Shine: Living in God's Light

10/14/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, Promise of a New Jerusalem. Read chapter 5 in Great Big Love: God’s Story for You & Me or Isaiah 65:17–25. I wonder which part of Isaiah’s prophecy is most important. What is your favorite line?

Pray a “glad, sad, sorry” prayer before bed to reflect on what happened during the day. Write down one key word from each part of the prayer as a reminder.

Draw one large picture together showing your family’s idea of a peaceful world.

10/10/2022

Shine VBS 2023 Theme Reveal

It's only fall, but it's time to think about summer! We are excited to announce our VBS theme for 2023: Changemakers Lab. Watch this short video to find out more!

Welcome to Changemakers Lab, an interactive VBS where children experience the transforming love of God and learn how to change the world through their words ...

10/09/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, Fall of Jerusalem. Read chapter 3 in Great Big Love: God’s Story for You & Me or 2 Kings 24:18–25:12. I wonder how the people helped and comforted each other on the way to Babylon.

Pray a “glad, sad, sorry” prayer before bed to reflect on what happened during the day. Draw a picture to represent each part of your prayer.

Listen to “Rivers of Babylon” performed by Sweet Honey in the Rock (YouTube).

10/02/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, King Josiah. Read chapter 2 in Great Big Love: God’s Story for You & Me or 2 Kings 22:1–13, 18–20; 23:1–3, 21–25. How would you describe King Josiah?

Pray a “glad, sad, sorry” prayer before bed to reflect on what happened during the day.

Play a game of “lost and found” scroll. Hide a rolled-up paper scroll somewhere in the house for your family to find.

09/24/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, A New Covenant. Read chapter 6 in Great Big Love: God’s Story for You & Me or Jeremiah 29:11–14; 31:1–14, 31–34. If you were going through a hard time, which part of this prophecy would be most comforting to you?

Pray a “glad, sad, sorry” prayer before bed to reflect on what happened during the day. Share one part of your prayer with others in the family.

Dance together as the people did in the Bible story! Give each family member an opportunity to choose a song.

09/09/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, God Our Helper.

Read chapter 13 in Great Big Love: God’s Story for You & Me or Psalm 121, which was a song sung on the way to Jerusalem. What songs would you listen to or sing on a long trip?

Pray in color. Choose one line from the psalm and draw a picture of it as you pray those words silently.

Go on a “journey.” Bring a snack to share along the way. Talk about what you see along the way, remembering that God is with you wherever you go.

09/02/2022

Here are some ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, God Our Refuge. Read chapter 12 in Great Big Love: God’s Story for You & Me or Psalm 91. Talk about things that help you feel safe.

Pray in color. Choose one line from the psalm and draw a picture of it as you pray those words silently.

Play a game of tag. One person is “It,” one person is the parent bird, and everyone else is baby birds. Baby birds cannot be tagged while they are touching the parent bird. They can remain with the parent for five seconds. With only two players, designate a stuffed animal as the “safe place.”

08/26/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, God Our Shepherd.

Read chapter 11 in Great Big Love: God’s Story for You & Me or Psalm 23. Talk about times you have felt God’s love and kindness.

Pray in color. Choose one line from the psalm and draw a picture of it as you pray those words silently.

Watch a YouTube video to learn more about sheep. Search for songs based on Psalm 23 as well.

08/24/2022

“Follow the Story” Cards Tutorial

Sunday school attendance has become more and more sporadic, and even more so since the pandemic. How do we help our children understand the biblical story if they only hear bits and pieces throughout the year? If a child only comes for sessions 1, 6, and 9 this quarter, how will they understand the big picture?

The “Follow the Story” Cards have been created to help bridge these gaps. These beautifully illustrated cards from the Elementary Teaching Kit offer a quick, visual way to bring children and teachers up to speed and show the relationships between the characters and events of the quarter. Watch the tutorial below to learn more and see how to use these cards with your Elementary group.

Learn about the "Follow the Story" Cards that are included in the Primary, Older Elementary, and Multiage resource packs.

08/22/2022

As the new Sunday School year begins, we want to give a shout out to our writers for their creative ideas and our designers who take those ideas and turn them into beautiful learning resources for children and teachers. Enjoy browsing through some of Shine's fall quarter teaching posters!

08/22/2022

Current Evaluation Form - Shine: Living in God's Light Curriculum

Finishing up your summer study of Shine's Seeking God Together digital curriculum? We'd appreciate your feedback! Click the link below to complete an evaluation form.

08/19/2022

Extras - Shine: Living in God's Light Curriculum

Start the new Sunday School year by recognizing your children, youth, and teachers in worship! Find "A Blessing for Teachers and Learners" on the Extras page on the Shine website. While you're there, explore Shine's digital magazine for teachers, Companion. Give your teachers and children everything they need to grow in faith together with the Shine curriculum.

The purpose of the Extras page is to provide teachers with resources and activities that they can download. Also, the Teaching Aids sections of teacher’s guides are available for your convenience. Click on the header of the area in which you are interested to open that section. Once a quarter is o...

08/12/2022

A quick reminder to make your Shine curriculum order for this fall's Sunday school! Find out more on our website: www.brethrenpress.com

07/13/2022

Building Faith’s Top Picks for Intergenerational Curriculum

Current: Seeking Justice Together and Seeking God Together made the list! These two 13-week units include an intergenerational module as well as curriculum for PreK-Kindergarten, Elementary, Youth, Adults, and worship resources. Learn more at shinecurriculum.com.

Looking for the “best” intergenerational ministry curriculum? There are a variety of options from different publishers and denominations. The right choice depends entirely on your context and goals. Below you’ll find a list of Building Faith’s favorite curriculum options based on theology,...

07/01/2022

Order your Fall 2022 curriculum today at www.shinecurriculum.com!

05/27/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, Remain in God’s Love.

Read chapter 39 in All Together: God’s Story for You & Me or 1 John 4:7–21. John thought it was important for people to love one another like brothers and sisters. Spend some time sharing what you love about members of your family.

Pray with your body to receive and God’s love. Take a few slow breaths, putting your hands on your stomach to feel the air move in and out. Breathe God’s love in and then out to share it with others.

Share God’s love! Pass around a small box with a mirror inside. Say “When you get the box, open it and see who God loves.” Encourage everyone to keep it a secret until everyone has had a turn.

Additional activities can be found on the “Family Fun” page on the PreK-Kindergarten page.

05/20/2022

Monday evening's webinar generated much discussion and questions among panelists and participants. For the next several weeks, we'll post one or two of the questions our panelists didn't have time to answer and share some of their thoughts in the comments. Chime in with your ideas!

05/20/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, God Is Near.

Read chapter 38 in All Together: God’s Story for You & Me or Philippians 4:1–14. Talk about friends that you have and one thing that makes them fun to be with.

Pray with your body! Sit or stand in place, feet slightly apart, and take a few deep breaths. Put your hands on your stomach and feel it rise and fall with a deep breath. Then praise God with your whole body (stomp feet, clap hands, reach arms up, jump)!

Write “Rejoice in the Lord always” at the top of a blank piece of paper. Throughout the week, add things that you are rejoicing about to the list. Share your list with your pastor or a teacher next week.

Additional activities can be found on the “Family Fun” page on the PreK-Kindergarten page.

05/20/2022

Webinar - Shine: Living in God's Light Curriculum

Thanks to everyone who participated in the Shine webinar on Monday evening! Here's a link to the recording in case you missed it.

Thanks to all who participated in our webinar on May 16! Feel free to share this recording with your teachers and church leaders. Look for continuing discussion on this important topic on the Shine page and in the Teachers Helping Teachers Shine Facebook group.

05/16/2022

There's still time to sign up for our webinar this evening! Go to shinecurriculum.com, click on Webinar under the Resources tab and complete the form. You will receive an email with the link to the webinar. Hope to see you online tonight!

05/13/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, Breaking Down Walls.

Read chapter 37 in All Together: God’s Story for You & Me or Ephesians 2:12–22. Whisper “Jesus gives us peace” so your family members can hear it. Now shout “Jesus gives us peace” so people far away can hear it.

Pray a prayer of thanks, making a stack out of your hands. As each person adds her or his hand to the stack, say “Thank you, God, for ____ (name).” Have everyone joyfully raise their hands and say amen together.

Read The Peace Book by Todd Parr or listen to a read-aloud on YouTube. Give everyone a blank piece of paper and crayons or markers and have them draw what peace is to them. Staple or clip the pages together to make a family peace book.

Additional activities can be found on the “Family Fun” page on the PreK-Kindergarten page.

05/10/2022

COVID turned Sunday School on its head. After two years of isolation, families with youth and young children have been slow to re-engage in the life of the church. Yet, faith formation is critical for the next generation. How do we move forward from here? Join this webinar to hear from seasoned ministry leaders. Find out what they are doing that’s working and pitfalls to avoid as you navigate your way into the future of faith formation. Registration link in comments.

Where Did They Go? - Monday, May 16, 7 pm ET / 6pm CT

05/06/2022

Here are ways to nurture faith at home based on this week's Bible story, What Is Love?

Read chapter 36 in All Together: God’s Story for You & Me or 1 Corinthians 1:10–11; 13. How many times is the word love used in 1 Corinthians 13? Name ways you can show love at home. Set a timer for three minutes. How many ideas did you list in three minutes?

Pray with your body to receive God’s love. Take a few slow breaths, putting your hands on your stomach to feel the air move in and out. Breathe God’s love in and then out to share it with others.

Paint hearts with watercolors and make a heart mobile to hang over your dining table. On each heart write one characteristic of love from 1 Corinthians 13.

Additional activities can be found on the “Family Fun” page on the PreK-Kindergarten page.

05/04/2022

COVID turned Sunday School on its head. After two years of isolation, families with youth and young children have been slow to re-engage in the life of the church. Yet, faith formation is critical for the next generation. How do we move forward from here? Join this webinar to hear from seasoned ministry leaders. Find out what they are doing that’s working and pitfalls to avoid as you navigate your way into the future of faith formation. Registration link in comments.

Where Did They Go? - Monday, May 16, 7 pm ET / 6pm CT