New publications
Mission-shaped Children:
Moving towards a child-centred Church
Margaret Withers
CHP ISBN 0 7151 4081 7
£7.99
Too often, nurture and worship for children is about
containing and entertaining, rather than engaging
with and growing young Christians who can give as
much as they receive.



Mission-shaped Church touched on the importance of
involving and nurturing the children and young
people in the Church, but only in passing. Missionshaped Children fills this gap. Written as a response to
Mission-shaped Church from the perspective of
children, this important book explores:
How the dramatic cultural, social and economic trends of recent
years have impacted on children’s lives and how this affects the
Church.
Developments in how the Church has nurtured children in the past
100 years. The many and varied opportunities there are to help
children to experience church and some of the challenges this
presents for those working with children.
How the Church can shape itself around children and young
people, rather than expecting them to fit in with the Church.
Written in an engaging style, Mission-shaped Children contains many real life
case studies, practical examples and questions for discussion.
Not Sunday; not School
Eleanor Zuercher
Barnabas ISBN 1 84101 490 6
£9.99
Many churches are realising that struggling with the traditional model on
Sunday School is not the only, or even the best way, to engage with children
effectively. This book provides the tools for looking beyond Sunday to after
school, Saturday morning or holiday times. The material comprises a set of
two-hour thematic programmes that go right through the Christian year, plus
a five-day holiday club programme and stand-lone workshops for the
summer months.
Each session includes:
 Suggestions for Bible stories based on the theme
 Suggestions for prayers
 Creating displays for the church
 Craft activities
 Games
It also gives ideas for worship with parents and carers after the session. It has
a full introduction full of sensible information and advice on using basic
skills. The programmes give background information and clear instructions
on timing, equipment, and graphics to help with the craft activities. It starts
with the assumption that the children know a little about the Christian faith,
but the sessions give time for comments and reflection, so it would reach
many children who rarely darken the doors of a church.
Any church, whatever its size, that wants to develop its children's work
beyond Sunday would find this an invaluable and accessible handbook.
Children's worship DVD
CHP
ISBN 0 7151 4100 7
£14.99 approx.
This DVD, a joint publication with the Diocese of Peterborough, aims to
resource and inspire churches to develop their ministry and outreach among
children through creative worship.
It includes sections on:
 Midweek worship
 Children and Holy Communion
 Children leading worship
 Including children in Sunday worship
 From holiday clubs to church ...
 Helping children come to faith in Christ
Each section includes examples of good practice, interviews with children and
leaders, and questions for discussion.
An invaluable tool to help your church move from theory to practice.
Rural children, rural church
Rona Orme
CHP £4.99 approx.
This short booklet in the Sure Foundations series is packed full of helpful
advice on working with children in rural settings. It examines the challenges
and opportunities and is realistic about the problems of transport, isolation
and small numbers faced by many rural congregations who want to develop
their work with children. Although drawn from the author's experience of
living and working in the Exeter diocese, it includes countrywide case studies
and tried-and-tested practical suggestions, many of which are suitable for
very small congregations.
This title will be launched by the Bishop of Exeter, at South West CRE in
Exeter on 26th January 2007.