Faith Formation
Ministry with Children & Youth
Formation for Children
The Episcopal Church and related organizations offer a broad variety of resources for Maine congregations and households for ministry with children.
Welcoming Library Project
The Episcopal Diocese of Maine has partnered with the Racial Reconciliation Commission in The Episcopal Church in New Hampshire and through a Province I grant, has purchased one traveling Welcoming Library for each diocese. These libraries, curated and created by Portland non-profit I’m Your Neighbor Books, are visiting churches for month-long visits.
The library comes in two boxes and includes 30 books about immigrant and New American experiences, a wooden display, and resources for discussion and prayer. Please email Director of Faith Formation Emily Keniston if you’d like to be put on the list to host Maine’s Welcoming Library!
Lesson Plans That Work
Published by The Episcopal Church and designed to follow the Revised Common Lectionary, these lesson plans are written by experienced church school teachers using practical approaches to respond to the needs of volunteer teachers. You will find lesson plans for each week based on the Old Testament and Gospel readings and geared to both young children (non readers) and grade school-age kids. They can be used as written or adapted for your congregation’s context. Learn more here.
The Big Way of Love for Kids
Created by The Episcopal Church in partnership with Forward Movement, the BIG Way of Love for Kids comes from the Way of Love, a rule of life with seven spiritual practices that help us all to look, live, and love more like Jesus. Materials include a deck of playing cards and activities designed for a range of reading levels supplemented by audio Bible stories, which can be used in a classroom setting, at home, or on the go. Learn more here.
Godly Play
Founded by a theologian and educator, “Godly Play is a creative, imaginative approach to Christian formation and spiritual guidance, which models the worship life, stories, symbols, and rituals of Christian congregations and nurtures nurtures to larger dimensions of belief and faith through wondering and play.” – Godly Play Foundation
The Foundation offers everything churches need to establish the curriculum, including training, materials, and support, as well as regular events such as online story times for Lent. Learn more here.
Formation for Youth
We are working in tandem with the other dioceses of Province 1 to provide more robust opportunities for young people to gather and explore their relationships with God, the world, and each other.
Annual Youth Event Calendar
September: Summer Finale at Camp Bishopswood (Maine Youth and others for an intergenerational event)
November: Youth Event plus Presence at Diocesan Convention (Maine Youth)
February: Winter Youth Gathering (Province 1 Youth)
March: Confirmation Exploration Weekend (Province 1 Youth)
May: Spring Work Weekend at Camp Bishopswood (Maine Youth alongside the broader Bishopswood community)
June: Participation in Pride Events (Maine Youth and others for an intergenerational event)
June: Climate Justice Youth Event at Schoodic Institute in Acadia National Park (Province 1 Youth)
June: Youth Event at General Convention in Arizona (Province I Youth)
