Preaching with All Ages: Twelve ways to grow your skills and your confidence

Very useful for everyone who gives all-age talks - and I really mean *all* age, not just kids.If you want to properly engage with this important ministry but can't abide stodgy theology books, this is the book for you.Ally gives examples of her own experience with all-age talks - what worked well, what could have been different - and reflects upon the issues and themes raised.You can pinch the ideas from the example talks and adapt them for your own situation, but this is not a book of off-the-peg talks. Interspersed between the reflections are insightful explorations of ways of engaging: through the senses, experience, church life and mission, and many more.The useful questions for self-reflection help and challenge us all to do this well, because all-age talks are not less important than 'proper' sermons. (In fact, I'd argue that they are more important. Think back to a church service you remember - I bet it was more than just a lecture from the front. Engaging deeper than the ears is vital to communication and I have no idea why we think it's only children who need that - but back to the book)The chapter on children as theologians is of particular interest given the growing realisation that children are vital for a healthy church (and I don't means sitting at the back with colouring, or being made to be silent mini-adults) As Ally says in the introduction, "Without the witness of children, the Church's encounter with God is impoverished"Highly recommended.