Now available on DVD, Lee Hirsch’s acclaimed Bully (PG-13) follows five kids and families over the course of a school year.  Intimate and shocking, the stories include two families who have lost children to suicide, and a 14-year-old girl incarcerated after bringing a gun on her school bus.  The films’ website offers a film guide and toolkits for parents, students, and special needs.  The following are particularly helpful tools for faith communities:

What is Bullying?
Student Discussion Action Guide
Internet Safety Strategies for Youth
Ten Ways to be an Upstander
Empowering Bystanders
What Do You Say To ‘That’s So Gay’…
The Parent Action Toolkit
Ten Actions ALL Parents Can Take to Help Eliminate Bullying
Cyberbullying Prevention and Intervention Tips for Families
Creating Just and Caring Communities:  A Roadmap for Parents
When the Advice is Ineffective

The film’s companion book offers deeper resources, including an extensive list of websites.  Among them is the federal government site, Stop Bullying.

Many bullying resources are not produced specifically for faith communities, but Rethinking Youth Ministry has posted a six-part series on Teens, Bullying and Suicide.  The It Gets Better Project is also a powerful tool for youth ministry.

In the New York Times, Andrew Solomon reviews Emily Bazelon’s new Sticks and Stones:  Defeating the Culture of Bullying and Rediscovering the Power of Character and Empathy (Random House, 2013).  This short video clip from Bazelon is a useful beginning for conversation in community.  Her book joins several other recent volumes:  Carrie Goldman’s Bullied:  What Every Parent, Teacher, and Kid Needs to Know About Ending the Cycle of Fear (HarperOne, 2012) and Barbara Coloroso’s The Bully, the Bullied, and the Bystander (William Morrow, 2009) are fine recommendations for parents.

Picture books are great conversation starters.  On bullying, we recommend Patricia Polocco, Bully (Putnam Juvenile, 2012) and Trudy Ludwig, Confessions of a Former Bully (Dragonfly, 2012), My Secret Bully (Tricycle, 2005), Just Kidding (Tricycle, 2006), and others.

The RCC has long recommended Bullied from Teaching Tolerance, Let’s Get Real from Groundspark, Stop Bullying:  Standing Up for Yourself and Others from Paraclete, and Bullying:  What Every Adult Needs to Know, also from Paraclete.  Church is a vital context for education around bullying.  Contact the RCC to access or consult about these resources.

Lifelong Faith Journal is a free download.  See especially volume 6.1, “The Ecologies of Lifelong Faith Formation,” volume 3.1, “Generations Learning Together,” and “Best Practices in Intergenerational Faith Formation” in volume 1.3/4.  Faith Formation Learning Exchange offers a short list of current books here.  Find them at the RCC.

Several curricula guide formation for all ages.  Faith Inkubators provides resources for family and cross-generational formation.  With their FAITH 5 approach, churches model a practice for use at home:  sharing highs and lows, relating a Bible verse, praying and blessing.  This process recalls the Linns’ classic Sleeping with Bread:  Holding What Gives You Life (Paulist, 1995).  SeasonsFUSION from Seasons of the Spirit is another curricular option.  And Vibrant Faith Ministries offers a wealth of resources for intergenerational formation;  see their Faith Talk cards, Milestones Ministry material, and more at the RCC.

The RCC can recommend many books of ideas for intergenerational faith formation.  Holly Catterton Allen and Christine Lawton Ross include an appendix of ideas in their Intergenerational Christian Formation:  Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community and Worship (IVP Academic, 2012).   Some of our favorites:  Share a loaf of bread and wonder together.  Cook; eat.  Share art.  Learn to sign the words of a prayer or song.  Create and walk a labyrinth.  And tell your stories:  find resources for these and more activities for all ages at the RCC.

Many forms of spiritual drawing or coloring invite everyone, regardless of skill level.  Zentangle is a way to practice focus and meditation through drawing by using repetitive patterns.  (Their YouTube channel is here.)  Kass Hall’s Zentangle Untangled:  Inspiration and Prompts for Meditative Drawing (North Light Books, 2012) and Beckah Krahula’s One Zentangle a Day:  a 6-Week Course in Creative Drawing for Relaxation, Inspiration, and Fun (Quarry Books, 2012) provide guidance.

Journey-In:  A Meditative Coloring Journal (Janelle Sundberg and Michelle Ahlquist, Journey-In, 2006) suggests users write an intention to meditate upon while coloring.  From the website:

Journal space is provided for insights, ideas, thoughts, or whatever comes to you during your coloring time.  Sometimes people get clear ideas, others may receive a few words or just flashes of thought, and some will have a feeling, while others may see pictures or symbols.  Don’t dismiss anything.  What may seem insignificant maybe a huge insight to your prayer.  Write it down and keep coloring.  It is amazing how little ideas can expand when you allow your mind the freedom to wander.

And Sybil MacBeth’s Praying in Color materials from Paraclete Press, including books and DVDs for young people, men, and everyone, recommend doodling as a form of prayer.  Instructional videos are here.

Apparently, a lot of people are finding these art forms engaging; perhaps a pad and a pen belong with service books and hymnals in the pew.  Find these materials and a wealth of ideas and resources for spiritual practice at the RCC.

DVDs

NEW:  Cracking the Codes:  The System of Racial Inequity (World Trust).  Downloadable conversation guide and access to learning modules.

Mirrors of Privilege:  Making Whiteness Visible (World Trust).  Downloadable conversation guide.

What Makes Me White?  (A.M. Sands).

Race:  The Power of an Illusion (California Newsreel).  Downloadable discussion guide.  PBS online companion.

Traces of the Trade (P.O.V.).  Extensive discussion materials, including ideas for faith communities.

Racing Across the Lines:  Changing Race Relations through Friendship by Deborah L. Plummer (Pilgrim Press, revised edition with DVD).  Book includes exercises for personal reflections, group dialogue, and spiritual practice.

Books

Joseph Barndt, Becoming an Anti-Racist Church:  Journeying Toward Wholeness (Fortress, 2011) and Understanding and Dismantling Racism:  The Twenty-First Century Challenge to White America (Fortress, 2007).

Paul Kivel, Uprooting Racism:  How White People Can Work for Racial Justice (New Society Publishers, 3rd edition, 2011).  Includes questions, exercises, suggestions for action.

Jennifer Harvey, ed., Disrupting White Supremacy from Within:  White People on What WE Need to Do (Pilgrim Press, 2008).

Michelle Alexander, The New Jim Crow:  Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (The New Press, 2012).  A Study Guide and Call to Action is available.

Denominational Resources

The Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Antiracism Initiative features the DVD Becoming the Beloved Community.

The United Methodist Church has produced the video Truth and Wholeness:  Replacing White Privilege with God’s Promise.  A Leader’s Guide is downloadable.

Seeing the Face of God in Each Other, the antiracism training model of the Episcopal Church, is downloadable.

Sacred Conversation on Race is a United Church of Christ initiative.  The downloadable Resource Guide is supplemented with a series of two-page factsheets, also free to download.

The RCC also has a wide selection of resources on race and diversity for children.  Contact us for consultation.

Brian D. McLaren’s Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha, and Mohammed Cross the Road?  Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World (Jericho Books, 2012) argues that affirming other religions can strengthen our commitment to our own.  The book is divided into 29 short chapters, treating doctrine, liturgy, and mission.  A group discussion guide is available, as is a video overview.  At 13 minutes, it is a good introduction for an education session or series.  Another video introduction is Scott Alexander’s Knowing and Loving Our Neighbors of Other Faiths from Practicing Our Faith/The Work of the People.  A short study guide is available.

My Neighbor’s Faith:  Stories of Interreligious Encounter, Growth, and Transformation (ed. Jennifer Howe Peace, Or N. Rose and Gregory Mobley, Orbis, 2012) is just that:  a collection of 53 personal narratives that help us reflect on the place of interfaith encounter in our own lives.  With these models, sharing these stories in religious community appears as a transformative exercise.

Eboo Patel’s Sacred Ground:  Pluralism, Prejudice, and the Promise of America (Beacon Press, 2012) is a call for Americans to defend the values of inclusiveness and pluralism.   New from Morehouse, Embracing Interfaith Cooperation:  Eboo Patel on Coming Together to Change the World is a five session DVD study that elaborates these themes for the church context.  See also Interfaith Cooperation 101, a short file from the Interfaith Youth Core.

There are excellent interfaith resources online for all ages.  Exodus Conversations is a valuable new website that uses the Exodus story and the Passover Haggadah as a springboard for interfaith dialogue.   The Interfaith Observer is a rich monthly e-journal.  KidSpirit Online is an interfaith forum where teens explore their spirituality; free downloadable group guides for each issue help youth workers and parents frame discussion.  And the Milestones Project photographs children of all races, religions, and cultures at shared moments.  Among the many excellent children’s books on world religions, their Faith:  Five Religions and What They Share (Kids Can Press, 2012) is outstanding.

Finally, Living the Questions promises a new DVD study on Islamophobia later this year.  You will find it, along with a deep collection of interfaith resources and opportunities for consultation, at the RCC.

Hopes and Fears:  Everyday Theology for New Parents and Other Tired, Anxious People by Bromleigh McCleneghan and Lee Hull Moses (Alban, 2012) is such a find.  It works for small group study, and it is a great recommendation for new parents.  Read more here.

Raising Teens in an Almost Christian World:  A Parent’s Guide by Dietrich Kirk (Center for Youth Ministry Training, 2012) summarizes Kendra Creasy Dean’s Almost Christian.  Designed for small group use, each of six lessons includes an introduction, a look at findings from the National Study on Youth and Religion, a scriptural reflection, a response from Dean, and an opportunity to reflect and discuss.  Read more here.

Sabbath in the Suburbs:  a Family’s Experiment with Holy Time by MaryAnn McKibben Dana (Chalice Press, 2012) documents a family’s practice of Sabbath-keeping.  Each chapter includes tips.  Dana is a Presbyterian pastor:  here’s her blog.

Finally, Worm Watching and Other Wonderful Ways to Teach Children to Pray by Ann Ingalls and Maryann Macdonald (Pilgrim Press, 2012) helps children (and others) develop the habit of prayer though play.

Find these and more parenting resources at the RCC.

What Wondrous Love:  Holy Week in Word and Art is a new offering from Candler School of Theology.  Like A Thrill of Hope for Advent and Christmas, it features the art of John August Swanson.

Chris Seay of Advent Conspiracy invites us to an experience of solidarity with the poor in A Place at the Table.

This month, Embracing Interfaith Cooperation with Eboo Patel will join the other Embracing series offerings from Marcus Borg, Walter Brueggemann, Kathleen Norris and Phyllis Tickle.

Adam Hamilton has several studies appropriate for Lent:  this year,  The Way joins 24 Hours That Changed the World, Final Words, and Enough:  Discovering Joy through Simplicity and Generosity.

Jessica LaGrone’s Namesake:  When God Rewrites Your Story explores the transformational power of God through the stories of biblical characters.

Augsburg Fortress features Making Sense of the Cross.  Animate is another Lenten option.

On Our Way:  Christian Practices for Living a Whole Life has 13 short segments from which to choose.  More Lenten video is available at The Work of the People.

Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove explores The Rule of St. Benedict in a new study, which joins his Awakening Hope (with Shane Claiborne) and Discovering Christian Classics:  5 Sessions in the Ancient Faith of Our Future (with Lauren Winner).

Ruth Haley Barton’s Sacred Rhythms:  Spiritual Practices that Nourish Your Soul and Transform your Life draws on imagery from nature.

In Thin Places:  Six Postures for Creating and Practicing Missional Christianity, Jon Huckins and Rob Yackley chronicle their experience in community.

Of course, other multipart series can easily by adapted for Lent:  the Journey of the Universe Educational Series, John Dominic Crossan’s The Challenge of Jesus, and studies from Living the Questions come to mind.  Contact the RCC to consult with us or reserve.  And please remember:  we love feedback and suggestions from members.

Pathak and Runyon provide resources on their website.  A short video introduces the neighboring movement.  Church leaders are given guidance on how to connect with other religious communities and civic leaders.  And, perhaps most usefully, a small group discussion guide provides a framework for people to explore neighboring at church.

The sessions each have four parts.  Each begins with an intriguing question:  What factors did you consider before choosing your current residence?  On a scale of 1 to 10, how hectic is life right now?  What is the best party that you have ever been to?  A short Bible passage is followed by two basic questions:  What do you like about this passage?  Do you have any questions about these verses?  Reflection/discussion questions and concrete, doable action steps complete each session.

The authors are clear:  this is not an evangelism strategy.  Moving into genuine relationship with our neighbors, however, involves learning to share our stories.  The Art of Neighboring joins a growing collection of resources at the RCC that help us do that.  Contact us for more ideas.

Continuing reading groups for young people in church, with or without family adults, can also be formative.  2012 has been a rich year for children’s books.  R.J. Palacio’s Wonder (Knopf) concerns the bullying of a boy with severe facial deformities.  Lois Lowry has completed The Giver Quartet with Son (Houghton Mifflin).  And for younger children, Matthew Cordell’s new Hello! Hello! (Disney-Hyperion) presents a child exploring the world while family members remain glued to digital devices.  But the best choices may come from the young people themselves.  The context of religious community can transform the conversation.

Spirituality and Practice offers readings, practices, quotes, searchable reviews, and so much more.  Check their lists of spiritually literate books and movies.  Try “Topics and Media” too.

Browse the show archive at On Being.  See top blog posts.

The Text This Week is a virtual study desk; choose a text and see a deep selection of resources.  The Art Concordance is particularly valuable.

Religion & Ethics Newsweekly:  listen to this PBS show or particular stories, or read interviews.

David Perry is a minister in the Methodist Church in Great Britain.  His Visual Theology blog follows the lectionary with photographs and reflections.

Patheos is a massive collection of blogs and information on religion.  Try the Progressive Christian Channel for theological conversation and a video gallery.

Vibrant Faith at Home offers faith forming activities:  talking, praying, ritualizing and reaching out.

Visual media from The Work of the People support individual and small group devotion.

At Practicing Our Faith, choose one of twelve spiritual practices and see ideas for ways to practice and more.

Luther Seminary presents a wealth of resources to enrich Bible reading at Enter the Bible.

Don’t see your favorites?  Tell us.