BuildingFaith

10/16/2026

"Whether you only have a few children or you’ve got a small group to present a Christmas play, it is not difficult to hold an impromptu Christmas pageant."

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

On-the-Spot Christmas Pageant “Whether you only have a few children or you’ve got a small group to present a Christmas play, it is not difficult to hold an impromptu Christmas pageant.”       The Good Christmas Pageants have been occurring in churches for years. They are a great way to teac...

10/15/2026

"When to start? We start the Sunday before or after Thanksgiving, depending on the year."

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Tips for a “Medium” Christmas Pageant “The keys are flexibility and fellowship; this is not about the production, but about the children being invited to step forward and bear witness to their favorite bible story.” Multiple Pageant Models There’s an ongoing conversation about ‘labor-int...

10/14/2026

"Therefore, we decided to develop this article together to offer different perspectives, to bring together both critical and creative thinking about pageants, and to suggest multiple meaningful approaches. We hope that the questions and ideas raised here will help your communities discern fruitful ways of reckoning with this tradition for your contexts."

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Christmas Pageants from Two Points of View I (Jodi) have a confession to make: I don’t like Christmas pageants. It’s not just the significant planning that they can require. It’s not even just the stress that they can bring on for children, youth, parents, and organizers at an already busy tim...

10/13/2026

Take part in the Roots & Wings Intergenerational Collaborative survey on intergenerational worship!

Follow the link in the comments for more info.

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

10/12/2026

A prayer for Indigenous Peoples' Day:

"O Great Spirit, God of all people and every tribe,
through whom all people are related;
Call us to the kinship of all your people.
Grant us vision to see through the lens of our Baptismal Covenant,
the brokenness of the past;
Help us to listen to one another,
in order to heal the wounds of the present;
And give us courage, patience, and wisdom to work together
for healing and hope with all of your people,
now and in the future.
Mend the hoop of our hearts and let us live in
justice and peace
through Jesus Christ,
the One who comes to all people
that we might live in dignity. Amen."

By St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Port Royal, VA

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Prayers for Native American Day (Indigenous People’s Day) & Native American Heritage Month For many people in Native American communities, the federal holiday Columbus Day serves as a painful reminder of the brutal European settlement and conquest of the Americas. These communities, along with man...

10/09/2026

"I created eight prayer stations, and everyone – people all ages – spent 15 minutes choosing one or more stations to engage with. We played meditative music in the background, and encouraged folks to go at their own pace."

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Advent Prayer Stations at Church: A Deeper Way Into The Season “People were invited to write their prayers of longing and put them in the empty manger – the same manger we would soon use for our Christmas pageant.” Going Deeper in Advent Advent – as they say in Godly Play – helps us get re...

10/08/2026

"Adventfest has become an all-church, multi-generational event. My Adventfest gurus, Cory and Sean, have it down to a science. While mainly an Advent wreath-making event, it also includes lunch (grilled cheese and homemade soup) and a variety of crafts for a variety of skill levels."

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Advent Wreath Making Survival Guide “The event helps to position people to observe Advent as a spiritual season at home… As we say here in New York, What’s not to like?”   Making Advent Wreaths at Church Many churches host an Advent-wreath-making event on the first Sunday of the season. Thi...

10/07/2026

We at Building Faith have put together an Advent Toolkit to inspire your Advent formation planning. Check out the link in the comments for articles featuring activities, community engagement ideas, resources, and Christmas pageant tips.

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

10/06/2026

"Youth need time to get away and take a break from the daily pressures of middle and high school. Try not to overschedule. Choose a couple things to bring the group together—for us, it was a low ropes course and making s’mores around a bonfire—and then build in time to rest and connect."

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

The Difference a Youth Retreat Can Make for Youth Today: One Church’s Story and Takeaways When I (Catherine Breed) started working in youth ministry back in 2000, it seemed pretty easy to come up with things that would appeal to teens. At the Episcopal church where I worked in Virginia Beach, we h...

10/05/2026

"Office Hours provide an opportunity to connect with members of the Lifelong Learning Team at Virginia Theological Seminary who specialize in Christian formation and ministry development. Church leaders in all areas of ministry (clergy, children's ministry, youth ministry, adult education, chaplaincy, etc.) are invited to ask questions, learn about new Christian formation resources, or just find a supportive sounding board."

Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary

Bring your questions and wonderings about Christian formation and ministry development to LL Office Hours!