Elaine Ward passionately believes that it is vital for children to hear the good news of God's love through the Lenten stories of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. In this companion volume to "An Idle Tale Becomes Good News" (also available from CSS Publishing Company), Ward shares her gift for communicating with young people through twenty stories based on specific phrases or objects related to Jesus' ministry in his final days or in his resurrection appearances. Each message tells a captivating tale in easily understood language, then invites children to enter the sacred story by connecting it with the scriptural narrative. Brief talking points and questions are included to help presenters clearly make the link for their young listeners.
Stories include:
- The Wasted Ointment
- The Warning Dream
- The Misdirected Tears
- The Torn Curtain
- The Idle Tale
... and many more
Elaine M. Ward is a storyteller/writer/preacher who has spent a lifetime as a lover of literature, "good news," and children. She is a graduate of Union Theological Seminary (New York City) and Lancaster Theological Seminary, and served for twenty years as Minister of Children at University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Now a resident of Austin, Texas, Ward is the author of "Asking For Wonder," "And The Sea Lay Down," and "Story Time At The Altar" (CSS), as well as "Love In A Lunchbox: Poems And Parables For Children's Worship "(Abingdon).

Jesus told stories, and the scriptures are the sacred story of God and his people and since children love stories too, is there a better way to plant the seeds of faith than with stories? This outstanding collection provides 86 enchanting parables written in a simple, direct style that children of all ages can easily relate to. Brief talking points and questions in each message help youngsters clearly understand the good news of God's incredible grace and unconditional love. A convenient scripture index is included.

The sacraments of baptism and communion are foundational acts of the Christian faith -- in addition to affirming God's grace, they have the power to transform us in the living presence of the Almighty. Elaine Ward believes that the sacraments also "enable us to become aware of the holy." "Dancing The Sacraments" is an extensive collection of 20 complete worship services that will help congregations experience the holiness in these rituals.
Each thematically unified service provides the framework for a celebration of communion or baptism, and includes:
- a sermon
- a children's message (with brief talking points to reinforce the theme)
- scripture readings
- hymns
- a complete set of prayers
There's also original poetry, plus an informative discussion of ways to help children understand the symbolism of the sacraments, including suggestions for specific activities. Renew the power and potency of your baptism and communion services -- "Dancing The Sacraments" gives you a wealth of inventive material for observing them with awe and reverence.
Elaine M. Ward, a resident of Austin, Texas, is a storyteller and prolific creator of worship and children's ministry materials. She served for nearly twenty years as Minister of Children at University Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, and is a graduate of Capital University, Union Theological Seminary (New York City) and Lancaster Theological Seminary, where she was writer-in-residence for seven years. Ward is also the author of the CSS titles "Asking For Wonder," "And The Sea Lay Down," "Alleluia " and "Story Time At The Altar," as well as "Love In A Lunchbox: Poems And Parables For Children's Worship" (Abingdon)."

This anthology provides an ample selection of seasonal worship, drama, and children's resources by popular authors from a variety of denominations. Whatever your congregation's size or worship style, you're sure to find something in Christmas Treasures to help you create memorable Advent and Christmas services. Copying privileges are included for all segments. Litany For Advent And Christmas Candle Lighting provides brief responsive prayers and creative congregational activities for the four Sundays of Advent, Christmas Eve, and Epiphany. It's excellent for worship services or as a Sunday school opener. Christmas Treasures offers three sets of short readings and prayers for the candle lighting portion of Advent and Christmas Eve services. Each 2-3 minute narrative links aspects of the nativity with events in our modern lives, both global and personal, and challenges worshipers to reflect on current issues and respond in ways that glorify the Lord. Six Christmas Testimonies depicts the Christmas events and their meaning from the viewpoint of John the Baptist, a magus, the innkeeper, Joseph, a shepherd, and Mary. Especially powerful when read in sequence, these concise dramatic readings are an excellent way to have members participate in Advent or Christmas Eve worship services. The Christmas Gift utilizes a creative approach to the seasonal children's program -- a "talent show" is cleverly included as part of a simple yet powerful play based on Luke's Christmas scripture. It's a practical presentation for any size congregation -- many of the speaking roles have only a few lines, and some parts can be combined. A prop list, set diagram, and sample rehearsal schedule are included to aid novice directors. Performance time is approximately 15 minutes (plus talent show time). Who Are You In Bethlehem? and The Promise are two dramatic presentations for the entire congregation with roles that can be performed by any age. Each combines the reading of scripture and singing of familiar hymns with brief narrations to telling the Bethlehem story, focusing on how we respond to the Savior -- asking us if we have truly welcomed the babe into our hearts. These inspirational services are flexible enough to be performed by as many participants as are available without requiring extensive memorization. Revelations Of Jesus, Given From Heaven/Received On Earth, Nativity, and If It Happened Today are four flexible, Bible-based plays with parts for young people of all ages. Revelations Of Jesus tells the story of Jesus' coming and how word of it spread, Given From Heaven/Received On Earth takes a whimsical glimpse at the angels' preparations for the first Christmas, and Nativity is a simple, straightforward retelling of the nativity story. If It Happened Today combines seven brief sketches with scripture readings and well-known songs. It's a humorous but thought-provoking look at how we might react if some of the events in the Christmas story happened to us. Director's notes with suggestions for simple costumes, props, and staging are included for each play. Do You Hear What I Hear? tells the story of Jesus' birth in song and narrative. It's an inspirational pageant with something for everyone, including songs for each grade level from kindergarten through fifth grade, dramatic scenes, and congregational hymns. Christmas Wonder offers nine short children's sermons for Advent and Christmas in the form of imaginative stories. Drawing on the rich imagery of the season to illustrate God's grace and unconditional love, each message includes brief talking points and a prayer. Reading The Christmas Eve Scriptures is a simple but extremely effective interweaving of several familiar Bible verses for two narrators. The reading links the events of Christmas with those of Holy Week and Easter, providing a powerful flow of themes that underlines the larger story of the incarnation.

Here's a practical collection of thoughtful material to help you celebrate several special occasions during the fall and winter months: Rally Day, Reformation Sunday, All Saints' Day, Thanksgiving, Advent, and Youth Sunday.

Included are:
The Saga Of Bobby Wildgoose, a service and sermon specifically tailored for the fall kick-off of Sunday school and commissioning of new Sunday school teachers. The message relates the inspirational story of the beginnings of the Sunday school movement, illustrating the difference that one person can make in the lives of young people.
Facing The 21st Century With A 16th Century Faith, a message and service for Reformation Sunday that examines what motivated Martin Luther in his disagreements with the established church and suggests that Luther's ideas about the authority of the Bible, the priesthood of all believers, and justification by faith alone remain the durable bedrock of our Christian faith today.
Running With The Cloud, a stirring All Saints' Day sermon and service reminding us that we who are living are only a small segment of the church universal, and noting that we can draw great strength from the lives of the "saints" who have gone before us.
A Solid Place To Stand, a Thanksgiving message and service that explores how the Bible's promise of God's presence with us gives us a firm foundation to base our lives on.
The Measure Of A Man, A Heart Prepared, Night Watch, and Tidings, a set of four first-person monologue sermons for Advent that tell the old, old story with a twist. We see the birth of the Christ child unfold through the eyes of Joseph, the innkeeper's wife, a shepherd, and an angel. Key Advent themes such aswatching, preparation, and righteous action are raised as each character struggles to make sense of extraordinary events.
A Youth Sunday worship service with a charming children's story honoring the presence and participation of the church's young people. The service celebrates their fresh vision and courage in risking, praying, and creating the future.

Here are all the pastoral resources you need for a complete and integrated Lenten season of preaching and worship -- Ash Wednesday through Easter, including Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.Included for each Sunday or worship service are: * Call to worship* Suggested processional hymn* Children's message* Prayers* Scripture passages* Sermon* Suggested hymn* Pastoral prayer* Affirmation of faith* Suggested closing hymnWard's first book for CSS, Asking For Wonder: Resources For Creative Worship And Preaching, has become a favorite resource for thousands of busy pastors.Elaine M. Ward has spent her lifetime helping others discover the joy and wonder of worship as she has taught storytelling workshops throughout the country. She has taught Christian Education at Perkins School of Theology, Iliff School of Theology, DePauw University, Lancaster Theological Seminary, and Franklin and Marshall College. Ward is a prolific writer and creator of video materials on many subjects, including storytelling, Old Testament and New Testament stories, children and worship, children and prayer, activities for teacher's training, and worship materials for Advent, Lent, and other seasons. In 1990 she won the prize for the Best Written Sermon while at Lancaster Theological Seminary. She has been featured as a keynote speaker and has filled pulpits in Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Ohio, California, and Texas. Her workshop for ministers on Preaching The Story has been widely acclaimed.

Thoughtful essays on creative worship and preaching are combined with inspirational new worship material. A great resource for keeping worship fresh by reawakening the awe and wonder of faith.