April 2025 News
Spring into a New Month!
Whether you are excited about the upcoming holy holidays or feeling overwhelmed by everything you need to do beforehand, we have you covered. We have resources for both Passover and Easter to help you prepare and educate on these upcoming holidays. We also have highlighted resources for stress awareness and alcohol awareness month as well as topics on integrating children into worship with our upcoming free YMI event.
The Month of April Yale Bible Study Resources
With Passover approaching in just two weeks and Easter soon after, check out our resources found below.
- Easter and Passover Bible Study
- Conversations about Easter and Passover
- The Gospel of John Bible Study
|
1 Corinthians in the First and 21st Centuries Bible Study This fascinating epistle is led by the Rev. Dr. Allen Hilton where we explore how the lessons of 1 Corinthians can be a guide to living in the 21st century. Among Paul’s letters, 1 Corinthians gives us the clearest picture of daily life in a first-century church. In it, we may just see ourselves — and our way forward as Christ’s body. Watch or listen to the full series here. |
The Month of April Resources
April is when we recognize Stress Awareness Month and Alcohol Awareness Month. Resources are found below.
Stress Awareness Month Resources
Alcohol Awareness Month Resources
We have resources on how to integrate children into worship and an upcoming free virtual event:
Integrating Children into Worship Resources
-
- “The Meaningful Inclusion of Children in Worship: Theology and Practice” with Wendy Claire Barrie – Registration closes tomorrow – April 1st!
- Youth Worship Lesson
- Cultivating Worshipful Youth Training Module
- Connecting and Integrating Children’s and Youth Ministry Across the Church” with the Rev. Caroline Ainsworth Hughes
We are now accepting applications for the 2025-2026 Yale Divinity School Certificate in Youth Ministry Leadership! This is a nine-month, digital, cohort-based program where participants learn from select faculty and staff from Yale Divinity School and other leading institutions. The next cohort for this academic and practical primer on the themes relevant to leading resilient, healthy, theologically rooted youth ministries will run from September 2025 – May 2026.
For more information or to apply, go here.
-
From the YMI Director: Joy in Worship
Dear youth ministry friends,
A question for you: Where do you experience joy in worship?
For many of us, it’s in the music. For others, it might be in the sense of gathered community.
Spotlight on YDS Summer Study
Preaching for Introverts – Yale Divinity School Summer Study Program
June 2-6, online, 2:00-4:15 pmDespite the public nature of proclamation, a disproportionate number of preachers identify as introverts. Students will examine strategies for engaging scripture, composing sermons, and relating with listeners. The class will include brief lectures each day followed by group discussion as well as group reflection on student sermonettes and meditations. Strategies for self-renewal will also be explored.
Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in an intimate preaching workshop (enrollment is limited to 12) with renowned YDS Professor Donyelle McCray! No prior preaching experience is required.
Register today for one or more of our 8 courses taught by renowned YDS faculty, which will take place online from June 2-6, 2025. You can view the list of courses and register at summerstudy.yale.edu.
Registration closes tomorrow – April 1st! – The Meaningful Inclusion of Children in Worship: Theology and Practice with Wendy Claire Barrie
Zoom | April 2 | 12 -1:30 pmCorporate worship is the work and the joy of the people of God, and when the body of Christ gathers, we are incomplete without the active presence and meaningful participation of children and youth. What can this engagement look like (feel like, sound like, smell like, taste like) in liturgy, and why does it matter to the formation of people of all ages? Canon Wendy Claire Barrie will lead this webinar exploring the theological whys and practical hows of incorporating children and youth into congregational worship.
If you missed any of our past Love of Children webinars, which includes “Storytelling with Spirituality” with Mark Yaconelli and “Context Matters: The Impact of Social Context on Emotional Growth” with Dr. Szu-Hui Lee, PhD, ABPP, you can watch them here.
-
Leadership Lessons from Thomas Merton: Riding a Wave of Joy
Zoom | June 3, 10, 17, & 24 | 12 – 2 pm EasternApply Backstory Preaching’s foundational sermon prep framework to crafting sermons throughout the Easter season you believe in and can’t wait to preach. In this process, rooted in prayer and practical tools, you will discover a framework you can rely on week after week to prepare sermons more efficiently and with more joy. You will discover how to experience sermon prep as a spiritual respite, versus as a purely academic exercise.
A Guiding Light: Introduction to Program Evaluation for Faith Leaders
Zoom | April 29 | 12 – 2 pm EasternEvaluation offers tools to gather and make meaning of this information so that faith leaders can assess and improve the impact of your ministry, outreach, and community engagement. Designed to demystify the evaluation process, this two-hour workshop will help clergy understand evaluation’s relevance to faith-based contexts and equip them with the essential tools to assess the effectiveness of their programs, services, and outreach.
If you’d like to help support our mission, you can make a donation here. There is joy to be found in practicing generosity. Your gift will enable us to continue to provide the necessary tools and resources that support life changing ministries. 
Connect with Yale Youth Ministry Institute
Connect with the Center for Continuing Education and Yale Bible Study
