Presented by the Children and Worship Training Partnership of The Christian Reformed Church, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, the Reformed Church in America and Journey at Western Theological Seminary.
- To learn more about the Workshop Worship Leaders, click here...
- To see the schedule of events, click here...
- For general information, click here...
Use the following links to learn more about the workshop:
About the Workshops
CHILDREN AND WORSHIP is an exciting workshop that presents a joyful way to worship God. It invites both children and adults to experience the wonder and mystery of God through a unique storytelling format and multi-sensory materials. Children and Worship is spiritually enriching for both children and adults. Through demonstrations and lectures, one learns to present biblical stories and parables using wooden figures and other materials to create an environment that cultivates the imagination and invites children to fall in love with God. Recommended for children's worship leaders, pastors, Christian educators, and those working with children in small or large congregations.
In their book, Young Children and Worship, Sonja Stewart and Jerome Berryman provide a unque and innovative workship and learning experience for young children.
The tuition is $295 including lunch on each day. After April 15, tuition is $325. Tuition for a theological student is $265.
Workshop Worship Leaders
Alice Apol, a trainer for the Christian Reformed Church in North America, received training from Sonja Stewart at Western Theological Seminary. She currently serves as a Children and Worship leader at Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the last 20 years of leading Children and Worship, the children’s wonderings have become a big part of her story.
Marcia Floding has been a Christian Education Consultant for the Reformed Church in America in the Heartland Synod, and a Director of Children’s Ministry for three RCA churches. She received Children and Worship training from Sonja Stewart and currently serves as a trainer for the Reformed Church in America. Leading worship centers is a part of Marcia’s joyful journey with young children.
Nina Zwart, the National Coordinator for Children and Worship for The Presbyterian Church in Canada, received her training by Sonja Stewart and has participated in workshops with both Sonja and Jerome Berryman. Nina currently serves as a Children and Worship Leader at New St. James Presbyterian Church in London, Ontario. Children and Worship has been a passion of hers since she first learned about it, and she is always humbled by how children respond to God’s stories.
Schedule of Events
2009 Children and Worship International Training
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Lecture: “Children and Worship: A Worship Approach to the Christian Formation of Children”
Experiencing the Worship Approach through The Good Shepherd
10:30 Lecture: “Getting Ready to Be with God: Demonstration of Orientation Sessions”
The Light
1:00 Lecture: “Children and Worship through the Church Year”
How the Church Tells Time: The Church Year Calendar Puzzle
3:00 Lecture: “Biblical Narrative and Storytelling”
Abram and Sarai
Practice Presenting Good Shepherd Parable (in triads)
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
8:30 Lecture: “Children’s Responses: Wondering Together, Story and Art Responses”
The Ten Best Ways to Live
…Show the Way to Bethlehem
1:00 Jesus Is Baptized
Jesus in the Wilderness
1:30 Lecture: “Strategies for Preparing to Tell One of God’s Stories”
The Mustard Seed
The Leaven
Thursday, June 18, 2009
8:30 Lecture: “The Bible, Worship, and Transformation”
Jesus and the Children
Jesus’ Last Passover
11:00 Lecture: “Getting Started: Helping Churches Plan for Children and Worship”
1:00 Jesus Is Risen: Appearance to Mary Magdalene
Jesus Is Risen: The Road to Emmaus
2:30 Break (Helping Children to Experience God DVD?)
Pentecost: Celebrating God’s Gift of the Holy Spirit
Stories for the Church Year: The Season after Pentecost (Ordinary Time)
The Lord’s Supper and the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving
The Good Shepherd and the Lord’s Supper (II)
General Information
Travel to Holland is available by flying into Grand Rapids, Michigan airport (GRR). For directions for travel to Western Seminary, go to http://www.westernsem.edu/visit/direction.
Limited lodging is available at the Haworth Center Inn on the campus of Hope College, adjacent to Western Seminary. Western Seminary has arranged for a block of rooms at a reduced rate ($95.00 per room). Call the Inn directly at 1-800-903-9142 by May 21 to make arrangements. Mention this workshop for the special pricing. Or go online to http://www.hollandchamber.org for local hotel listing.
For more information, contact Carol Ann Bailiey at 1-800-392-8554 x 167 or email carolann.bailey@westernsem.edu.
