All My Days
Sue Careless catches up with Kerry Dickson to learn about the final year of the online Anglican curriculum that she has been writing for teens. The program is called “622,” the page number in the Book of Common Prayer that begins the short Order of Service for Young People. The series revives the use of this service, so the name seemed appropriate.
TAP: Had you always planned on a four-year program?
KD: From the outset when we were visioning what we’d like to see happen with “622,” there was thought about expanding the offering to a four-year cycle, depending on the feedback received on the first year. We wanted to offer parishes something that could be used continuously without repeating any material for each four-year high school cohort. So the young people who were in Grade Nine when Year One was released in 2016, could go through Year Two beginning in 2017, Year Three beginning in 2018, and then Year Four beginning in September as they enter Grade 12.
Year Four will be the final year for 622, though I’m hoping to see the PBSC continue to explore the development of resources that can help parishes to thrive during what is a really challenging chapter for many.
TAP: Could you summarize the first three years?
KD: The first year covers a lot of territory, but is unified by a focus on prayer and the relationship that lies at the heart of prayer. It delves into our relationship with God, the meaning of praying with others, the story of our spiritual ancestors (and how we can pray ‘with’ them), building a personal habit of devotion, the significance of Holy Communion, and how all of this impacts our lives as individuals and as a Church.
The second year draws inspiration from the Litany, which is explored as an invitation to enter into the presence of an awesome God, and to bring before him the myriad concerns that shape our lives: for our world, for the church, and for our own wellbeing. Spending time with the Litany provides an opportunity to confront some dark realities, but keeps the emphasis on our sovereign and merciful God, and on the work of Christ on our behalf.
Year Three takes a closer look at Church history through the lens of the saints, starting with the eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Jesus that we meet in the New Testament. The saints were believers who faced challenging times and wrestled with personal failings – just as we do today – but they put their trust in God, and through them he did wonderful things. These people from far-flung eras and places are our family. We serve the same unchanging God. We share the same foundation. And God’s providential care is helping us towards the same goal. So we have a lot in common with them and a lot to learn from them.
TAP: What’s in store for youth in Year Four?
KD: Year Four of “622” completes the 4-year cycle with an exploration of devotional and liturgical patterns for Christian living that can help tether us to our true identity. We start with a look at what it means to be “set apart,” and go on to discuss baptism, matrimony and burial; seasons of sickness, penance and thanksgiving, as well as those times when we simply feel “at sea.” No matter our circumstances, believers are called to be rooted in the spiritual reality beyond what we see and feel, walking by faith and not by sight. Year Four will cover a lot of territory, but will emphasize that drawing close to our Lord isn’t just for the big milestone moments, but for the small daily ones as well.
TAP: What feedback are you getting from both teens and leaders?
KD: I understand that the PBSC website has seen a steady flow of traffic to the 622 pages since its inception, and we’re really pleased with the interest that this reflects. In my own conversations I find there’s a lot of curiosity about and then support for what we’re doing.
I’m now living in Guelph, Ontario and to my delight, one of the churches I visited here early on extended an invitation to teach some of the 622 curriculum to their teens every other Sunday morning. So I’ve had the pleasure of sharing many of the Year Three lessons with an amazing group of high school students at an evangelical Presbyterian parish. The pastor is enthusiastic about church history and has been very supportive, and I’ve had really lovely encouraging feedback from both parents and teens. There’s even been some discussion about launching again in the fall, but opening up to adults, so we’ll have to see where that leads.
TAP: It has been said that one of the top reasons why families switch churches is “the quest for something of value for their kids.” I’m assuming that your curriculum aims to provide “something of value”? What do you feel are the strengths of this program? How does it differ from other youth curricula?
KD: Sometimes when parishes are determining where to focus energy and resources, looking at what is offered for children and teens can end up being inadvertently pushed lower on the list by other competing priorities. With this cur:riculum, we’re hoping to step in and provide churches with a resource that can help them to prioritize teens without having to spend a lot of time or money. My hope is that when they land on the “622” web page and begin to peruse what’s there, they’ll just have a sense of this being lovingly and prayerfully made for them, for their needs, with their situation in mind.
Of course, I’m biased, but I think there’s quite a bit that sets “622” apart. First of all, there’s a lot of material there (126 lessons so far), for free, available online, intended to be adaptable. We’ve kept the focus on human interaction rather than on technology. This is so important in an age where people crave human connection, but often experience a deep sense of isolation. We’re also aware that the trend towards using streamed media can actually create a barrier to usage for some groups. But most of all, we wanted to offer something that would be substantial, that would not only engage teens, but also build them up in their faith. The undertaking has been ambitious, but incredibly worthwhile. I can think of no investment of greater value than the discipleship of young believers.
TAP: What have you learnt along the way personally while writing this curriculum?
KD: Too much to be able to summarize!
Here’s the thing. Scripture is a bottomless resource. It’s like the widow’s jar that never empties (1 Kings 17). No matter how many times we’ve read a passage, no matter how familiar we think we are, God’s word doesn’t return void (Isaiah 55:11). There’s always something fresh, something new, a challenge, an encouragement, something that didn’t seem relevant last year, but is shockingly relevant today. This is why it’s so important for believers to be rooted in Scripture, because it not only reveals objective truth about our God, but it draws us deeper into relationship with him. By extension, the Prayer Book is like a wise teacher, inviting us to bathe every detail of our lives in Scripture and in prayer. The longer you spend with these books, the more there is to learn, and the more you want to go deeper still. TAP
Year Four will be available this September. Years One, Two and Three are already posted at www.prayerbook.ca/622.
To read more about “622”, see “Resource offers spiritual formation for youth” and an earlier interview with Kerry Dickson that was published in The Anglican Planet in the Trinity 2018 issue.
