wfn.org | Newsline: Gather 'Round is starting over

[CoBNews <CoBNews@brethren.org>]

Newsline: Church of the Brethren News Service,

>News Director Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford,

>800-323-8039 ext. 260,

>cobnews@brethren.org

>GATHER 'ROUND IS STARTING OVER

(April 12, 2010) Elgin, IL -- Gather 'Round, a Christian education

curriculum project of Brethren Press and the Mennonite Publishing

>Network, is starting over.

That is to say, the curriculum is completing its four-year cycle through

>the Bible, and returns this fall to Genesis.

As congregations launch into the next round of the curriculum, they

will notice a few new features. The most visible change is a completely

new version of the "Talkabout," the signature item that connects church

and home. Previously a three-dimensional item intended for congregations

to purchase for each family, the "Talkabout" is now provided on CD or as

a computer download so that material can be copied or e-mailed to families

>in weekly or monthly formats.

Bonus content gives parents a summary of the Sunday school quarter,

commentary on each week's Bible story, and additional items such as

children's pages or articles for teachers. Congregations need to purchase

only one copy of the CD per quarter, and may decide which format is best

>for their setting.

The youth unit, called "Search," now offers more options for group

exploration of Bible stories and their application to the everyday lives of  
high

school teens. Also new this coming year is a full youth resource for the

summer quarter. Previously the youth material for summer was a supplement

>to one of the other teacher's guides.

The new "Summer Search" includes ways to adapt the material for junior high

youth, and is provided on CD or as a download.

The multiage teacher's guide, which serves congregations with a small numbe r

of children that span a wide age range, is now coordinated with both the pr 
imary

and middler student books. Teachers may select one or both levels of studen t

books based on the particular mix of children in the group, and the teacher  
guide

identifies parallel activities in both student books.

Session plans for all age levels have been revised to be simpler and easier  to 
use.

The curriculum will once again cover the whole Bible, so that families hear  the

story of God's faithfulness over the generations. Many new stories are adde d in

this outline, and there are two completely new quarters: "God's Good Creati on"

>and "Stories of God's People."

Gather 'Round: Hearing and Sharing God's Good News, published by Brethren

Press and Mennonite Publishing Network, is a Sunday school curriculum for

children and youth and their families. Partner denominations include the

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Mennonite Brethren, Moravian Church

in America, United Church of Canada, and United Church of Christ.

The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continu ing

the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in com 
munity.

The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions an d 
is one

of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrated its 300th anniversary i n 
2008.

It counts some 125,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, an d

has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic ,

>Haiti, and India.

># # #

>For more information contact:

>Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford

>Director of News Services

>Church of the Brethren

>1451 Dundee Ave., Elgin, IL 60120

>800-323-8039 ext. 260

>cobnews@brethren.org