Links Useful to Resource Center Directors
All links have been suggested and evaluated by Board members.

Publishers and Distributors

Augsburg Fortress Publishers (ELCA)  www.augsburgfortress.org

Christian Reform Church Publications  www.crcpublications.org

Cokesbury (UMC) www.cokesbury.com

Concordia Publishing www.cph.org

Creative Communications for the Parish (An ecumenical publishing house that specializes in worship and devotional materials for liturgical churches) www.creativecommunications.com

Curriculum Publishing, PC(USA) www.pcusa.org/curriculum

EcuFilm www.ecufilm.org

Faith and Life Press (Mennonite)  www.faithandliferesources.org/ 

Film Capsules http://www.visualparables.net/ (Available on the Visual Parables website, these are short reviews that can be used in newsletters or websites. Come with 1 or 2 scripture tie-ins)

Friendship Press (National Council of Churches)  http://www.ncccusa.org/friend/fphome.html

Group Publishers www.grouppublishing.com

Interlink Media  www.interlinkmedia.net

Jewish Lights Publishing www.jewishlights.com  

Judson Press (American Baptist) www.judsonpress.com

Kerygma www.kerygma.com

Leader Resources (Electronic Publisher) www.leaderresources.com

Logos Productions www.logosproductions.com/ (not the same organization as the Logos midweek program published by Logos System Associates)

Pilgrim Press (UCC) www.thepilgrimpress.com

Presbyterian Publishing Corporation www.ppcbooks.com  

Seasons of the Spirit Curriculum http://www.spiritseasons.com/

Serendipity www.serendipityhouse.com

Smyth & Helwys Publishing (Baptist)  www.helwys.com

Urban Ministries (large independent African American owned and operated publishing house) www.urbanministries.com

United Church Press (UCC) www.ucpress.com

The Upper Room www.upperroom.org

On-Line Publications

Christian Century http://www.christiancentury.org/  (on-line version of magazine)

Christianity Today http://www.christianitytoday.com (news and events, media reviews, free newsletter)

Ideas Magazine http://www.pcusa.org/ideas/ (ideas for church leaders)

Net Results http://www.netresults.org/ (new ideas in church vitality)

Presbyterian Outlook http://www.pres-outlook.com (news, reviews, job opportunities)

Presbyterians Today http://www.pcusa.org/today/ (general interest magazine of the Presbyterian Church (USA)-articles about people, beliefs, and mission)

Reformed Worship Magazine www.reformedworship.org (resources for planning and leading worship)

Christian Education

Active Learning Associates http://alassociates.com (A ministry that publishes creative Christian education resources, many suitable for rotation use. Publishers are Ken and Phyllis Wezeman)  

Akaloo http://akaloo.com/ (new joint ELCA/Presbyterian life-long faith formation curriculum for the whole congregation)

Cornerstones Publishing http://www.cstones.com (Two UCC certified educators producing rotation lesson plans for sale. Some sample material can be printed from their site. Pam Mers and Mary Jane Huber)

Creative Christian Ministries http://www.creativechristianministries.com/ (resources for teachers)

Christian Crafters www.christiancrafters.com (craft ideas for Sunday School and Vacation Bible School)

Design Directions for Church School (formerly Townes Interior Design Group) http://www.churchschooldesign.com  (Specializing in designing creative Church School facilities and Rotation Model Workshops. Includes pictures of  room designs. Jan Hubbard)

Godly Play www.godlyplay.org An imaginative method for presenting scripture and stories to chiildren

Morehouse Education Resources www.morehouseeducation.org Lectionary-based curriculum and other program resources that support and religious communities using the Revised Common Lectionary

Morehouse Education Resource Room www.morehouseeducation.org/Resource-Room Download pdf of bibliographies, charts, etc. as well as links to all sorts of useful things.

Potter's Workshop http://www.potters-workshops.com (A group of educators producing rotation lessons for sale. Some sample material can be printed from their site. Bob and Joyce Claus, Jim and Beth Wagner)

Puzzlemaker http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/ (create and print customized word searches, crossword and math puzzles using your own lists. Also build your own mazes)

Rotation Model Sunday School www.rotation.org/ (a free resource created by and for supporters of the Rotation Model)

Splash!  (birth to three faith formation materials from Presbyterians and ELCA) http://www.pcusa.org/splash/

Sunday Software www.sundaysoftware.com (computer software for rotation model plus reviews and helpful links)

Teachable Books www.Cokesbury.com/TeachableBooks (free downloadable discussion guides)

The Thoughtful Christian https://www.thethoughtfulchristian.com/ (on-line adult study material on a variety of topics)

The Wired Word http://www.thewiredword.com/ (online adult education material based on weekly news events)

Youth Ministry Links

D365 www.d365.org (ecumenical, devotional website designed for youth)

Bluefish TV http://www.bluefishtv.com/ (youth ministry video clips available to download on a variety of subjects)

Cokesbury Youth Ministry Site http://www.ileadyouth.com

Ministry and Media www.ministryandmedia.com/ (reviews and discussion starters for youth leaders)

Presbyterian Youth Connection http://www.pcusa.org/youthministry/pyc.htm (national youth ministry organization of the PC(USA)

Simply Youth Ministry http://www.simplyyouthministry.com (Doug Fields youth ministry website)

Way to Live http://waytolive.org/ (Companion to the book Way to Live from the Valparaiso Project on Education and Formation of people of Faith. Features teen cast on a variety of subjects)

The Youth and Family Institute http://www.youthandfamilyinstitute.org/

Youth Specialities http://www.youthspecialties.com/ (Mike Yaconelli's website for youth workers)

Other Ministry Resources

Alban Institute www.alban.org

American Bible Society www.americanbible.org

Congregational Resource Guide www.congregationalresources.org/ (This project is a joint effort of the Alban Institute and the Indianapolis Center for Congregations.)

Creative Worship Tour www.creativeworshiptour.com (free social-networking site for excellent, creative worship, music and media ideas and resources)

Easum Bandy & Associates http://churchconsultations.com/ (services offered for congregational development and transformation)

Ecumenical Resource Ministry Alliance http://www.resourcecenters.org/ (support for resource center directors)

Homiletics Communications Resources http://www.homileticsonline.com/

LifeLong Faith www.lifelongfaith.com (resources for faith formation and Christian practices)

Office of Resource Center Services Presbyterian Church (USA) http://www.pcusa.org/resourcecenters/

Percepts for Congregations http://www.link2lead.com (demographic leadership resources)

Presbytel http://www.pcusa.org/presbytel (everything you need to know about the PC(USA) and how it works, including a comprehensive list of acronyms)

Movie Ministry www.movieministry.com/ (searchable web site with sermon illustrations, Bible studies, discussion guides and free resources from major movies)

National Church Library Association http://www.lclahq.org (web resources section has good articles on organization and management, promotion and fundraising, and collection development)

Shared Ideas from Resource Centers (Association of Lutheran Resource Centers) www.synodresourcecenter.org (hundreds of practical ministry ideas)

The Presbyterian Leader https://thepresbyterianleader.com (On-line resources for Presbyterian Leaders)

Trunk-in-the-Attic Drama www.bible-dramas.com

Visual Parables http://www.visualparables.net/ (Bi-monthly web journal with film reviews and discussion questions-Dr. Ed McNulty, subscription service. Includes Film Capsules, short reviews that can be used in websites or newsletters.)

Web of Creation www.webofcreation.org (ecology resources to transform faith and society)

Worship House Media www.worshiphousemedia.com (A good website for downloading short videos for use in worship. Reasonably priced and use in worship is permitted any number of times when purchased.)

Worship Photos for Churches www.worshipphotos.com (visual worship resources available to download)

Copyright and Licensing

Augsburg Fortress http://augsburgfortress.org/copyrights/ (Good basic copyright information)

The Copyright Website www.benedict.com (Place to learn about the basics of copyright issues. Includes a section where you can see and hear famous examples of copyright infringement. This site also has a section on copyright and the development of web pages.)

Copyright and Fair Use: Stanford University http://fairuse.stanford.edu/  (This site contains dozens of links to journals, magazines, newsletters, and other web sites with information pertaining to copyright and fair use)

United States Copyright Office: The Library of Congress http://www.copyright.gov/ (This site contains general information and publications from the US Copyright Office)

Music Publishers' Association http://www.mpa.org/copyright/copyresc.html (Good question and answer segment related to church use of copyrighted music materials)

Christian Copyright Licensing, Inc. www.ccli.com (Information and license application for music in the church)

Christian Video Licensing Corporation http://www.cvli.org (Information on obtaining a license to show videos in the church)

PC(USA) Copyright Office http://www.pcusa.org/legal/ (Updated legal manual for middle governing bodies and churches)

Websites for Major Bible Study and Discipleship Programs

The Alpha Program www.alpha.org

Beginnings www.beginnings.cokesbury.com

The Bethel Series www.bethelseries.org

Bible Study Fellowship www.bsfinternational.org

Community Bible Study www.communitybiblestudy.org

Companions in Christ www.upperroom.org/companions

Crossways; The Divine Drama, etc. www.crossways.org

Disciple; Christian Believer, Jesus and the Gospels www.disciple.cokesbury.com

The Kerygma Program www.kerygma.com

Living the Questions www.livingthequestions.com

 

Communication Tools

Flickr www.flickr.com (stores and organizes your pictures. Can be linked to websites)

Free Conference Calls http://www.freeconferencecall.com/prodfreeconferencecall.asp 

Feedburner www.feedburner.com (tool to create podcasts for websites)

Icebrrg Forms www.icebrrg.com (create webforms that you can put on your own site or use independently on theirs)

Jot Form www.jotform.com (create webforms)

Survey Monkey www.surveymonkey.com (tool to create and publish professional on-line surveys)

Stock Photos www.sxc.hu/ (provides free stock photos you can use in your ministry communications)

 

Website Resources for Internet Safety

www.connectsafely.org  Safety tips and advice

 

http://familyinternet.about.com  Essentials, articles and resources listed on the left hand side of the page. Suitable for parents and teachers to use in an interactive activity.

 

www.safekids.com and www.safeteens.com Blog newsletter- Tips and safety advice articles. No preaching, just good family and student advice to promote effective dialog. Addresses cell phones, blogging, etc.

 

www.cyberangels.org Designed for kids, tweens, teens and parents and educators. Available in English and Spanish. This is a comprehensive website. (A program of the Guardian Angels)

 

http://safety.yahoo.com Yahoo safety pages for teens and parents

 

www.NetSmartz.org Interactive activities designed for ages 5-17 and involving parents, educators and law enforcement. Particularly good information on use of cell phones and sample safety pledges. (National Center for Missing and Exploited Children)

 

www.wiredsafety.org World’s largest internet safety site. Help and education resources. Designed for use by kids, tweens, teens, parents, educators and law enforcement. Some articles available in Spanish.

 

http://www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguidee.htm A Parents Guide to Internet Safety/Tips from the FBI for parents