Bibliography for Parents Raising Faith-Filled Kids

Bibliography for Parents Raising Faith-filled Kids

For Parents:

Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People, 2nd edition edited by Dorothy C. Bass San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publisher, Paperback-2010 {ISBN-047048411X} The second, revised edition of Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People has a new preface, two new chapters, and a study guide included. "Practicing Our Faith is more than a book; it outlines a movement-- God's movement--that is both as old as Abraham and as new as today's emerging Christianity. Here is a way to live the abundant life that is good news for our neighbors, sweet rest for our souls, and hope for a church too long fragmented by division. Like the preachers of the last great awakening, I want to shout, 'Get on board!'" — Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, new monastic, author, speaker. For Adults who want to think about how they want to model the faith.

On Our Way: Christian Practices for Living a Whole Life edited by Dorothy C. Bass and Susan R. Briehl Nashville, TN: Upper Room Books, Paperback-2010 {ISBN: 0835810173} Written for emerging adults, this book explores twelve practices particularly applicable to persons in their twenties: Study, Discerning God's Call, Living as Community, Friendship and Intimacy, Making a Good Living, Care for Creation, Honoring the Body, Singing Our Lives to God, Knowing and Loving Our Neighbors of Other Faiths, Peacemaking and Nonviolence, Doing Justice, and Living in the Presence of God.

Listen My Son: St. Benedict for Fathers Dwight Longenecker “Perhaps the greatest need in the human heart is the need for life to have meaning….Meaning flows from relationships and the vocation of the Christian parent is to develop first one’s relationship to God, and then the loving relationships within the family. In the face of extraordinary pressures, nurturing the vocation of parenthood requires energy and discipline….” –From the introduction. For centuries The Rule of St. Benedict has provided guidance for many monastic communities. In recent years, individuals outside the monastery also have discovered the merit in living according the Benedict’s ideals. Now, Dwight Longenecker takes Benedict one step further, and uses the Rule to help men become better parents.

Losing Control and Liking It: How to Set Your Teen and Yourself Free by Tim Sanford (Author) “Parents of teens--especially Christian ones--know only too well that many sons and daughters abandon the "straight and narrow" when they hit adulthood. The pressure on these parents to make their kids turn out right is enormous. Sometimes this pressure can lead parents to think they have to control their kids. Losing Control and Liking It offers parents relief of a burden they were never meant to carry and will help build family relationships based on validation and nurturing instead of control. Author comes from an evangelical perspective

Family the Forming Center: A Vision of the Role of Family in Spiritual Formation by Marjorie J. Thompson "The first place most of us experience God and learn the values that shape our lives is within the family. Is it any wonder, then, that all manner of current social ills are blamed on the disintegration of family life? Children need to see that the spiritual life is significant to their parents at home as well as at church. If your home life differs from the image you present at church, your kids will see faith as contrived and irrelevant. In this revised and expanded edition, Thompson suggests models, rituals and celebrations that will inspire your children to grow spiritually and will help center your family on God. Family the Forming Center will help you, as parents, develop close family relationships filled with God's love, trust and values."

Character Matters!: Raising Kids with Values That Last by John Yates (Author) , Susan Alexander Yates (Author) Strong, firm character does not develop automatically. This book helps families set and achieve the goals necessary for developing eight essential character traits: integrity, faith, a teachable spirit, a servant's heart, self- discipline, joy, compassion, and courage. The Yateses use stories and practical examples from their lives and the lives of their five children to show how character can be purposefully cultivated through the normal, daily events in life. With refreshing honesty, they share how parents and children can grow together in these qualities. Character Matters! includes focus questions and three appendices, including a leader's guide for group study.

* And Then I Had Teenagers: Encouragement for Parents of Teens and Preteens *(See also And Then I Had Kids: Encouragement for Mothers of Young Children) by Susan Alexander Yates (Author) , Ingrid Trobisch (Foreword) by Susan Alexander Yates (Author) Susan Yates, best-selling author of And Then I Had Kids and How to Like the Ones You Love, now offers encouragement and guidance to parents of teens and preteens. Drawing from her experiences raising five teenagers, she offers parents a unique blend of stories, compassion, and advice. Yates empathizes with parents whose children struggle with communication, peer pressure, and faith--every parent of a teen!--while also considering teenagers' perspectives and needs. Readers who enjoyed And Then I Had Kids will be eager for this sequel as they prepare for the teen years. With a similar style, it demonstrates how Christian values work within the family and the home. Discussion questions for each chapter make it a perfect resource for small groups, Sunday school, or neighborhood outreach. By encouraging readers to "articulate the challenges and then choose to focus on the blessings," And Then I Had Teenagers restores hope during one of the craziest seasons of life.

* www.cpyu.org Center for Parent-Youth Understanding CPYU is a nonprofit organization that helps parents understand and respond to the complex world of their children and teens from a distinctively Christian point of view and equips both parents and teens with the tools to respond to these challenges. At the site, click on "Articles" and then "Parenting" for a large list of helpful articles on various topics. http://www.lcms.org/page.aspx?pid=852 A Lutheran website with assorted articles about issues related to parenting and faith formation http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/ An ecumenical website with an evangelical slant. A bit of a mixed bag, but does have some thoughtful reflections on parenting.

http://www.pbs.org/parents/talkingwithkids/news / A secular site from PBS on how to talk with kids about what is in the news; gives tips based on age of children. Resources for Children and Teens & Families

Prayers, Bibles and Devotions:

The Anglican Family Prayer Book Anne E. Kitch The Anglican Family Prayer Book helps parents and children pray together. Prayers for morning and evening, blessings, nighttime prayers, prayers for ordinary and special occasions, intercessory prayers, prayers of the Eucharist, and prayers for use during the special seasons of the Church year make this book one that families will use every day. (If this isn’t for you, don’t be afraid to use a regular prayer book and simplify evening prayer/compline to suit your needs)

The Beginner’s Bible Toddler/Preschool Bible Cute drawings, simple stories

Spark Story Bible Good Children’s bible for PK-1st grade

The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones (Author) , Jago (Illustrator) From Noah to Moses to King David, every story whispers his name. Available in a larger format keepsake edition, the multiple award-winning Jesus Storybook Bible tells the Story beneath all the stories in the Bible. All the stories are told in such a way that they point to Jesus. Jesus is at the center of God's great story of salvation--- and at the center of their story, too. Highly recommended for children Preschool-3rd grade.

Ergermeier’s Bible StoryBook Good transitional Bible for children who aren’t quite ready for a full Bible. Unlike other Children’s Bibles, it doesn’t cut out the uncomfortable parts, but includes many things that other books leave out. It does follow the Biblical texts very closely, while also breaking up stories into manageable chapters that could be a part of a devotional routine. Fewer illustrations than other children’s bibles. 1st-4th grades.

Psalms for Young Children by Marie-Hlne Delval (Author) , Arno (Illustrator) The Psalms describe a whole range of emotions, from joy and wonder to sadness and regret. This collection of Psalms, paraphrased for young readers, uses simple yet powerful imagery to help children express their feelings.

Heart Ignite - 166 Engaging Prayer Experiences for All Ages by Lyle Griner (Author) , Diane Monroe (Author) There is more than one way to pray! This book is a compilation of 166 creative ways to pray in your home or congregation. Whether you are looking to make family devotional time more unique, or need a creative resource to enhance prayer time, Heart Ignite has something for everyone.

Confirmation Journey for Parents and Youth https://talkpoints.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=51 Conversation starters to build faith and realtionships. www.churchpublishing.org http://www.upperroom.org www.cph.org All have a variety of devotionals, for different ages, available for purchase.

Storybooks:

The Monk Who Grew Prayer by Claire Brandenburg (Author) A monk prays deep in the forest. It looks like he is just doing simple, ordinary tasks, such as chopping wood and tending to his garden. But as he works he is really growing prayer. The monk prays continually throughout the day and night, and as the seasons pass, he becomes a holy man.This delightful, beautifully- illustrated book teaches children that no matter what they are doing, or what hour of the day it is, they too, can pray.

The Lord's Prayer (see also his book Psalm 23) by Tim Ladwig (Author, Illustrator) The beloved words of The Lord's Prayer serve as the text for this remarkable book, which illustrates how the words of this ancient prayer can have real meaning in our lives today. In Ladwig's paintings a young girl and her father spend a day helping an elderly neighbor.

A Walk Through Our Church by Gerturd Mueller Nelson (Author) , Gertrud Mueller Nelson (Author) Using the bold woodcut-like illustrations for which she's internationally known, best selling author Gertrud Mueller Nelson takes two children--and all of us--on a holy tour of a familiar sacred space, the neighborhood church. The format of the book is deceptively simple: a girl and her older brother walk through an empty church. The children name the parts of the building and such furnishings as the pews, hymnals, presider's chair, altar, crucifix, tabernacle, articles in the sacristy, and so on. At the same time, the children discuss the religious significance of each item. Not a story book, this is a true educational experience for anyone, ages 5 and up, who want to become more aware of liturgical history. Each portion of the text includes a fragment of a psalm so that the "walk" becomes a living prayer.

Books by Tomie de Paola – He has authored numerous books on Bible Stories, Parables, saint’s lives, and religious folk tales. Delightful combination of art and story with a pre-modern feel and the simplest telling of the stories. The result is books that allow you to enjoy the essence of each story. There are subtle details to be found in the pictures. Great for all ages.

God's Dream by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Author) , Douglas Carlton Abrams (Author) Archbishop Desmond Tutu has a vision of God's dream, which he shares here with the youngest of listeners. It involves people who reach out and hold each other's hands, but sometimes get angry and hurt each other — and say they're sorry and forgive.

Water Come Down by Jr. Wangerin Walter (Author) , Gerardo Suzan (Illustrator) A lyrical story that personalizes the the beauty, joy and meaning of Baptism. Includes family "discussion- starters" about the significance of Baptism, its roots in the biblical story and its meaning for life today.

Chapter Books:

Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis (Author) C. S. Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia is an allegorical story which appeals to a broad range of ages, a magical realm where worlds come and go at the toss of a ring, where boys and girls become kings and queens, where there are more talking creatures than people.

Any literature (or movies or music) which open up conversations about good and evil, grief and joy, morality, justice and mercy, faith, hope, love can be tied back into the Good News of Jesus Christ. Ask your child questions about the worldview of the books, about what rings true and what doesn’t, about what characters are most appealing and why, about how it makes them feel, and what type of person it makes them want to become. A large part of faith formation is helping connect the dots between faith and everyday life, helping children see God’s work even in those places where his name is not explicitly mentioned. For a “big list” of children’s literature that can open this conversations, you might look here http://classical- homeschooling.org/celoop/1000-elementary.html

Websites: http://www.d365.org/todaysdevotion/ A multi-media devotional site, appropriate for middle school through young adult. http://www.practicingourfaith.org/ Great project sponsored by the Lilly Foundation. Articles, study-guides, books, and more for reflection on living out key faith practices: hopsitality, household economics, honoring the sabbath, discernment, testimony, forgiveness, honoring the body, dying well, healing, and singing our lives. www.mops.org Mothers of Preschoolers is an international organization that seeks to encourage and equip mothers of preschoolers from a Christian persceptive. You can find local groups that meet on the site or simply look through their resources including an emailed newsletter. http://fullhomelydivinity.org/ History, recipes, prayers and other fun traditions for the seasons and festivals of the Church year. Helpful for both families and congregations.

http://www.readyclickgrowyourfamily.com/ It's as simple as click and grow your family through a variety of quick, easy faith activities; choose from faith sparkers, family faith adventures, memory makers, talk teasers, mealtime, fun and games and just for grandparents. www.faith-at-home.com Faith at Home was built by an Episcopal mom who found few faith and parenting resources tha tfit her spiritual center "in the middle ground" so she created her own website that has tips and ideas for daily life, ideas for Sunday worship with kids and articles on helping kids deal with various life issues. http://www.thelogosministry.org/heartfelt.html Heartfelt is designed for busy families who want to grow body, mind and spirit, and who want support and encouragement. Also an APP! (family 'round the table) www.stickyfaith.org/parents Sticky Faith Parents (Fuller Youth Institute) is designed for parents of kids of any age who are concerned about how faith is shaping their children’s life and what will happen to their faith when they leave home. Through research-based insights and stories from other parents, parents can use the ideas today and in the years to come to help build Sticky Faith in their kids. www.elca.org/openaworld/ Resources about global missions and international projects. http://sundayschoollessons.com/ Devotional tools, art projects, music and other resources for families (and for Sunday school teachers) Many links for other helpful sites are there. http://www.vibrantfaithathome.org/ A huge selection of resources for seasons, topics, time-of-life, and much more. Great conversation starters and ideas for everyone ranging from young children to young adults to married couples.

Music:

St. Paul's Lutheran Church Children's Choir http://www.cph.org/p-7007-st-paul-choir-3-cd-set.aspx Classic hymns of the church, sung by children’s voices. Also includes a few sung parts of the Lutheran liturgy.

Cedarmont Kids or Wee Sing have a variety of CDs out with bible songs, Sunday school songs and praise music

Music for Compline Thomas Tallis (Composer), William Byrd (Composer), John Sheppard (Composer), Hugh Aston (Composer), Robert White (Composer), Plainchant (Composer), Stile Antico (Performer) If you’re looking for a quiet “naptime” sort of CD to introduce your children to the Anglican Choral tradition (there are many other CD’s out there like this)

Faith Inkubators Songs for Helping memorize the small catechism, Bible Verses, etc (for purchase) https://store.faithink.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=137

Any hymn CD which introduces children to songs they are likely to hear in their own congregation will help children to feel a part of their own worshipping community. (Or a pandora hymn channel)

There is a great deal of decent Christian contemporary music out there, too, in just about every style imaginable. Look around and see what appeals to you and to your children.

Movies:

As with literature, any movie of thoughtful depth which opens conversation up to the integration of faith and life. (And while we ought to be cautious about the ways that the things we read and watch can form us and our children in the ways of the world, when we make the mistake of reading/watching a truly terrible movie, it can open up great conversations, too, if you’re ready to take hold of the opportunity!)

For younger kids, Veggie Tales, Kid’s Ten Commandments, Character Builders