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Cokesbury Kids Announces New Adaptive Curriculum for Fall

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Cokesbury Kids Announces New Adaptive Sunday School and At-Home Options for Churches and Families for the Fall
With the Delta variant on the rise, many families are choosing to stay home

Nashville, Tenn. (August 24, 2021) — Many churches are still recovering from the uncertainties of the last year, and the arrival of the Delta variant has increased people’s stress as they want to make good decisions for their families and communities. With a COVID-19 vaccine for children under 12 not yet available, many families are reconsidering what public activities they participate in. These same parents also are worried about the effects of this past year on their children’s social and spiritual growth.

To support these churches and families, Cokesbury Kids is offering five options for in-person and at-home Sunday School and worship. “Parents and children’s ministers need flexible options so that they can quickly adapt week-to-week as communities continue to deal with questions of safety this fall,” says Marj Pon, Cokesbury Kids associate publisher. “We wanted to make things as easy as possible for churches to lead faith formation no matter what coming back looks like.”

Some pastors believe our current uncertainties can help churches become nimbler when reaching people within and outside their faith communities. “COVID has reminded us of something the Church has known and practiced since the beginning – adaptability. Adaptability is not just the name of the game, it’s a faithful ministry practice as we seek to reach more people across various settings with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Current projections show the peak of the delta variant of the virus equaling the spike we experienced last winter and so we want our congregations to be as prepared to adapt to the conditions as possible. The Cokesbury Kids curriculum makes adaptation from in-person church to online at home easy all while opening up space for kids to make connections with God and one another as they grow in their faith,” say Rev. Justin Coleman, senior pastor at University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Churches are working in communities that might deeply differ on what appropriate safety protocols look like. “We are deeply aware of the frustration and fear the pandemic continues to cause, and recognize that opinions about masks and vaccines are polarizing in our faith communities. As our church continues to move forward through the unknown, we prayerfully center our lives on the love of God and neighbor above ourselves, as we learn and serve together,” says Lauren Bedevian, children’s director at Memorial Drive United Methodist Church in Houston.

Whether people choose to worship in person with their churches or at home, Cokesbury Kids new fall curriculum empowers leaders to reach more people and connect with families as we continue to move forward through the pandemic.

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COKESBURY KIDS – A PART OF THE UNITED METHODIST PUBLISHING HOUSE – WAS CREATED TO PROVIDE A SINGLE, TRUSTED RESOURCE FOR ENGAGING SPIRITUAL LEARNING MATERIALS FOR KIDS FROM INFANCY THROUGH THEIR TWEEN YEARS. OUR PRIMARY GOAL IS TO GIVE YOU THE TOOLS YOU NEED, BUT WE’RE MORE THAN A PRODUCT LINE. OFFERING VBS WORKSHOPS, NETWORKING EVENTS, AND ONGOING SUPPORT, COKESBURY KIDS STRIVES TO BE A TRUE PARTNER FOR YOUR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY.

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Donna M Schultz
I am very saddened by the changes in the Celebrate Wonder curriculum for this 2021-2022 year. We used it throughout the pandemic when we were virtual and also one we were back in person for children's ministry on Sunday mornings. All our volunteers loved it and shared it was the best curriculum we have had in the past ten years. The wonder questions are gone from the begining of the lesson each week. It is not the same format that we had this past year. As the children's minister I love the "past" format and the inclusion of the curriculum Sadly I will begin the task of finding something else to use again. I do not feel the quality has been maintained at all. We do not have songs with the mp4 Bible lessons even though the description ofthe curriculum mp4 indicates that songs are provided. We don't use CD music any longer in our lessons -- sometimes for background music but we always use DVD music for the kids to sing along. I can only express how disappointed I am in the new format. We loved the curriculum and now feel cheated that it was not provided for a minimum of a three-year cycle. I hope you will pass this on. So disappointing to have these changes happen really with no contact to churches that have been faithfully using the curriculum since last September. Donna Schultz Associate Minister for Children & Youth First Christian Church Topeka, KS I guess it is possible to just reuse year one?