life and flesh in the extended portraits of each of the groups. These portraits are powerful and highly personal because they tell the stories, both collective and personal, of each group, revealing agreement and dissension, closeness and alienation, growth and stagnation. The result is an intimate inside look at the dynamics of small groups.

    In a concluding chapter, Wuthnow places the small group movement in the changing context of American religion and society, showing why is has emerged and where it is headed, raising crucial questions that religious leaders and group members need to ponder as the movement continues to grow.

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  • Listening Hearts : Retreat Designs And Meditation Exercises

    $17.95

    SKU (ISBN): 9780819216212ISBN10: 0819216216Suzanne Farnham | R. Taylor McLeanBinding: Trade PaperPublished: August 1994Listening HeartsPublisher: Morehouse Publishing Print On Demand Product

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  • Choral Therapy : Techniques And Exercises For The Church Choir

    $14.99

    “From the Publisher:” Many choir directors are not formally trained in all disciplines needed to direct a music program. “Choral Therapy” addresses an area that intimidates many directors: vocal training and how to increase the ability of the choir.

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  • Old Wine In New Skins 1

    $16.95

    “Worship must be directly connected to our daily lives,” writes George A. Nye. “It must address our fears, our hopes, even our indifferences.”

    Old Wine In New Skins provides pastors many resources to make the connection. These include 66 calls to worship, 13 preparations for pastoral prayers and 52 reflections.

    Calls to worship categories include:
    With praise and celebration
    Using traditional hymns and praise hymns
    Relating to a story
    With a commitment theme
    Involving personal preparation
    By season

    A preparation for pastoral prayer section helps pastors broaden a congregation’s understanding of how to approach God in prayer. Thirteen “preparations” are provided, including one for Advent-Christmas.

    Fifty-two short reflections cover eight major themes for countless pastoral uses. These are easily adopted for mini-devotions, sermon illustrations, and newsletter meditations.

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  • Restore Me

    $12.95

    Restore Me includes a large collection of Lent and Easter season worship resources created to draw congregations into closer relationship with God.

    Specific chapters for both Lent and Easter include:
    Calls to worship
    Common prayers
    Prayers of dedication
    Benedictions
    Prayers of confession and pardon
    Gospel dialogues

    “These resources grew out of my continued interest in the whole use of scripture in weekly worship,” Craig M. Sweet writes. “The dialogue use of scripture adds an extra dimension to the ‘dramaturgical’ experience of worship.”

    In the gospel dialogue section are scripture readings based upon various lectionary texts. Dialogues are offered for Ash Wednesday, the Sundays of Lent, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter.

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  • Promise Kept At Christmas

    $7.95

    We approach the worship of God this evening with a hushed awareness of Christ’s presence in our midst. God again breaks through the calm and darkness to reveal himself to us in the stillness of our hearts. (From the order of worship)

    Light and darkness is a powerful biblical metaphor to talk about God’s compelling activity in the world. This Christmas Eve resource focuses on this metaphor.

    A Promise Kept At Christmas offers congregations a complete order of service with suggested carols, lighting of Advent candles and scripture readings from the Old and New Testaments using a narrator and lay readers.

    Scriptures are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.

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  • Upbeat Downbeat

    $14.99

    Music direction is a multifacted craft. And no skill is more important than the actual physical skills involved in acting as conductor during the rehearsal and performance. Sandra Willetts explains what is involved, including basic conducting patterns and techniques.

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  • Teaching The Bible To Adults And Youth (Revised)

    $20.99

    Teaching the Bible to Adults and Youth shows how to make the “transparent” – with God evident throughout. Dick Murray offers suggestions for teaching, provides different approaches and perspectives from which to teach and conduct activities for learning, and examines such Bible study series as Kerygma, Trinity, Bethel, and Disciple.

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  • Complete Training Course For Altar Guilds

    $36.95

    SKU (ISBN): 9780819215932ISBN10: 0819215937Don TaylorBinding: Trade PaperPublished: February 1993Publisher: Morehouse Publishing Print On Demand Product

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  • Symbols Of Sacrifice Year 3

    $7.95

    The sacrificial life of Christ is a major focus of Lent. Symbols Of Sacrifice provides the congregations with opportunities to create visual worship aids representing Christ’s life during worship.

    Each weekly presentation builds a growing reminder of Christ’s sacrifice for the congregation.

    This series offers a list of symbols and explanation of the symbols. These are provided for the Sundays of Lent and Easter Sunday.

    Symbols are:
    Sandals
    A globe of the world
    Money
    A lantern
    A grain of wheat
    A cloak
    A white robe

    This is one book in a three-part series of Symbols Of Sacrifices. Other books in this series are Year 1 and Year 2.

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  • Litanies And Other Prayers For The Revised Common Lectionary Year A

    $22.99

    Includes invocations, calls to worship, litanies, benedictions, and more. Year A.

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  • Christian Marriage

    $24.00

    In this action the church expressed a hope that such a book and the process leading to it would provide a new instrument for the renewal of the church at its life giving center.

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  • Your King Comes

    $7.95

    Your King Comes! Is a complete Palm Sunday service. It includes a dramatic celebration of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem led by the children and youth of the church school.

    This resource captured the spirit of Palm Sunday with songs, words, and gestures. It will involve as many as 47 persons of all ages from your congregation. Minimum rehearsal is needed.

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  • Service Of Shadows

    $7.95

    “A Service Of Shadows” offers congregations a complete tenebrae service with a suggested order of service and an alternative ending with holy communion.

    This impressive service includes 15 candles and parts for up to 15 readers. As the Passion narrative is read, these candles will be extinguished one at a time as directed in the service.

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  • How To Train Volunteer Teachers

    $20.99

    Explores the purposes of teaching in the church, and offers specific advice on how to recruit, train, and support volunteer teachers. 20 workshops to enhance and empower educational programs in any church.

    These twenty stimulating, thirty-minute workshops show how to train volunteer teachers in a way that will dramatically increase the effectiveness of your Christian education program. After exploring the purposes of teaching children, youth, and adults in the church, Delia Halverson offers specific advice on how to recruit, train, and support volunteer teachers. Sunday school superintendents and education chairpersons will find this information invaluable as they recruit teachers, affirm them in their ministries, and plan training events.

    Workshops offered in the book include: planning a session; keys to motivating students of all age groups; developing Bible skills in all age groups; storytelling in the classroom; creativity for you and your student; worship in the classroom; teaching prayer in the classroom; caring for students; teaching with questions and discussion; music in the classroom; and developing a learning center. Each workshop outline shows you which materials you will need for the workshop. One or more handouts for use in the training event are included. The book also features a bibliography of additional materials to enhance the workshops.

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  • Lights Of Love

    $7.95

    Faith, Hope, Love, Joy, and The Light Of The World are themes in this candle lighting service for the four Sundays of Advent and Christmas Eve. Each service includes a scripture, message and prayer with optional listing of hymns and calls to worship.

    Lights Of Love provides a banner instruction section, a Christmas Eve candle lighting suggested order of service, and a brief explanation of the meaning of Advent.

    In addition to public worship, the services can easily be used in a family worship or Sunday school setting.

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  • Get Em Talking

    $22.99

    Does your youth group suffer from the “silent complex”? Need help to get them talking about what’s really important? Would you like to be a more effective discussion leader? Then look no further! Get ‘Em Talking gives you 104 field-tested ideas that will get your kids talking about topics like . . . Rock Music – Dating – Serving God – Death – Friendship – Peer Pressure – Anger – Drugs and Alcohol – Gossip – Family – Parents – The Church – Values – Faith – Cheating – Jesus . . . and many more! Get ‘Em Talking is the perfect resource for anyone who leads discussions. You’ll glean the insights of two of the nation’s most experienced youth professionals on what makes discussion groups tick, how to get a good discussion started, what to do when problems hit, and much more. Learn How to Effectively Use Discussion Techniques Like: – No-risk Discussions – Rug Discussions – “If” Surveys – Yarn-Sharing Experiences – Relay Discussions – Tape Talk – Groupers – Continuum Discussions — Get ‘Em Talking will quickly become an indispensable part of your youth ministry resource library. Whenever you need a great discussion-starting idea, just reach for Get ‘Em Talking!

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  • Alive For Everymore

    $7.95

    Alive For Evermore is a collection of seven worship services compiled by CSS. It recognizes the need of pastors to have in one volume, orders of service for important celebrations of the church during Lent and Easter.

    You will find in this compact volume complete services for:
    Ash Wednesday
    Palm Sunday
    Maundy Thursday
    Good Friday (two services)
    Easter Sunrise
    Easter Morning

    Each suggested service includes an order of worship, liturgy, scripture, and hymn possibilities. Copy privileges are available with each service. The seven services include congregation involvement in various forms. The Sunday sunrise service invites participation from a family in the congregation.

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  • Como Estudiar La Biblia – (Spanish)

    $13.99

    James Braga has written this book using the techniques of the study of the Scripture and has exposed the concepts in a clear and simple style. He presents a variety of methods of biblical study from a wide and careful view, so that the reader doesn’t need a previous knowledge of the Bible. This makes this book an ideal book for a group or individual study.

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  • Fashion Me A People

    $36.00

    “Curriculum” as described in Maria Harris’s book is an exciting process embracing the entire course of the church’s life. It concerns the creative and educational powers used to “fashion a people.” Encompassing the total teaching mission of the church, it includes community, service, worship, proclamation, and instruction of all the members from birth to death. Contains “Reflection and Practice” exercises at the end of each chapter.

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  • Lets Make A Jesse Tree

    $12.99

    Easy step-by-step instructions for making a Jesse Tree Advent calendar, plus 25 Bible readings for family use. Children learn the Christmas story from the Bible as they add each new symbol to their Jesse Tree Advent calendar

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  • Games For All Occasions (Revised)

    $19.99

    Indoor Games
    Musical Games
    Icebreakers
    Indoor Stunts
    Quiz Games
    Written Games
    Picnic Games
    Games For Lawn Parties
    Outdoor Stunts
    Water-front Games
    The Latest Games
    128 Pages

    Additional Info
    Planning a party? Indoors or outdoors? No problem – if you avail yourself of the 297 indoor and outdoor games clearly and simply described in Games for All Occasions by Ken Anderson and Morry Carlson. There are:

    icebreakers…quiz games…written games…picnic games…musical games…waterfront games, games for lawn parties…the latest games…action games…stunts…thought games…for children – adults – group leaders – party hosts – teachers – parents – the young in heart – for all who want to entertain or be entertained. No matter what the occasion, there is bound to be an appropriate game in this handy, indexed collection assembled for your fun and recreation!

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  • Ashes And Tears

    $12.95

    Ash Wednesday and Holy Week are special days indeed on the Christian calendar. Pastors and worship leaders need to approach these days with special care so that their significance is not lost on the gathered congregation. How does one mark familiar days such as Ash Wednesday, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday in such a way that a deadening sameness does not overtake the planning and the execution of the worship services for these days?

    James M. Bloom provides in this helpful resource eleven separate services or worship ideas. Liturgies and meditations are included. In most cases more than one worship alternative is provided.

    Use this volume to enrich your observance of the special season of Lent. Share its ideas with others on your worship planning team. Help the members of your parish to experience a blessed Lent.

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  • Passion Paths : Worthip Services For Ash Wednesday And Holy Week

    $12.95

    Here are five creative worship services for five special days on the Christian worship calendar. Each service involves the congregation in responsive readings, participation in contemporary prayers, and appropriate hymnody, psalmody, and scripture. Each service is accompanied with a highly creative sermon dialog to be shared by 3, 4, 5, or 7 readers.

    The service and dialogs lead worshipers down familiar and appropriate paths to confrontation with the Living Christ and the God of Grace, whom we meet in the Lenten season in a special way.

    The Path of Maturity — Ash Wednesday
    The Path of Quality — Palm Sunday
    The Path of Integrity — Maundy Thursday
    The Path of Dignity — Good Friday
    The Path of Creativity — Easter Day

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  • Sing Praises To His Name

    $12.95

    This useful resource provides the busy pastor or worship planner a rich variety of worship sentences and prayers for use in the Sunday service. The writer, a United Methodist pastor, has tested these materials in his own Colorado parish. The material reflects the seasons of the church and calendar year and the rhythms of the spirit and our daily walk.
    Included in this volume are:
    – Seventy calls to worship
    – Eighty-six prayers of confession
    – Nineteen prayers of celebration
    – Seventy-six general prayers
    Louis Pratt is pastor of Walsh (Colorado) United Methodist Church. He is also the author of the CSS title “Worship the Lord! Prayers for the Sunday Service.”

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  • Stories For Telling

    $13.99

    Well-known storyteller William White here retells sixty fascinating stories and folktales, ideal for use in Christian preaching and teaching, at home, and at camps and retreats. The stories help communicate the gospel message by presenting issues of love and compassion, sin and grace, wisdom and foolishness, friendship and fidelity.

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  • At Noon On Friday

    $8.95

    At Noon On Friday is a volume of reflections on the seven last words of Jesus as he hung on the cross. In his usual masterly fashion, Dr. Richard C. Hoefler holds up before his listeners the cross of Christ and calls for a devotional response not merely an intellectual one. The goal of these sermons is to prompt something important, different and decisive to happen to both speaker and listener. They were written in such a way as to create an experience of participating in the three hours our Lord suffered. In the author’s words: “The seven words of Christ are like seven panels of one single stained glass window, reflecting forth the light of the total act of our Lord’s crucifixion.”

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  • New Covenants Power

    $7.95

    The New Covenant’s Power presents worship services and other resources for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunrise. Maundy Thursday – “Christ’s Power for New Community” – focuses on the Lord’s Supper and the command to love one another; Good Friday “Christ’s Power for New Covenant Compassion” – emphasizes the actual events of the crucifixion; Easter Sunrise – “Christ’s Power for New Celebration” – rejoices in Christ’s triumph over sin and death. Each of these powerful themes is carried out through the use of symbols, hymns, scripture, and communal prayers. This little volume will give liturgy planners and ministers all the tools they need for Holy Week worship services that are unified in structure, in theme, and in sensitivity to the events being commemorated and celebrated.

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  • Grupos Familiares Y El Crecimi – (Spanish)

    $9.99

    The lesson of this very interesting project will provide you with all the materials you need to accomplish what the Holy Spirit has already accomplished in Seoul and many other parts of the world including through the author, David Yonggi Cho.

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  • Esgrima Biblica – (Spanish)

    $8.99

    This book contains thirty-two chapters full of fascinating questions for Bible quizzes for all ages.

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  • Speaking In Stories

    $13.99

    This book is full of practical ideas on how to begin, what to avoid, how to use stories in classrooms, camps, churches. White’s many examples of stories-from the Bible, folktales, modern parables, for Christmas-serve as a valuable resource as you weave your tales

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  • Escuela Domincal Dinamica – (Spanish)

    $8.99

    Written by one of the nation’s foremost Christian education writers, this book addresses the biblical philosophy behind the Sunday School ministry. It also develops the practical aspects that are imperative to any successful program.

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  • Chosen : The Story Of God And His People (Large Type)

    $8.79

    This one-year Bible survey course provides your confirmation students, especially eighth graders, with a firm biblical foundation. There are l6 lessons on each Testament.

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  • Chosen : The Story Of God And His People (Student/Study Guide)

    $8.99

    This one-year Bible survey course provides your confirmation students, especially eighth graders, with a firm biblical foundation. There are l6 lessons on each Testament.

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  • Man In Demand (Teacher’s Guide)

    $15.99

    Harvest House Print On Demand Title

    Gives word-for-word class instruction, together with directions for special demonstrations, activities, object lessons, and skits. “Man in Demand” leads students from practical instruction in everyday concerns to spiritual instruction based on the needs of their age group.

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