Useful Links
I'll be updating this page constantly as I find new online resources. My criteria for inclusion of links are (1) the authority, integrity, currency, and reliability of the web site and (2) doctrine which harmonizes with that of the Presbyterian Church (USA). I try to represent a broad range of views on this page. If you have a link that would augment this page, please send it to me. Thank you! —d.s.koelling
Scripture Resources
- Blue Letter Bible — http://www.blueletterbible.org/index.html
- An incredible online, searchable version of the Bible with a multitude of tools which allow a person to search for particular words or passages (in different translations of the Bible), find commentaries, select images or hymns relevant to a particular Biblical passage, maps, etc.
- The Revised Common Lectionary — http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/lectionary/
- From the Vanderbilt Divinity Library.
- The Text This Week — http://www.textweek.com/
- A lectionary resource that allows a person to look up the lectionary readings (in three different formats) for any given Sunday. Includes links to daily reflections upon lectionary readings, an art concordance, a movie concordance, and special features, such as "Resources for Use in Times of Terrorism and War."
- Sermons & Sermon-Lectionary Resources — http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermon.html
- Complete sets of sermons for the lectionary years and a full complement of links to other resources.
- SAMUEL — http://www.ucc.org/worship/samuel/index.html
- SAMUAL (Scripture and Memory: A Universal Ecumenical Library) is ". . . One of the most comprehensive resources for worship, Bible study and sermon preparation on the Web. SAMUAL is designed for use with the Revised Common Lectionary."
- Desperate Preacher's Site — http://desperatepreacher.com/
- Lectionary readings with accompanying Calls to Worship, prayers, children's message, and sermon suggestions. Includes a discussion board and many useful links.
- Cliff Pickover's Internet Encyclopedia of the Bible — http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/pickover/pc/bible.html
- An incredible set of Bible-related links, ranked according to the author's sense of quality.
Devotionals, Meditations, Inspiration, & Education
- Devotions & Readings — http://horeb.pcusa.org
- Daily lectionary, mission yearbook, and catechism readings for meditation or prayer, from PCUSA.
Hear the Word — http://www.pcusa.org/devotions/podcast.htm- Weekly Revised Common Lectionary podcast of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
d365 — http://www.d365.org/todaysdevotion/- Daily online devotions for youth — sponsored by Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the Episcopal Church in America
- Passages — http://www.passages.org/
- 60-second audio clips about the human spirit confronting life-changing moments, from PCUSA
- PresbyNet — http://www.pcusa.org/presbynet/
- Online discussion groups, book groups, and more (fee-based, requires registration).
- Daily Devotional — http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/
- Daily devotional scripture, reading, and prayer, from The Upper Room.
- Ideas! For Church Leaders — http://www.pcusa.org/ideas/index.htm
- Our church automatically receives one copy of Ideas! For Church Leaders each issue, but you also can access the magazine online by clicking on the Current Issue link.
- Sacred Space — http://www.sacredspace.ie/
- Daily prayer online (5-10 mins.), produced by the Irish Jesuits.
- Stations of the Cross — http://www.trinityucity.org/stations.html
- An "Americanized and 'Presbyterianized' version of 'the web of the cross,'" from Trinity Presbyterian Church (MO).
- Belief.net — http://www.beliefnet.com/index.html
- A non-denomination web site dedicated to providing information and inspiration. Includes special features such as "Understanding Islam."
- Crosswalk.com — http://www.crosswalk.com/
- A for-profit web site focused upon Faith, Family, Fun, and Community. Includes devotional, articles, activity ideas, and more.
- Spirituality & Health — http://www.spirituality-health.com/spirit/
- Articles, book & movie reviews, and spiritual exercises.
- Virtual Religion Index — http://virtualreligion.net/vri/
- Comprehensive index of religion links from the Religion Department at Rutgers University.
- The Religious Movements Homepage — (archived version)
- Detailed profiles of more than 200 religious groups and movements from the University of Virginia.
Church History
- The Hall of Church History — http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/hall.htm
- Facetiously describing itself as "Theology from a bunch of dead white guys," The Hall of Church History includes timelines and articles about church history from the "Church Fathers" up to "Recent Stalwarts" (with "recent" beginning somewhere in the 18th c.). Links to original texts and web sites dedicated to particular church figures.
- The Ecole Initiative — http://www2.evansville.edu/ecoleweb/
- The Early Church On-Line Encyclopedia (Ecole) Initiative is a scholarly internet project with the aim of establishing a hypertext encyclopedia of early Church history (to the Reformation) on the web.
- Foundations of the Faith: Sixteenth-European Reformers and Their Faith — http://history.pcusa.org/exhibits/reform/
- An online exhibit from the Presbyterian Historical Society that features eight early reformers.
- Presbyterians in America — http://history.pcusa.org/pres_hist/
- An essay offering a brief history of the Presbyterian Church in America, timelines, and links.
- Fire and Ice: Puritan and Reformed Writings — http://www.puritansermons.com/index.htm
- Sermons, devotionals, poems, and other writing of the Puritans and other Reformed authors.
Archives, Databases, & Bibliographies
- The American Religion Data Archive (ARDA) — http://www.thearda.com/arda.asp?Show=Home
- ARDA preserves information about American religion. Includes national surveys and databanks on churches and church membership, religious professionals, and religious groups.
- Bibliography on Women and Religion — http://www.nd.edu/~archives/lau_bib.html
- Huge resource from the doctoral work of a doctoral student at the University of Notre Dame.
Presbyterian and Presbyterian-Related
- The Presbyterian Church (USA) — http://www.pcusa.org/index.htm
- Homepage of the PCUSA.
- Horizons, The Magazine for Presbyterian Women — http://www.pcusa.org/pcusa/horizons/
- Online version of the subscription publication contains some articles from current issues.
- Presbyterians Today — http://www.pcusa.org/today/
- General-interest articles with a Presbyterians bent. Many articles from print version online.
- PCNews — http://www.pcusa.org/pcnews/index.htm
- Global news stories from the Presbyterian News Service
- Presbyterian Outlook — http://www.pres-outlook.com/index.php
- Online version of the weekly news and opinion magazine.
- Youth Ministry — http://www.pcusa.org/youthministry/pyc.htm
- Links on spirituality, social justice, fund raisers, conferences, and some activities (such as Energizers).
- Presbyterian Peacemaking Program — http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/index.htm
- Information about and resources for Peacemaking.
- Environmental Justice Office — http://www.pcusa.org/environment/links.htm
- Lots of links to both denominational and non-denominational web sites that support of the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s environmental mission.
- Presbyterian Association on Science, Technology and the Christian Faith — http://www.pastcf.org/index.html
- An organization to help both Presbyterian lay people and scientists understand the "implications of science and technology as they affect the theology, worship, practice, and moral actions of the church."
- Association of Presbyterian Church Educators — http://www.apcenet.org/
- Professional organization for Presbyterian Christian educators.
- The Layman Online — http://www.layman.org/
- The official web site of the evangelical and conservative Presbyterian Lay Committee.
- More Light Presbyterians — http://www.mlp.org/
- "Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians is to work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA)."
Popular Culture & Current Reading
- Iraq: Resources for Reflection and Action — http://www.pcusa.org/peacemaking/iraq/index.htm
- All kinds of online resources for reflection, study, prayer, and advocacy, from The Presbyterian Peacemaking Program in cooperation with the Middle East Office.
- Sojourners — http://www.sojo.net/
- Faith, politics, culture.
- Hollywood Jesus — http://www.hollywoodjesus.com/index.htm
- A spiritual look at current movies.
- Center for Parent /Youth Understanding — http://www.cpyu.org/
- CPYU.org focuses upon understanding today's youth culture.
- TheOoze — http://www.theooze.com/main.cfm
- Issues of community, culture, and faith.
- AlterNet — http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/
- AlterNet is an acclaimed information source (liberal orientation) that provides independent and alternate news in a mix that "underscores a commitment to fairness, equity and global stewardship, and to making connections across generational, ethnic and issue lines."
- The Christian Century — http://www.christiancentury.org/
- Online selections from the print magazine, which "examines issues of politics and culture as well as theology."
- Cross Currents — http://www.aril.org/
- A global magazine which aims at "connecting the wisdom of the heart and the life of the mind." Many full text articles online for free.
- Speaking of Faith — http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/index.shtml
- "Public radio's national conversation about belief, meaning, ethics and ideas." Audio and transcripts online, from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
- Religion & Ethics Newsweekly (PBS) — http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/
- From The Corporation for Public Broadcasting, online video shows and transcripts.
- Religion News Service — http://www.religionnews.com/
- A secular news and photo service dedicated to unbiased coverage of religion, ethics, spirituality and moral issues.
- Religion & Ethics — http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/
- Coverage of religious and moral issues from the British Broadcasting Company.
Children and Youth (organized K-12)
- BigIdea.com — http://www.bigidea.com/
- The home of VeggieTales.
- Kid Explorers — http://www.christiananswers.net/kids/home.html
- Where kids can explore God's creation; includes movie and video game reviews.
- Pockets — http://www.upperroom.org/pockets/
- Games & activities, recipes, jokes, etc., for kids; resources on children's spirituality for adults. From The Upper Room.
- Sunday School Sources.com — http://www.ebibleteacher.com/children/index.htm
- Bible study lessons, review activities and games, songs, trading card files, and teaching tips for primary and junior level classes
- Danielle's Place of Crafts & Activities — http://www.daniellesplace.com
- Bible-themed craft ideas.
- MSSS Crafts and Resources for Bible Stories — http://www.mssscrafts.com/crafts/
- Bible-themed crafts, recipes, games, and activities.
- SundaySchoolResources.com — http://www.sundayschoolresources.com/index.htm
- Teaching ideas.
ymiLIVE — http://www.ymilive.org/- Videos, forums, music, and more from Youth Mission Initiative, sponsored by the Presbyterian Foundation Group
- Devo'Zine — http://www.upperroom.org/devozine
- Teen magazine created by The Upper Room.
- Way to Live — http://www.waytolive.org/
- Christian practices for teens, a gateway to activities and resources for teens and youth leaders.
- SoulSearching — http://www.soulsearching.co.uk/
- A "Christian website for students and anyone else interested in spirituality, art, social justice, prayer, philosophy, faith, music and lots of discussion."
- WireTap — http://www.alternet.org/wiretap/
- From AlterNet, "the independent information source by and for socially conscious youth."
