Tell - 2nd Mark of Mission
TWO : To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
If we believe the news of God’s love and forgiveness is truly “good news,” we will want others to know about it and accept it for themselves - for their own sakes. As humans we have a common spiritual hunger within us which has been noted for as long as we have records of human writings and paintings. St Augustine wrote, “You have made us for yourself, O God, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you.”
Christians believe God has touched people of every race and creed, but revealed himself most fully through Jesus, who in his life and death and resurrection demonstrated the depth of God’s love for us, and in some mysterious way opened the way for each of us to God. The Christian message is that God who is the source of all life and goodness is the same God whom Jesus said has numbered every hair on our heads — who knows us that intimately and loves us that profoundly. He is the same God who has conquered death and offers purpose to life. This is what we, then, as an Anglican School, have to offer our students:
- Faith —in terms of trusting God’s faithfulness to them, whatever they do or whoever they are;
- Hope —in terms of knowing that life is not out of control, that there is always something that can be done and hoped for beyond the present circumstances;
- Love —in terms of trusting that God has created them uniquely and loves them uniquely.
These things are beyond price.
Resources
Resources for Chapel and RE can be found elsewhere on this site. Here we focus on resources for Baptism and Confirmation.
He Akonga: Disciples in Aotearoa New Zealand
"Way back in the first century..people who wanted to follow Jesus' teaching learned a bunch of questions and answers. This helped them understand what Christians believe." The Diocese of Waikato and Taranaki has produced a brilliant little resource to help us do the same: "He Akona: Disciples in Aotearoa New Zealand." It is a note-book-sized booklet with clear, concise explanations of Christianity's central beliefs. Read more at this link.
Unlocking Baptism
This “Baptism Toolkit” is packed with ideas for baptism preparation, involving lots of telling-your-story and chocolate.
Creative Ideas book
This is available through the Office. Creative ideas for baptism and confirmation for people of all ages.
The New City Catechism
This is a detailed resource with excellent ideas for giving students a thorough grounding in the essentials of faith. Also comes as an app. The Office has a copy if you want to have a look at it first.
Re:Form
If you have used any of the Middle School Theology course, you may have come across this resource. “Re:Form” is a series of short videos (together with leader’s handbook and optional student “anti-workbooks”) which cover almost every conceivable complex question that may arise as teenagers begin to grapple with faith. They do so with humour and good solid theology. The series was designed to be a confirmation course. Resources can be ordered for the whole course, or individual lessons can be bought and downloaded.
Whole Church Family Worship
The South African Anglican Church is taking the leadership of young people in the Climate movement seriously. This resource is a confirmation course built into a way of equipping young people in this mission. The Most Rev’d Thabo Makgoba, Archbishop of Cape Town, writes, “Now we need to acknowledge in Southern Africa today that the leadership of the environmental movement is coming from young people. This manual aims to empower them with theology and practical actions to take the Green Anglicans movement into every community and parish throughout our Province. Be strong, bold and very courageous, and take the lead!”
The Confirmation Experience
The Office has one copy available, but it’s best if people buy their own. Although it’s designed for a church community, the idea of having mentors could be used well in schools as well - either teachers, or people from the local church.
“The Confirmation Experience aims to celebrate Confirmation in a way that grows a healthy community of Christians. Using the image of a journey, there are twelve very varied events rather than a course of study, in which all candidates take part together, along with other members of the church community. Each candidate starts a personal logbook and there are four different styles to choose from: 11-14 years, 15-18 years, adult and 11-adult with assistance. Presentation books of prayers for the newly confirmed help them to think and pray through the issues raised. One version is designed for young people and another for adults. The Confirmation Experience is a whole community preparation for a life-long journey of faith in Jesus Christ”
We Welcome You
For baptism of young children, look at the Church of England 3-part course for baptism preparation (involving families). It includes DVD, storytelling, crafts and a range of ways of involving families.