APCE RESOURCE PAGE

Our Stories in God’s Story

by Sharon Warkentin Short The need to make sense of our lives seems to be a fundamental human drive. We all do it by interpreting our individual experiences in light of some larger controlling story. The “small stories” of our everyday lives take on whatever meaning...

The Role of Advocacy for Educators in the PCUSA

Once upon a time, emboldened by 19 years in educational ministry in tiny to very large churches and a whole lot of APCE meetings, a Certified Christian Educator in the PC (U.S.A.) was appointed to the “Workgroup on the Role and Status of Christian Educators.” Two...

Crafting the APCE Mission Statement

The mission of APCE is to connect, enrich, empower, and sustain persons serving in educational ministry in the Reformed family of churches. This statement has helped guide the purpose and ministry of The Association of Presbyterian Church Educators for about 20 years...

Back-to-School (or Virtual School) Blessing

Many churches mark the back-to-school season with a Blessing of Backpacks for children, families, teachers, and leaders who are returning to the classroom after summer break. This ritual is a tangible reminder that God is present everywhere and accompanies us in every...

Lessons Learned from Virtual VBS

As churches have made adjustments to their regular Christian education programming since the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, The Advocate blog (and APCE leaders) have offered suggestions for program adjustments. We thought we’d follow up with one congregation who...

Rethinking Summer Mission Activity: The Mission Un-Trip

by Brittany Porch Upon canceling our summer mission trips due to Covid-19, the church Session committed to an alternative mission experience for our youth that was safe and offered a meaningful service experience. To pull this off, I had quite the task set before me....

Labor Day Sabbath

Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident...

Broadening APCE’s Racial Ethnic Base

by Anne Yee-Hibbs As I write this blog article for the Advocate, we are living in social isolation because of the Covid-19 outbreak. During this time, we realize how much we are dependent upon our relationships with our family and friends. It is difficult, and yet we...