I’m always encouraging “my” authors to promote their books on their blogs and social media. Well, I need to take my own advice – so I’m pleased to share that the first book in a new series that I have been working on has just been published! All books are available at Church Publishing Incorporated as well as Amazon – and I’d love you to write a review on this page!

“The events and seasons of the church year are powerful faith forming experiences for all ages in the congregation and for families at home. Faithful Celebrations helps churches and families make these events central to their faith life with flexible ideas and activities to celebrate the seasons. Churches can use Faithful Celebrations to gather families and all the generations to learn, pray, and celebrate each season, and to equip families to celebrate the seasons at home. This resource is a great way to introduce or enhance family-centered and intergenerational experiences at church.” ––John Roberto, Author, Reimagining Faith Formation for the 21st Century 

Faithful Celebrations is a series of five books for families and congregations to “Make Time for God” at various times of the year. With a combination of sacred and secular holidays and seasons covered, each book offers something for all ages to do (mostly) together. From recipes and craft projects, to prayers and liturgies with Bible stories, each “chapter” focuses on a particular event such as Advent, All Hallow’s Eve, or Valentine’s Day. The ideas can be put together for an intergenerational all-church event, a family celebration, or a block-party in your neighborhood.

The first book of the series is now available: Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God  from Mardi Gras through Pentecost is out in time to help in your planning for Spring 2018. Yes, Halloween is coming up soon, but Christmas decorations are already in the stores (yikes!) and many churches are now thinking about their Lenten events. So all of these books are being published intentionally in advance to give you plenty of time to plan, invite the neighbors, and start collecting supplies that you’ve probably already got on hand. Here’s what’s in this volume: Mardi Gras / Shrove Tuesday, Lent, Holy Week, Easter, and Pentecost.

“Faithful Celebrations is filled with fresh, practical ideas for encountering God during the holy time from Lent through Pentecost. Pearson has compiled engaging faith activities that connect with Christian traditions, worship, and prayer. The celebrations and rituals in this book foster learning and strengthen relationships with groups of any size––from small families to all-church gatherings.” ––Christine V. Hides, Director of Ministries with Children and Youth, Northbrook United Methodist Church, Northbrook, Illinois and blogger at “Bless Each One”

Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God in Autumn will publish April 2018. Each event to be celebrated includes key ideas, a cluster of activities to experience the key ideas, materials needed, full instructions for implementation, background history and information, music, art, recipes, and prayer resources to use in a small, intimate or large multi-generational group. The events in this book are: Building a Church Family (like “Homecoming Sunday”), Back to School, Labor Day, St. Francis of Assisi (including Blessing of Animals), International Day of Peace, All Hallows’ Eve (aka Halloween), All Saints’ Day, and Thanksgiving.

In June 2018, Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God from Advent through Epiphany will be published. While these celebrations are popular in our secular culture, all ages will reconnect with the sacred roots and traditions practiced by past generations. All can experience new celebrations that have traditionally been intergenerational events in Spanish-speaking communities. Here you will find ideas for: Advent, The Annunciation, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Las Posadas, Christmas, and Epiphany.

“Having been in charge of celebrating these events for many years, I thought I was already doing everything possible! After reading Faithful Celebrations, I am empowered by the background information to do a better job of teaching the ‘why’ we are celebrating and am excited to implement several fresh ideas to make the events more meaningful.” ––Katherine Gould, Christian Formation Director, Christ Episcopal Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Lastly, in Fall 2018 Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God in Winter will be published,  covering: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Super Bowl Sunday, and Valentine’s Day. Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God with Family and Friends (summertime) will debut in Spring 2019 to celebrate: International Women’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Summer Solstice, 4th of July, and Summer Celebration of God’s Creation.

“Anyone who holds and reads Faithful Celebrations will want the season from Mardi Gras through Pentecost to not end, as there is a plethora of ideas for recognizing and celebrating this season in one’s congregation, home and community. I especially appreciate the comprehensive menu and easy steps for planning worship, crafts, food, games, music, storytelling and Bible study – for ALL ages – together. Faithful Celebrations meets the growing need for the “how to” meaningfully bring all the generations together to celebrate the seasons of the church year. On a personal note, when I read that Sharon Ely Pearson is the editor, I am already confident that Faithful Celebrations is a useful, fresh, and theological sound resource that will be immediately utilized and shared in my network of faith formation leaders.” ––Linda Staats, Curator of “Home Grown Faith” and The Generosity Project Coordinator for the ELCA