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Children & Families Resources

We work with presbyteries, congregations, leadership teams and individuals – including ministers and pastors – to develop, resource and support effective ministry with children and their families.We do this by providing consultancy, advocacy, resourcing and training, with a particular focus on developing an intergenerational culture.We have a wide range of useful material, including resources for intergenerational ministry, general children and families ministry, Messy Church and coming events.On this page you will find a range of resources to assist you with your ministry or family setting, including our

  • Monthly updates
  • Notifications of events, programs or training
  • Information about the Graduate Certificate in Children and Families Ministry
  • Resources for worship, mission and ministry based on the Lectionary (RCL), special days or themes
  • Particular resources for Child Safety, Mental Health and Trauma

While our new website is under development, a wealth of material is still available via the existing Children & Families ministry site. Click here to explore a range of resources and articles, including a vast array of ideas for development and implementation of a more intergenerational approach to ministry. For more information on any aspect of intergenerational ministry or ministry with children and their families, contact Chris Barnett (Intergenerational Ministry - Children and Families) at chris.barnett@victas.uca.org.au or on (03) 9340 8806. The UCA Children and Families Facebook page is also a good resource.

Each month, we publish a Children & Families Update, which contains resources and useful links. To receive these directly to your email each month, please e-mail Chris at chris.barnett@victas.uca.au.

For the latest update (and previous editions), click here.

Graduate Certificate in Children and Families Ministry

We support Australia’s only Children & Families Ministry-focused tertiary award – the Graduate Certificate in Children and Families Ministry. Especially suitable for ministers, pastors, chaplains, religious education teachers and those in paid children & families or intergenerational roles, the two core units may also be taken as part of other awards. More information is available about the two units Children & Families Ministry: core issues in diverse contexts (starting in July 2020); and Nurture and Spiritual Guidance of Children (Starting in November 2020)

Other training events 

Make it Messy: August 22, 2020, Online (not Melbourne) Make it Messy! will assist those already engaged in Messy Church, churches contemplating beginning a Messy Church and people genuinely curious about the Messy Church phenomenon, take the next step in their Messy Journey. Join with others from churches across the state for a day of active engagement, stimulating discussions, encouraging stories and helpful electives that will empower your ministry in your local context.

Stories of Childhood: (October 24, 2020, Melbourne) The annual Stories of Childhood conference is especially suitable for anyone – especially playgroup leaders, pre-school music programs leaders, Messy Church leaders, Sunday program leaders/teachers, ministers, pastors, church leaders, worship leaders, program leaders / volunteers – involved in ministry with children 0-5 and their families. Gather others from your congregation or team and come along for a fantastic day of learning, sharing and growing together.

From the Intergenerate Conference, July 2020
Intergenerate Chapter summaries and tasters of the book InterGenerate: Transforming Churches through Intergenerational Ministry.

Year A (2020)

Pentecost Season

  • Engage Together: Intergenerational Worship ideas for August to September, using the Lectionary (RCL) readings
  • Faith at Home: Exploring different Christian spiritual traditions as a household.

SPECIAL DAYS

National Aboriginal and Islander Children's Day (4 August 2020)

Father’s Day (6 September 2020)

Halloween & All Saints’ Day 31 October and 1 November

NAIDOC, Reconciliation and Day of Mourning 8-15 November 2020

Remembrance Day 11 November

RELATED DOCUMENTS

TitleDate modifiedDownload
Aboriginal Children’s Day Resource 31-07-2020 DownloadPreview

MINISTRY & MISSION