Answers to ReNew Questions

Hi, all!

In the past week many of you have been emailing me (Rachel at sparkhouse) with wonderful questions about ReNew! I thought it may be a good idea to share some of these with the rest of the ReNew audience. Enjoy!

1. Are there any ReNew samples? Specifically, music and lesson samples?
Yes--providing these to you is part of our plan! We could not put anything up until all of the items went to manufacturing, but we're working on getting them posted.

2. Is the music CD reproducible?
Yes! You may reproduce the music CD to meet the needs of your VBS program.

3. What is in the starter kit?
Everything! We put the entire program in the Starter Kit! So, you get all the lessons, the music CD, all publicity materials, the overview DVD, the director's guide and shepherd's guides in one place. Read more about the individual ReNew products in the Starter Kit here.

4. Can I return my starter kit if I decide not to use the program?
Yes! As long as you have proof of purchase and it is in resaleable condition, you may return the starter kit.

5. Do you have the scope and sequence available?

A downloadable version of the ReNew scope and sequence will be posted with the other samples, but here it is as well. The whole week revolves around Jesus' The Parable of the Sower, Mark 4:1-9, and each day, kids will explore one part of the story and a related theme.

I hope this helps, and please keep checking this blog and the website for updates!

-Rachel

Welcome to the ReNew blog!

Now that you are here, I bet you are a little curious about ReNew. Well, we have got a story for you!

The ReNew story...

A seed is planted...
Across the church, the call to care for creation had been growing. Many congregations have started green teams, planted community gardens and have been leading community efforts to go green. Looking around, though, there is not one resource that helps harness this spirit and enables it to spread. Here, at Sparkhouse, we began to wonder what we could do to help churches that wanted to become environmental stewards. Could we create a resource that would inspire kids and adults to grow in faith, have fun and change the world?

An idea takes root...
ReNew began when five people gathered in a room and wondered, "What would a green VBS look like?" These five people, each with different strengths and experiences, challenged themselves to come up with a concrete and sustainable idea. From that, ReNew was born--built on a manifesto that declares:

A green VBS...

• must be green in all ways--from manufacturing to packaging, from supply lists to decorating.
• makes environmental stewards out of everyone, everywhere. It's a program for all who wish to become united by hope, community and service--regardless of geographic location, race, economic situation or denomination.
• can grow faith through biblical and environmental life lessons and have fun at the same time.

The concept grows...
Excited about ReNew, the team set out to make the VBS concept a reality. They called and emailed theologians, writers, environmental educators, visual artists, reviewers, musicians, and organizations--all representing a wide range of denominational backgrounds and perspectives. With each contact they made, the team was thrilled to find that people "got" the concept of a green VBS and wondered why it didn't already exist.

Overcoming obstacles...
The team quickly discovered it's one thing to say something is environmentally friendly, and another to actually create something that is. They enlisted help to research manufacturing companies with eco-friendly practices and were happily surprised to see the creative options manufacturers came back with. Soy-based inks! Biodegradable fabric! Recyclable banners! ReNew started to become real and three-dimensional.

A promise of harvest...
After six months of creative collaboration, help from many gifted and passionate people and hard work, ReNew moved from a possibility to a reality. Launching in December 2009, ReNew is ready to help communities grow in faith, have fun and change the world!

Keep checking back as this blog grows. We hope it serves a sense of inspiration as your congregation goes green!

Blessings,

The ReNew Team