Gather 'Round staff set plans for future

Celebration, evaluation, and planning were the focus at a Feb. 6-8 staff "summit" for the Gather 'Round curriculum project. Several members of the team, which gathered from across the US and Canada, also led the weekly chapel service for the Church of the Brethren General Offices in Elgin, Ill., where the meeting was held.

Gather 'Round is a new Christian education curriculum jointly produced by Brethren Press and Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN). The team celebrated successful production and sales of the first three quarters. Many Brethren and Mennonite congregations are reporting good experiences with the curriculum, and a number of other denominations have chosen to promote the curriculum to their members.

In evaluating and planning for the future, the staff paid special attention to feedback from users. "We were very grateful for those people who submitted an evaluation form after the first quarter or who contacted staff members by phone and e-mail," reported Anna Speicher, project director and editor. "These comments are helping us refine and improve the Gather 'Round products. Ongoing refinements are possible because Gather 'Round is produced new every year." Some enhancements will be made as early as the second year of the curriculum, which is currently in production.

Speicher noted that people have responded especially positively to the emphasis on connecting church and home. "We have received much affirmation for using the same Bible story for all age groups, for the Parent/Caregiver guide, and for the at-home Talkabout. These pieces help families connect on the Bible themes throughout the week."

The staff received requests for more active options for the younger children and more alternatives for readers and non-readers in the Primary unit, Speicher said. "To that end, we’ll be revising the Primary student book, the ‘Good News Reader,’ for the fall of 2007. We’ll be adding more options in the teacher’s guides as well."

The staff meeting brought together the steering committee, project staff, and several employees of the partner publishing houses who have a portion of time allocated to the curriculum project. Project staff are Anna Speicher, Amy Gingerich, Terry Mast, Rose Stutzman, Nancy Ryan, and Cyndi Fecher. The steering committee is made up Ron Rempel and Eleanor Snyder from Mennonite Publishing Network, Wendy McFadden from Brethren Press, and Speicher. Other publishing house employees involved in the project are Merrill Miller, Cynthia Linscheid, and Terry Graber from MPN, and Karen Stocking and Jeff Lennard from Brethren Press.

Source: 2/28/2007 Newsline