Children and Communion Booklist
Books available to borrow from CCYP office, Old Deanery, Exeter are indicated as follows
* From ‘Children and Communion’ box
*From ‘All-age’ box
Background reading
*Let the Children Come to Communion
Stephen Lake; pub. SPCK
ISBN: 9780281057955 £10.99
http://www.spckpublishing.co.uk/shop/let-the-children-come-to-communion/
Very good history & background to children & communion, with good tips on practicalities and experience from a range of people
This book encourages the admission of baptised children to communion and summarises relevant practice, information and theology, it shares the experience of those who have already taken this step and aims to help encourage the church into full participation.
Come unto me: Rethinking the sacraments for children
Caldwell; pub. The Pilgrim Press
ISBN: 978-0829811193 £9.45
Good exploration of both baptism and communion with practical sessions to help parents support their child’s spiritual growth.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Come-Unto-Me-Rethinking-Sacraments/dp/0829811192/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1297851990&sr=8-1
*Children’s Spirituality
Nye; pub Church House Publishing
ISBN: 9780715140277 £8.99
Essential reading for understanding how children’s spirituality and faith grow and are nurtured.
http://www.chpublishing.co.uk/product.asp?id=2395003
Children & Communion
Peter Reiss; Grove Worship Series No.149, 1998
A practical guide for interested churches. The booklet looks at the theological and practical issues.
Let the Little Children - DVD
CTVC 0207 9408480 £14.99.
Follows one Parish’s decision to allow children to receive Holy Communion before Confirmation. This DVD explores the implications of the decision and outlines the training necessary and the theological implications.
*Children in the church – CH 4 Children and the service of Holy Communion
Betty Pedley, John Muir; NS/CHP 1997
Photocopied chapter looking at different sections of the Eucharist service with end of section questions to discuss as a group/congregation.
*Celebrating for all God’s family
Margaret Withers, Tony Pinchin; Gracewing 1996
ISBN 0 85244 348 X
Shows how people of all ages and at all stages of spiritual grwth can meet and be touched through Holy Communion. Gives practical resources for parsiehs to explore Eucharistic family worship.
Resources to use in preparation for communion
*Children & Holy Communion
Diana Murrie & Steve Pearce;
pub. Kevin Mayhew, NS/CHP
ISBN: 9781844171514 £14.99
http://www.kevinmayhew.com/children-holy-communion-revised.html
Very good basic introduction with a simple, 6 part preparation session
Written for leaders to use with groups of children aged 7 – 11 who are preparing to take communion. It includes: historical background; case studies from Parishes who have done this and material for a six-session preparation course.
*Welcome to the Lord’s Table
Margaret Withers; pub. BRF £12.99
ISBN: 1 84101 043X
http://www.brfonline.org.uk/9781841015040/
A Communion preparation course for 6 – 11s. A children’s activity book is also available.
Introductory chapters explore the background to preparing children for Holy Communion, and give guidance on preparing the congregation, training leaders, and involving the family. The course is in ten units each comprising two sessions, and is centred on relating stories in scripture to the children’s lives. There are drama, game, and craft activities, and tasks to be done in the children’s activity book that is available separately.
*Creative Communion
Margaret Withers & Tim Sledge; pub. BRF
ISBN: 9781841015330 £7.99
http://www.barnabasinchurches.org.uk/9781841015330
Workshops and preparation to help the whole church think through aspects of Communion. This book provides three practical elements: background information for ministers, six workshop ideas and a six session course for young communicants.
*S.H.A.R.E
Nick Harding (Kevin Mayhew Ltd, 2002) £7.99.
SHARE is a short Communion Preparation course (5 sessions) and includes two Parent sessions. It gives a good grounding in Christianity, and prepares children for communion. It is shorter than others on the market, and is specifically aimed at 'churched' children.
I Belong
Aileen Urquart; pub. Redemptorist Publications
ISBN: 9780852311707 £15.50
(Leader); 0 85231 17 9 (Parent); 0 85231 171 0 (Child).
http://www.rpbooks.co.uk/product_details.php?category_id=14&item_id=1053
Catholic resource comprises a Leader’s Guide, a Parent’s Guide and a hardback children’s activity book. The programme encourages adults and children together to find the deeper realities behind everyday experiences whilst looking at themes connected with Eucharist, Church and Bible.
Called to His Supper
Leichner; pub. Our Sunday Visitor
ISBN: 9781592763498 £10.38
Catechist’s Roman Catholic Communion Preparation course from America. Children’s book also available
http://www.eden.co.uk/shop/called-to-his-supper-1180134.html
Meet Christ with Joy
Brown; pub. Kevin Mayhew
ISBN: 9780862091729 £7.99
Roman Catholic Communion preparation course for children. Parents/Catechist’s book also available
http://www.kevinmayhew.com/christian-books/catholic-resources/sacramental/meet-christ-with-joy.html
Celebrating Together: Exploring Holy Communion
Kathryn Schofield, Partners in Learning, 1999.
An ecumenical resource containing four sessions (the last being a Communion service): A special meal, Bread of life, A sign of love, and Celebrating together. It is designed to work on an all-age basis, and the first three sessions are divided into age related sections from under 5s to adult. There are starter activities, Bible work, discussion ideas, other varied activities and suggestions for closing worship.
*Exploring Holy Communion in Primary Schools
Shahne Vickery, Catherine Coster; Jumping Fish
ISBN 978 0 95566f11 12 £14.00
www.glosdioc.org.uk
Materials to support learning about Holy Communion from Foundation Stage to Year 6.
All-age Liturgical Resources
The Feast is Ready to Begin
Nicholls; pub. Kevin Mayhew
ISBN: 9781848671768 £15.99
EXCELLENT book on All-Age Eucharist based on Common Worship. 14 outlines following the church year, with very good ‘how to’ material in the introduction.
http://www.kevinmayhew.com/the-feast-is-ready-to-begin.html
Spiritual Garments
McCann; pub. Decani Books
£8.99
Written to help Roman Catholic primary teachers know and understand liturgy. Very good, practical book on leading worship with children and helping children become leaders of worship.
http://www.decanimusic.co.uk/acatalog/Decani_books.html
*All-Age Everything
Harding; pub. Kevin Mayhew
ISBN: 9781848671775 £15.99
A book full of liturgical worship resources (greetings, confessions, creeds, intercessions, blessings, visuals etc) which are interactive and designed for all age worship.
http://www.kevinmayhew.com/christian-books/all-age-worship/all-age-everything.html
*Bread and Wine People
Susan Sayers. Kevin Mayhew, 2001,
ISBN 9781840 036947
Ideas for the Eucharist where the whole community is preparing for children’s admission to Communion.
*Celebration. Celebrating for all God’s Family’
Margaret Withers and Tony Pinchin, Gracewing 1996,
ISBN 0 85244 348 X.
This book is about ‘all-age’ Eucharists and deals with the practical issues of ensuring children feel included in the communion service. Two thirds of it is devoted to principles, spirituality and worship, the Eucharist itself, music, drama, visual aids, movement and outreach. The remaining third provides descriptions of 15 presentations planned with a particular Sunday or festival in mind.
*Come to the Feast
Stuart Thomas, Kevin Mayhew, 1997/8, ISBN
This book considers the structure of an ‘all-age’ eucharist: its music, readings, prayer and sermon. Service sheets and school worship are discussed. There are ideas for each Sunday, Christingle, Gift Service, crib Service, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Ascension Day and other festivals.
*Come and Join the Celebration
John Muir and Betty Pedley, CHP 2001. Church House Publishing,
ISBN 0 7151 4947 4.
With an introduction on the subject of children and communion, this book then explores the possibilities of the liturgy of the Eucharist, with ideas and activities suitable for children of all ages, throughout the service. Also includes a suggested commentary to be spoken alongside the liturgy for a ‘teaching’ Eucharist.
*Bread for All God’s Family
Leslie J Francis & Diane Drayson, Gracewing 1997,
ISBN 0 85244 284 1.
Thirty one eucharistic themes are explored with an emphasis on a project approach. Each theme is supported by photocopiable material and has readings, hymns and songs, prayers, children’s activities, project ideas, discussion starters, dance/drama suggestions, all-age ideas, and suggestions about how to integrate all of this into the service.
Resources for children to use during a service
*The Communion Cube.
Issued by NS/CHP ISBN 0 7151 4976 8. £4.95
Designed for younger children for use in Communion Services, this Cube puzzle follows the liturgy of the communion service and is great fun.
*My Communion Book A Child’s guide to Holy Communion
Diana Murrie NS/Church House Publishing,
ISBN 0 7151 4946 6.
A colourfully illustrated book for children to use before, during and after a service of Holy Communion, with adults or alone.
*My Holy Communion Book (New version of ‘Jesus is here’)
Susan Sayers; Kevin Mayhew
ISBN 978 0 86209 423 2
A brightly illustrated child’s communion book, including some of the text, apart from the Eucharistic service plus things to think about.
*The Picnic – Teddy Horsley goes to communion
Leslie Francis, Nicola Slee; NCEC
ISBN 9780719708572
Simple book to explain what happens at the special meal.
Katherine Lyddon, February 2011