Resources for children and youth in a time of war

The following links have helpful resources:

Leader Resources
Creators of Journey to Adulthood (J2A) have a link that will download a PDF file of a Presbyterian Church resource, Peace, Be Still: a Process for Youth and Youth Leaders in the Event of War. It is a quiet and contemplative approach to group prayer and conversation that is adapted from The Liturgy of Discernment. It uses seven elements, ritual, relating, receiving, ruminating, reflecting, responding, and returning. The Liturgy of Discernment is one of the many contemplative resources offered by the Youth Ministry Spirituality Project funded by the Lily Foundation, San Francisco Theological Seminary, and Youth Specialties. To read about the program without downloading the PDF file, go to pcusa.org/iraq/peacebestill.htm

Every Voice Network: Anglican Voices Uniting for Justice
This is a relatively new site with many informative articles and helpful resources. The home page has links to sermon resources and:

Teens talk and pray about war
Maybe you want to talk to the teens in your church about war, but don’t know where to begin. So consider these suggestions by the Rev. Shannon Ferguson Kelly. At age 29, she’s spent more than half her life working with teen groups. As Associate Rector at the Parish of Christ the Redeemer in Pelhamdale, NY, she offers these suggestions to youth-group leaders as one way to help teens deal with their thoughts and feelings in time of war.

Attending to our children in a time of war
For many of us, our first thoughts during this time go to the children we love. How can we keep them safe? In what kind of world are they growing up? How can I possibly talk to them about all the complexities of this situation? When we ask these questions, we might picture our own children, grandchildren, Godchildren, nieces, nephews, neighborhood children, or children in our churches. All adults who love children are concerned with these issues, and asking how we can respond. In all of our responses, the key is to create sacred space where children can ask questions and we can listen to them talk about their feelings.

Return to Iraq War Index Page