Guidance for how to choose a curricula for your church can be found on Building Faith. Some of the more commonly used curricula are listed below.
Children
- Lesson Plans that Work – free, downloadable lesson plans on the Gospel reading for each Sunday for young children (intended for non-readers), older children (grade school age children) and adults. Also lesson plans on the Old Testament readings for younger and older children.
- Short courses and Vacation Bible School Discounted pricing for RI Episcopal churches; (see footnote)
- Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children. It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori.
- Episcopal Children’s Curriculum extends over nine years for children from ages 3 to 11. Lessons are organized around the seasons of the Church year and draw from The Bible, The Book of Common Prayer, the hymnal, church liturgy and tradition. ECC lesson plans include tips for adapting sessions to small and large class sizes and offer a variety of fun activities that help children grasp important concepts. (free download)
- Godly Play is a formative program that invites children to walk around inside the faith, its stories, traditions and favorite characters and find themselves and their own stories nestled and active there. The child is invited to respond directly to what he or she has experienced in the ‘story.’
- Keeping the Promise – A mentoring program for confirmation that is meant to be a mutual exploration of the life of faith: major points: bible, sacraments, spiritual life, the Church, ministry, turning points in life.
- Living the Good News – Lectionary-based curriculum designed to help children be at home in the church and with its basic teachings. I Will With God’s Help, a confirmation curriculum, is part of this series and builds on the baptismal covenant, beginning with the creed and devoting the next five sessions to the 5 questions.
- Workshop Cycles – Children (grades K-5) work on a single Bible story or concept for several weeks using a different approach each week (storytelling, drama, cooking, crafts/arts, computer use), each facilitated by a different person according to his/her skills and interest. Discounted pricing for RI Episcopal churches; (see footnote)
- Seasons of the Spirit – A curriculum which includes ritual, music, visual art, meditation and tangible exploration of the living word. The vision of this program is to provide God’s people with lectionary-based, ecumenical resources that empower all ages to be transformed in Christ as they: explore meaning and mystery in the Bible; celebrate in worship, sacraments, education, and service; engage in ministries of love, justice, and witness; and live in inclusive communities of faith, shaped and led by the Holy Spirit.
- Holy Moly – Lessons follow a four-part sequence: Discover, Relate, Connect, and Create. Each week, kids watch an animated Bible story video, talk about the story, read their Bible Storybook or Bible, and complete a creative activity. Resources are available for kindergarten through grade 4, by unit or as digital lessons and online subscription. (Evangelical Lutheran Church)
- Godly Journey: The Early Church, Paul’s Journey’s and How We Can Join the Adventure is a one or two year adventure for older children or younger teens and works well as an intergenerational program that’s especially attractive to men and boys. Godly Journey invites participants into the life of the early church and introduces them to Christians who helped spread Christianity. Discounted pricing for RI Episcopal churches; (see footnote)
Youth
- Conversations with Scripture – a series of books on each book of the Bible
- The Journey to Adulthood (J2A) is a complete youth ministry program of spiritual formation for 6th – 12th grades. It uses Bible study, prayer, rites of passage, outreach ministries and both serious and playful activities to underscore its core messages: 1) Manhood and womanhood are free gifts from God. 2) Adulthood must be earned. Discounted pricing for RI Episcopal churches; (see footnote)
- Living the Good News – lectionary based curricula for nursery through adult
- Faith Lens (from the Evangelical Lutheran Church) – Weekly Bible studies that engage youth and young adults in connecting world events with the Bible, faith, and everyday life. (free, online)
- Re-form (from the Evangelical Lutheran Church) – focuses on core beliefs, tradition and ancestors
- Seasons of the Spirit – lectionary-based, ecumenical; see description under Children above.
Young Adults
- These are our Bodies – session plans with activities for Young Adults (ages 18–30) to explore issues of sexuality in the context of our faith
- Young adult resources –Discounted pricing for RI Episcopal churches; (see footnote)
*Resources published by LeaderResources (vs. those sold for other publishers) are available to Episcopal churches in Rhode Island for a discount you choose — 25%, 50%, 75% or free. Contact Mary Ann Mello for information on how to order or call 800-941-2218 for more information.