Shared Resources
Resources for Young People
- Timothy Circle Trail Guide (an online, free call discernment framework; exclusively at TimothyCircle.com)
- Youth Can Lead Now (free, downloadable book that provides eight sessions on biblical leadership principles. Each session is meant to be a conversation space between Youth and Adults.)
- View our whole library of resources for young people
Conversations with Young People
- Casual Conversation Starters
- Call-Oriented Conversation Starters
- 5 Cups of Coffee (a resource to guide you through conversations about call with a young person)
- This resource may be reproduced, shared, and/or adapted to meet the needs of the user. Contact 5cups@greatplainsumc.org for more information.
- The Missouri Annual Conference of the UMC has created several resources around 5 Cups
- Timothy Circle Trail Facilitator Notes (a group discussion resource that follows the Timothy Circle Trail Guide)
- ‘Calling’ Cards (conversation starters around call)
- Five Walks in Faith (five mentoring conversations for those early in their faith walk)
Small Group & Bible Studies
- 5 Cups of Coffee group discussion guide (a group discussion guide to help adults or young adults practice having conversations with one another about their spiritual lives and their calls)
- Make a Difference (small group study with real-world stories to help you connect your passion to the world’s needs; UMC-centered)
- CALLED Bible Study (6th-12th grade; K-5 also available; scroll to bottom of page to download)
- TRU Colors: Exploring Ministry as a Career (downloadable resource with 8 modules to help young adults wrestle with their calling and purpose)
- Journey to the Table
- Discovery Weekend (high schoolers provide leadership to middle schoolers on a retreat aimed at teaching foundational Christian practices
- Stories of Calling (short devotions on Biblical call stories, from the Church of England)
- Your SHAPE for God’s Service (6 session discernment study from Diocese of Carlisle of the Church of England)
Spiritual Gifts & Strengths Inventories
- Spiritual Gifts Inventory from UMC Discipleship Ministries
- Spiritual Gifts inventory from First United Methodist Church, Richardson, Texas
- Gifting Questionnaire from Global Connections, UK
Call Stories
- CALLED series videos (Call stories to lay ministry, pastoral ministry, and servant ministry; scroll to bottom of page to download)
- The Listening Chair podcast (stories of how laypeople feel God moving in their own lives)
- Lives Explored video project (Call stories collected by the Collegeville Institute; includes call stories from non-Christian faiths)
- Called to Be… (a collection of call stories from people serving in a wide variety of fields, collected by Student Christian Movement)
Worship Resources for Culture of Call
- Call—Listening for God’s Voice in Everyday Life 4-Week Worship Series (UMC origin)
- Call Sunday resources (sermon ideas, scripture suggestions, hymn suggestions (UMC origin)
- CALLED worship resources (sermon ideas, reflection questions, and more; scroll to bottom of page to download)
- To Bless Our Callings: Prayers, Poems and Hymns to Celebrate Calling (book)
Learning About Gen Z
- How to Reach Gen Z (a great overview article from ResourceUMC.org)
- Understanding Generation Z and Connection with Their Passions (transcript of podcast interview with Dr. Rock Jones, president of Ohio Wesleyan University)
- What Are the Core Characteristics of Generation Z? (a non-religious take on Gen Z from the Annie E. Casey Foundation)
What Is ‘Call’?
- Different faith backgrounds have different ways of understanding call. Here’s what we mean in the Timothy Circle.
The Timothy Circle hosts resources and opportunities from a variety of faith perspectives. We all have something to contribute! But be aware that some of those perspectives may not match your own – especially in the areas of who should and shouldn’t preside in worship. We trust you to do the research to know which resources and opportunities are the best fit for you.