Many of these resources are available for loan from the Youth Unit or for purchase from Kentigern Resources. |
| Ministry with Youth |
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 ‘Throw and Tell’ GTKY, icebreaker and storytelling ball |
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 ‘Picture Cube’ inspiring stories, prayer, sharing |
 The Assets approach to working with young people is built on the work of the Search Institute and local practitioners like Andrew Fuller. It proposes that their are at least 40 Assets which when built up in young people assists them in being 'resilient' in their day to day lives. Do an audit of the resources and programs you use in youth ministry and consider building in reinforcement of these assets amongst your long term goals. |
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 Belonging
A kit with discussion plans and a CD which is designed to help people explore their faith through the theme of how and where and why they belong. Its marketed as a Confirmation resource but canvasses the topics with much wider relevance. It also operates out of a 'mentoring' model. At just over $100 it is a comprehensive set of materials available by contacting the Youth Unit. |
Building Assets in Congregations
Eugene Roehikepartain
The Search Institute has spent decades developing resources drawn from its research into the resilience of young people and how to work on the 40 Assets that develop resilience. This book is focused on how congregations might incorporate an understanding of “the assets approach.” |
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 Building Assets Together: 135 Group Activities Helping Youth Succeed
Roehikepartain
Specific Initiative and Cooperation activities helping young people develop assets towards their own positive self esteem and resilience. |
 Tools for Asset Builders Handout
Booklet as part of the Search Institute collection of resources. |
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 Forty Ways Anyone Can Build Assets
Search Institute
Glossy handout/foldout quick reference for building assets into a program. |
 The Church and Youth Ministry
Pete Ward
A collection of Oxford Youth Works Conference Papers by international presenters. The issues are still vital, current and need to be dealt with in congregations or regions serious about ministry with young people. |
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Four Views of Youth Ministry and the Church
Mark Senter
A four way ‘compare and contrast’ of distinctly different models of youth ministry by putting them in dialogue with each other. A book ahead of its time. |
 The Good Listener
Hugh Mackay
A thorough exploration of the role and practice of good listening as a tool for community, health and wholeness. |
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Passing on the Faith: A Radical New Model for Youth and Family Ministry
Strommen, Hardell
As the title says, this resource explores the importance of how we pass on the stories and experience of faith to young people and in our families. |
 Postmodern Children’s Ministry
Beckwith
A cutting edge resource in the all important area of ministry in the post modern context. This book explores the implications of child development in the post modern age. |
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Postmodern
Tony Jones
Essays, short pieces and quotes in a very postmodern exploration and explanation of post modernity and its implications for ministry with young people. Excellent as a workshop or training primer. |
 Reviewing Leadership
Banks, Ledbetter
A Christian scan and evaluation of ‘current’ approaches or models of leadership. Helpful exploration of ‘more than one style’ of offering leadership. |
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 Starting a Youth Ministry
Keefauver
One of those simple primers you get as much from about what you disagree with as agree with. |
 Strategic Youth Ministry Group Books
Planner and primer for setting youth ministry goals and working towards them. With the usual riders about US context and Christendom assumptions. |
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 Trend Watch
Rick Lawrence
A still helpful look at cultural and post modern trends and their potential relevance for youth ministry. |
 All the Business of Life
Robert Banks
Questions of vocation, ministry and values in being a Christian person and part of the church but living in the community. |
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 Images of Young People
Burnside Newsletter
Stories, issues, advocacy and the work of Burnside with young people and families in the wider community. |
 Youth Ministry Nuts n Bolts
Duffy Robbins
Exhaustive guide to fundamental ideas behind the vocation of youth ministry and how to grow your own leadership style and performance. |
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 Girls Talk
Ed. Maria Palotta – Chiarolli
Young womens views on issues that effect their lives e.g. relationships, ethics, discrimination, school & friendship etc. |
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 Where To Find IT In The Bible: An a to Z Guide
Anderson
Handy quick resource for stories, questions and characters. |
 A Parents Guide for Suicidal and Depressed Teens
Kate Williams
Practitioners discussion of the issues and needs of young people at risk. How to notice and what to do. |
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 Growing Up Digital The Rise of the Net Generation
Don Tapscott
Exploring and explaining trends, language, values and interests of the net gen. |
How To Work With Young People: Manual for Youth Leaders
JBCE
The results of a weekend with experienced youth worker colleagues emptying their filing cabinets and providing an exhaustive basic ‘know it all’ guide for youthleaders. |
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New Games for Community
Christine Gapes
A collection of games fostering inclusion and community rather than competition. Great section of games requiring no equipment.
[out of print] |
Refuel
Magazine styled Bible picking up themes of relevance to adolescent males. Some questions about the female version and its tendency to give advice into the modern context from questionable texts.
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 The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens
Sean Covey
Stephen Coveys business management best seller with the worst title for a book has spawned this teen version from son Sean. Behind all that Covey’s Seven Keys are excellent in their simplicity and depth. This is a good resource for approaches embracing ‘assets’ and resilience as background goals in ministry with young people. Leave out the US College stories and add your own illustrations. |
 Simulation Games Vol 1,2,3
Baker and Marshall
Its problematic that these exercises in experiencing and understanding a glimpse of other cultures and situations are known as games when indeed they can be very powerful experiences. The secret to a good simulation is briefing and debriefing!! |
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 Supporting Families Kit
Burnside
Resources and ideas for supporting families in need. One of many Burnside resources and starter kits for mission and ministry. |
 Surviving Year 12: A Survival Guide for Parents and Their Teenagers
Michael Carr-Greig
Sensible and helpful stuff from an expert in the field. |
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 United Methodist Youth Handbook
Michael Selleck
The official ‘how to’ for UM churches in the US… a few adaptable ideas of value… good questions. |
In Search of Meaning
Gai and Andrew Grant
Innovative SRE workbook for High School age. This book can be modified to extract various topics for other types of group discussion or even Camp themes and discussions.
[out of print] |
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 Great Myth Conceptions
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki
Terrific stories and urban myths explained and exposed in Dr Karl’s usually wordy and wise style. |
 Deep Speak
St Lukes Innovative Resources
A set of clever deep discussion cards for groupwork. |
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 Way To Live: Christian Practices for Teens
In the age of spirituality people are rediscovering the value of spiritual disciplines [or practices] and this book has a wealth of good ideas if you pick through it. |
 Changing the World
An interesting guide book with practical and creative actions and advice |
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Ministry with Young Adults: Resources |
Stating the Obvious
Young adults ministry report from South Australia. |
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 Living the Questions
A Bible Study Discussion resource for those who handle living in the grey and exploring the hard questions of faith with an open mind
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| Reading |
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 The Gospel According to Peanuts
Robert L Short etc
A less harsh but nonetheless funny look at the gospel through the eyes of Charles Schulz. Its a bit of conservative fun with some great peanuts cartoons.
Contact Kentigern Books |
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Blue Like Jazz
Donald Miller
Non religious thoughts about spirituality… great dry humour and observation about this curious faith.
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 I Believe This
John Masden et al
John has collected a piece of writing from an eclectic group of people from across Australian society. |
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Small Group or individual Faith and Issues Exploration |
 The Sacred Life of Us
Phil Daughty
A young persons guide to the spiritual life
This is a great east to read exploration of spiritual life in ways and style that youth and young adults can relate to. promoted as a beginner book its a great summary of important issues facing people trying to make sense of their life and faith in this time. We are looking at starting some groups using this resource as a guide. |
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 Freedom to Explore: A Provocative A-Z for the Church
Michael Frost
A collection of stories, illustrations and experiences touching off ways to encourage or challenge the church. Useful for your own reading, sharing or small group discussion. |
Congregational Resource Pack: NCYC 2003 [CRP]
A preparation process for small groups in sharing their faith journey and questions as they headed into NCYC 2003. This can be modified for any and all situations. |
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 Top Gear Small Group Study Series
UCA set of topical study books with application to faith, life and action.
[out of print] |
Companions in Christ
A Small Group resource focused on spiritual formation. Part of a whole series. |
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 Connect Series
UK Scripture Union
Series of discussion guide Bible Studies drawn from popular culture icons like U2, The Simpsons, Harry Potter, The Matrix etc. Some very scary views amongst some insightful discussion. |
 Christs Cross and our Reconciliation
Ian Tanner
Lent Bible Study series
[out of print] |
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 What Does It Mean: Sin Salvation, Sanctification, Sacrament
Bill Loader
Theological explorations of these concepts for small group or individual study. |
Push It: Young Adults Engage the Bible Series (Vol 1-4)
Provocative young adult focused small group bible study discussions. A series around various topics. |
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Inspired Stuff
Downey and Shaw
An exploration of scripture with quirky and informative style for young people and their leaders. |
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Formation and Training |
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 Network
An excellent basic guide for mentoring where the user should pick and choose those parts you'll find useful. A mentor or 'life coach' in the US language is a good solid process for those wanting to explore and grow their gifts for leadership in all its forms. |
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 Daring Leadership for the 21st Century
Dorothy McRae-McMahon |
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Pop Culture |
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 The Gospel Reloaded
Chris Seay
Provocative analysis of the Matrix phenomenon. Continue to stimulate your faith and life through exploration of this pop culture event. |
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 100 Things We Loved About the 20th Century
David Dale
A collection of descriptions of those things which captured our imaginiations or changed our world. Each describes the item, its history while illustrating its impact. Includes: Ray Ban sunnies; the t-shirt; Mars Bars etc and provides some great stories for a variety of situations. |
The Gospel According to the Simpsons
Mark Pinsky
Exploring themes and ideas in the early seasons the worlds most popular animated series. |
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Youth Workers |
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Your First Two Years in Youth Ministry
Doug Fields
An experienced youth workers advice about ordering your ministry, leadership, vision and life in balance and aimed at longevity. |
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 Youth Ministry from the Inside Out
Mike Higgs
Focused on our own leadership, models and understandings of what our ministry with youth is or should be about. |
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Movies, Media, Music |
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 Lessons from Reel Life
Movies, Meaning and Myth Making
Michael Frost and Robert Banks
Quite a handy resource on the question of encountering, exploring and using movies in shaping faith and discipleship. The style makes a handy Year 12 style research resource and works well alongside sites like hollywoodjesus.com |
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 Lights, Camera, Faith Cycle A, B,C
Peter Malone with Rose Pacatte
Lectionery based Movie story ideas now available for all three lectionery years. |
 Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2
Steve Stockman
A must read book for U2 fans and those interested in spiritual journeys and questions. Stockman has spoken at Greenbelt and other major events using U2 songs and themes for many years. |
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Reel Life Real Life
Therapists explore, explain and example the notion that seeing people problem solve on screen can teach options for real life. |
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Discipleship |
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 Christianarchy
Dave Andrews
A radical approach to living out faith through a ministry of caring. Dave is authentic, a brilliant thinker and an encourager out of his own experience. Its provocative! |
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Agenda for Biblical People
Jim Wallis
Seminal radical discipleship writing from the founder of Washington’s Sojourners Community. |
 Living the Questions
Small Group resource for discussing the basics of the Christian faith allowing for grey areas
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 Something You Can Stand For
John Smith and Fuzz Kitto
A track finder or helpful introduction for new Christians.
[out of print] |
 Bumping Into God
Tom Kerr
Spirituality resource for young adults with daily thought, heart and imagination primers. |
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Wriggle
Tracing around a wriggling God with children… stories, anecdotes and thought or heart starters. |
The Bible From Scratch
Andrew Jenkins (SIMON JENKINS)
A cartoon styled one or two page intro to the authorship and themes or central story of every Bible book. |
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 Dear Kim, This is what I believe…
Bill Loader
An exploration of some basic and difficult theological ideas from the well known WA academic, lecturer and speaker. Available for download from Bill’s website. |
 Harper Collins Study Bible NRSV
Great notes and background on each page. NRSV being a helpful academic yet contemporary translation of the Bible, reputedly closest to the original text. |
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Growing & Changing Churches & Faith Communities Mission & the Emerging Church |
 Connections for Life: Core Qualities to Foster in Your Church NCLS
This is a handy resource for changing the church alongside the related workbook |
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 Post Modern Pilgrims: First Century Passion for the Twenty First Century World
Leonard Sweet
An important reflection on some ideas which might help us shape the emerging church of the future. A great description of EPIC worship. |
 Sacred Cows Make Gourmet Burgers
William Easum
Easum writes clearly and helpfully about ministry and leadership in the 21st Century and has been responsible for lots of simple ideas done well to bring about change. Read also " Dancing with Dinosaurs" |
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 The Spiriuality Revolution
David Tacey
Tacey is expert in these explorations and challenges us to think carefully about the kind of people and church we need to be to meet peoples spiritual needs. |
 Threshold of the Future: Reforming the Church in the Post Christian West
Mike Ridell
Pretty much the first text book for exploring the challenges and blindspots in emerging new forms of church in the future. |
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 Aqua Church
Leonard Sweet
Leadership for the current context. Exploring fluid notions of change and response to the chaging world around us. |
Mustard Seed v McWorld
Tom Sine
Issues around how to maintain an authentic Christian life and community in a globalised, individualistic and consumer driven western world. |
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 The Emerging Church
Dan Kimball
A thorough and provoking exploration of the issues, questions, and motivations around the emerging church question. |
Emerging Churches
Gibbs and Bolger
Interviews, stories and models of fresh expressions of church, what underpins them and how they have journeyed until today. |
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 A Generous Orthodoxy
Brian McLaren
An autobiographical apologetic for most parts of the theological spectrum by giving credence to ages and stages and genuinely transformational experiences. McLaren encourages us to ‘be more gentle’ with each other. |
  
A New Kind of Christian, The Story We Find Ourselves In,
The Last Word and the Word After That
Brian McLaren
A trilogy of stories exploring contemporary spirituality, faith, life and relationships. |
God’s Homepage
Mike Riddell
An eclectic post modern collection of ideas and thought starters about God. |
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Mission Shaped Church Church of England Research and Report
Theory, survey and exploration of fresh expressions of church seeking some ways forward for the church. |
The Shaping of Things to Come
Frost and Banks
A coherent gathering of all the seminal ideas and writings on mission in the post modern context from the last fifteen years. A helpful exercise in gathering material in one volume with illustrations from the authors experience. |
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What Next? Connecting with the Generation Formerly Known as X
A good basic outline of the dilemas and challenges of our context. |
 Swimming Between the Flags: Reflections on the Basis of Union
Exploration of the underpinning ideas behind ‘uniting’. ‘Unity in diversity’ is a cute phrase but where is it drawn from and how does it shape who we are? |
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Where Did the Joy Come From?
Andrew Dutney
Revisting the Basis of Union through Andrew’s theologically and ideologically enlivening way. |
Build My Church
NCLS
National research extracting those features of a churches life and mission with potential to attract and nurture new people.
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Kicking Habits
Thomas Bandy
A research backed commentary on those habits churches need to ‘kick’ to move into a new post modern paradigm and beyond survival to reinvention. |
Right and Wrong
Hugh Mackay
An exploration of ethics and morals with an assumption outside the existence of God or a faith structure to inform same. Classic postmodern exploration of how we might decide such dilemmas in the absence of a religious framework or a time of religious pluralism.
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Jesus Drives Me Crazy
Leonard Sweet
Leonards crazy style exploring who Jesus is in todays context |
 The Language of the Emerging Church
Sweet, McLaren et al
Great approach to a dictionary of terms helping ease the changes needed to reinvent church. |
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The Church on the Other Side
Brian McLaren
Some hints and clues about what our focus should be in joining God’s mission in the world and shaping our communities to be open and welcoming. |
 Soul Tsunami
Leonard Sweet
Early explorations of the spiritual yearning in the post modern world. |
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Sexuality and Leadership in the Uniting Church
Biblical and Theological Reflection resources for use by the wider church in exploring this complex issue. Available from the Assembly. |
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DVDs CDs |
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 U2 Elevation concert
DVD/Video
A brilliant exploration of worship, christian themes and questions being explored in the wider world and just the 'out there' discipleship of the world greatest rock band.
Check local CD/DVD and Video Stores |
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Leunig Animated
Michaels cartoons come to life a minute at a time. |
This CD, sponsored by the Youth Unit, has emerged as a way to connect Uniting Church artists and beyond together. The music used on this CD is the beginning of a network to inspire and motivate new voices, new music and a new sound for the Uniting Church.
download order form
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DVDs CDs |
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Sandman’s Advice to the Unpopular
Sandman [Stephen Abbott]
Great short stories of angst, self esteem and growing up… all useful for devotional or small group contexts. |
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Worship |
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Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalogue
Ed. Whiteley & Maynard
A global collection of sermons drawing on the lyrics and concerts of the worlds biggest rock band and their overtly Christian perspective and passion. |
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 Kids Talk About Heaven
Eric Marshall
Wonderful collection of drawings and comments from kids. |
 A Common Prayers
Leunig
One of the now many Leunig Prayer books with pithe illustrations. |
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  Liturgies for Daily Life, Liturgies for the Journey of Life
Dorothy McRae-McMahon
Two of the series of liturgies drawn from Dorothy’s time in and around Pitt St Uniting Church |
 The Rite Stuff
Pete Ward
Issues and ideas in relation to rediscovering tradition and symbol of relevance to youth cultures. Pete Ward is brilliant on these issues. |
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 Short Notes from the Long History of Happiness
Leunig
Writings and cartoons on meaning and spirituality. |
 Social Justice Sunday: Subverting Racism 2003 UCA
A resource useful for any Sunday with a focus on the racism topic. |
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 The Book of Uncommon Prayer
Steven Case
A Youth Workers modernisation of the Book of Common Prayer for worship with and for young people. Exhaustive occasions and styles. |
Worship Feast: 50 Multisensory Services for Youth
Trawl the wealth of ideas for rediscovering simple and involving worship experiences. |
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 The Advent Adventure
David Rhodes
Contemporary language and context rewriting of the advent stories for worship, devotions, reading. |
 Alternative Worship
Jonny Baker et al
A reasonable exploration of the ideas and the landscape of alt.worship… a basic text. |
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 The Prodigal Project
Exploring practitioners stories of experimentation and search in constructing alt.worship faith communities and the context of their stories and struggles. |
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Storybooks |
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Mr Peabody’s Apples
Madonna
Vivid story about a towns baseball coach and the damaging power of rumour and gossip. |
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 Oh The Places You’ll Go!
Dr Seuss
Affirming and encouraging story of a character taking a journey into the future. |
Seven Lonely Places Seven Warm Places
April Bolton
Vices and virtues explored for and with children. |
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 Squids Will Be Squids
Scieszka and Smith
Fractured Fables for very funny illustrations and stories. |
 The Deep
Tim Winton
Lovely story about having a go at the unknown. |
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 The Man Who Loved Boxes
Stephen Michael King
The man struggles to tell his son of his love but chooses to try to show it through his strange fascination with ‘boxes’. |
 Revisiting Relational Youth Ministry
Andrew Root
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 Surprised by Hope
Tom Wright
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 Everything Must Change from Now On
Brian McLaren |
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 Explorations: Making Sense of Generation Y
Savage, Collins Mayo, Mayo and Cray |
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