Please Pass the Faith: The Art of Spiritual Grandparenting

Book, 2012, 100 pp
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By 2030, almost one-third of North Americans will be over age 65. How will this affect the church? Author Elsie Rempel believes that the swelling ranks of new seniors represent a huge spiritual resource. In Please Pass the Faith she draws from real life and from Christian formation experts in helping seniors and other adults foster relationships with children and youth. She also offers practical ideas for integrating children and youth into church life-all the while nurturing one's own spiritual life as an elder.

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"Mennonite Church Canada Formation is celebrating. We are pleased to announce the publication of Please Pass the Faith: The Art of Spiritual Grandparenting by Elsie Rempel, Formation Consultant. Using stories, personal experiences and theological reflection, Elsie shares her wisdom about how grandparents (whether biological or honorary) can pass on the faith. In the process, seniors will discover that their faith can in turn be shaped by the young people in their lives. This timely new book, published in partnership with MennoMedia, encourages older adults to embrace their role as sages, mentors, and guides. I recommend this highly accessible resource for group study and personal enrichment" -- Dave Bergen, Executive Minister, Mennonite Church Canada Formation

"Elsie’s writing is both personal and professional, as a religious educator in the Mennonite Church of Canada and a grandparent of four grandchildren. The book begins with reminder that spiritual grandparenting can embrace both our grandchildren and the children of our congregations and an exploration of some of the roles this may involve. Chapter Two is a lovely reflection on the spiritual life of grandparents themselves and how its tasks may be well suited to spiritual grandparenting. Chapter Three begins with some key concepts regarding the spiritual life of children and then traces the development of faith following the model of Fowler. Elsie then goes on to explore the faith development of adolescents in Chapter Five, an area where there is a dearth of good information in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She ends the book with a chapter on tapping the spiritual potential of family stories and holidays. The reflective nature of this book is a lovely aid to exploring the meaning of spiritual grandparenting." —Catherine Maresca, editor of Echoes, Volume 17, Number 2, 2014.

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