Goodies

What Anne’s Reading

What is the Bible? by Rob Bell (WORB, Inc. and HarperCollins (c) 2017) ISBN 978-0-06-219426-8

In a time when people are faith and Bible-curious and have limited background in either, Rob writes a fascinating introduction to scripture. He offers insights into both quirky and well-known stories based on his research and what he’s gleaned from rabbis and other experts about how they connect with each other. It’s more like a conversation and thought process, with lots of questions he’s encountered and bolded points he wants you to take in, and offers an honest look at the complexity of God’s Word.

The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs (Simon & Schuster (c) 2007) ISBN 978-0-7432-9147-7

A non-believer decides to dive into the reality of what life is like when you follow the hundreds of laws outlined in scripture. I feel sorry for my neighbour upstairs because I continually laugh out loud as I read it at bedtime. Every few days through his journey he offers reflections on the challenges of being faithful, and how the Jewish rules can be tricky to translate into modern day living. He takes this task very seriously and acknowledges that it is changing him and that he can understand the value of the rituals involved in being a person of faith. His research is enlightening and it’s just a fun read.

Some of Anne's Favourite Resources for Faith Development Programs and Worship

MUSIC

The SIng! Hymnal (Crossway and Getty Music (c) 2025) ISBN 978-1-4335-9029-0

I’ve long appreciated the theologically sound lyrics and easy-to-learn melodies from the Gettys et al. This is a gorgeous collection of many of Keith and Kristyn’s creations (Across the Lands, Beneath the cross of Jesus, By faith, Christ our hope in life and death, Every promise, Hear the call of the Kingdom, Holy Spirit living breath of God, In Christ alone, Joy has dawned, and Speak O Lord to name a few) as well as hundreds of traditional hymns and works from other current hymn writers. Great care has been taken in organizing the sections, beginning with The Worship Service, The Christian Life, and The Life of Christ. What particularly impresses me is that at the back the story of each hymn is briefly told. This is an incredible collection.

Voices Together (MennoMedia (c) 2020)

I recently stumbled across this beautiful, bright purple hymnal from the Mennonite tradition, chock full of current and traditional hymns for worship. What I particularly love is that the music is organized under helpful headings including Telling God’s Story, which is a chronological treasure trove of Bible story-related songs, from Creation through to reign of Christ. Others headings are Gathering, Praising, Reconciling, Confessing Faith, Celebrating Baptism and Communion (includes meal and foot washing), Sharing our Stories, Praying, Giving, Living God’s Story and Sending. A wealth of resources are at the back.

Sing With Me (Faith Alive Christian Resources (c) 2006)           ISBN 1-59255-215-3

This is a rich collection of songs suitable for young children and inter-generational learning and worship. It is separated into four sections:
Hello - songs for gathering and praise and thanksgiving
Know - songs spanning the Old Testament and the Christian Church year Grow - songs about confession, prayer, listening for God's Word, the sacraments and discipleship
Show - songs of dedication and offering, parting and being the Church in the world
Guitar chords are included and the collection features older and newer music chosen for ease of learning for all ages.
 

RECREATION and GAMES

Go Out and Play!: Favorite Outdoor Games from Kaboom! (Candlewick Press (c) 2012)          ISBN 978-0-7636-5530-3

This is pretty much the consummate resource for all those games you used to play with the other neighbourhood kids that are at risk of being lost and forgotten in our screened age. I won't say more here about the necessity of play for kids, especially imaginative, self-regulated and creative time spent outdoors as it's been on blogs and in the media for some time. However, I do love this book for how it encourages fun and healthy play. Chapters include tag games, hide-and-seek games, ball games, team games, sidewalk games, circle games, race games and "no-rules" games. Great for any recreation or children's or youth leader!

The 175 Best Camp Games: A Handbook for Leaders by Kathleen, Laura and Mary Fraser (Boston Mills Press (c) 2009)          ISBN 978-1-55046-505-1

I absolutely love this book for so many reasons. First, it's Canadian and features many games I've played and loved at kids' and youth programs growing up and in friends' backyards. The authors are veterans of running day camps in Toronto and not only is there a wealth of games for all kinds of conditions, contexts and types of programs (i.e. pool games, wide games, indoor quiet games) but there are also plenty of savvy and helpful tips about how to handle situations like including children with disabilities, a lost child, training staff and leaders, choosing games and activities for a full day camp program and dealing with challenging behaviours. Every time I see this book on shelves in bookstores (it seems to be everywhere) I smile.

The New Games Book (The Headlands Press Inc. (c) 1976)          ISBN 0-385-12516-X
More New Games! (The Headlands Press Inc. (c) 1981)          ISBN 0-385-17514-0

Don't let the copyright dates put you off (or the 70s pictures of hippies!). These books hold a special place on my shelf because of their emphasis on 3 rules - Play Hard, Play Fair, Nobody Hurt - and their emphasis on creativity and fun. They call on players to not just focus on their muscles, coordination and competition but also on thinking and building community. Games are grouped by number of players, from 2 to huge crowds - "the more the better". Suitable for inter-generational play and all kinds of other play situations. I have regularly used many of these games as warm ups for drama workshops and programs.

STORYTELLING

Show Me a Story: 40 Craft Projects and Activities to Spark Children's Storytelling by Emily K. Neuburger (Storey Publishing (c) 2012)          ISBN 978-1-60342-988-7

What a treasure trove of wonderful ideas! As the back cover says, "telling stories helps children learn and use new words, articulate scary or sad feelings, share experiences with new friends, preserve family memories, have fun during car trips, cope with fear and loss and nourish the imagination". While none of the suggestions found inside are particularly religious or spiritual, all of the previously mentioned things that stories do for children apply to our faith, our biblical story and our community as people of God. They can all be modified to introduce a Bible story in wonderfully creative and inviting ways and/or draw out reflection and extension on a story just heard. So many creative avenues (a sampling includes story dice, blocks, mats, maps, grab bags, disk chains, Ping-Pong, traveling puppet theatre, magic pebbles, magnetic story board) for digging deep into our own stories and those of God's people!