When I walk into a church, I often wear many hats. Sometimes, I’m the consultant helping a congregation reimagine and revamp their faith formation ministries. Sometimes, I’m a parent attending worship with my seven children. Sometimes, I’m the parent chauffeuring my 15-year-old son, who serves as a music minister in a local congregation—and I have to remember that in that moment, I’m just the driver. And sometimes, I’m the practitioner equipping children and families to worship together and carry their faith into the week ahead. Each role calls for a different set of tools, but every so often, something comes along that works across the board. When Spirit & Truth Publishing sent me Taking Faith Home: RCL Version, I did a little happy dance, it felt like the ultimate children’s and family ministry multi-tool had landed right in my lap.

Taking Faith Home: RCL is a powerhouse of formation materials, all conveniently packed onto a single page. Designed for use throughout the week, it includes Daily Bible Readings with themes, a Verse of the Week, prayers and mealtime blessings, Hymn of the Week, Weekly Milestone conversation prompts, Caring Conversation starters, a devotion with Scripture, discussion questions and prayer, service suggestions, and rituals and traditions ideas. The formatting is clean and easy to read, whether in print or on screen. I tested it on my laptop and phone with my children- thumbs up all around! Holding the phone in landscape mode and letting the kids enlarge a single section worked particularly well. Each section is clear, practical, and easy to use on its own, making it simple for families to focus on exactly what they need in the moment.

Taking Faith Home is a flexible resource that meets a wide variety of needs. For practitioners, if you need a solid tool to send home with families, this is a reliable choice. The price is very affordable, even for those of us working with tight budgets. You can use a single section as a whole-group opening—I’m partial to the Rituals and Traditions section: try it in class, then let the children lead it at home. You could schedule a weekly time during a liturgical season for families to meet in a Zoom room to do the devotions together, or even explore sections in breakout rooms. For those re-visioning or revamping children’s and family ministries, this resource belongs on your short-list. For parents, it’s an easy way to enrich your family’s weekly rhythm. I’ve used it while waiting for a grocery pickup (devotions!) and to wind down on a Friday night (weekly milestones). Even as the parent of a music minister, I find it helpful. There’s a Hymn of the Week to guide him during prayers and the passing of the peace. Taking Faith Home is more than just a “take-home paper”; it’s a resource you’ll return to again and again, with practical value for both home and church life.