All this made me think about Covenant Discipleship. (Almost everything does.) In adult CD groups, the covenant is ongoing, open-ended. But in Sprouts, it is usually different. The commitment is often for a "semester" or for the fall or for a certain number of weeks or months. I have sometimes heard adults express the concern that the group has gotten stale, the covenant boring, or the time together monotonous. That is a clear sign that it's time to revise or rewrite the covenant. In Sprouts you have the opportunity every time you start a new group to evaluate your past groups, to make improvements, and to do new and different activities. Be open to new ways. Don't be caught in the "We have never done it that way before" syndrome. On the other hand, keep in mind the core values of Covenant Discipleship whenever you try new things.

Even if your group has already begun, it may not be too late to make changes. If it is, plan now for the opportunity for God to give new growth next session.

• Look over the updated Sprouts resource, Sprouts: Covenant Discipleship With Children. It is full of new material and ideas.
• See the evaluation forms for children, leaders and parents in Sprouts: Covenant Discipleship With Children. The best ideas often come from those who have been involved in Sprouts. But don't forget to ask those who are just now entering for ideas too.
• Every group is unique. What special needs or circumstances are present in this crop of Sprouts? Do you need to do more educational activities or fewer? Are the kids emotionally mature, or do they need extra assistance in this spiritual venture? Do they have a church background? What is your gender mix? Do you have new leaders? All these and other considerations can be the starting point for changes.
• Like it not, many things have changed since 9/11/2001. How may that be affecting your group? There are reports of more anti-Muslim acts. Is this an issue you need to address? Are your kids worried about terrorism? What about the war? Do you have children of military personnel? Are you praying for their parents as well as praying for peace and those affected by the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq?
• Are there new ministries happening in your community? . . . new problems? (The Super Bowl comes to Jacksonville next February. That is already affecting how the city views and treats its homeless people.)
• Are there nearby churches that have started a Sprouts ministry too? Is it a good time to have some Covenant Discipleship training or gatherings?
• If your pastor hasn't been involved, perhaps now is the time to invite him or her to participate in some way.
• Keep searching the Internet. There is a plethora of organizations, ideas, and resources available online. If you aren't comfortable doing it, there is surely someone who will help you or do it for you. Check back issues of in the CDQ for ideas and resources.

And when you make some changes, let us know. We would love to hear from you about what you are doing. We know you have some great ideas.

It is a new season, a new crop. Be adventuresome. Explore. Plant new seeds. Water those Sprouts. And watch them grow up in love!

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each. For we are God's servants, working together; you are God's field, God's building." (1 Corinthians 3: 7-9, NRSV)

Edie Genung Harris is a layperson in the Florida Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church and co-author (with Shirley Ramsey) of Sprouts.