Peacemaking emphasized in new storybook Bible

Shine Curriculum releases The Peace Table for children age 5-11

HARRISONBURG, VA — From beginning to end, the Bible reminds us that we are made in God’s image and that God’s table has room for us all. God’s presence and peace become real to children of all ages in The Peace Table (Shine, July 2023), a comprehensive family storybook Bible with artwork from 30 illustrators.

Authors Chrissie Muecke, Jasmin Pittman Morrell, Teresa Kim Pecinovsky offer biblically faithful retellings of 140 stories from Scripture. Alongside each Bible story they include prayer prompts, questions, and action ideas to guide family reflection and conversation. Twelve “peace paths” encourage children to explore the ways that peace themes are woven throughout the Old and New Testaments. A resource section includes ideas for how to experience peace with God, self, others, and creation, as well as maps, background information on the Bible, interactive ways to pray, and prayers for many occasions. The Peace Table will be the source of the Bible story for Elementary classes for the next three years of the Shine curriculum beginning in Fall 2023. 

“The Peace Table is an excellent resource for families and faith communities who want their children to love Jesus, grow in faith, and become peacemakers who change the world,” says Chrissie Muecke, author and Shine editor.

The Peace Table can be pre-ordered through CommonWord, the title's exclusive retailer in Canada. Come to God’s peace table, where there’s room for everyone.

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Chrissie Muecke has a master’s degree in elementary teaching and curriculum from the University of Rochester and is pursuing a master of arts in Christian leadership from Eastern Mennonite Seminary. She has worked for MennoMedia and Brethren Press as a curriculum writer and editor for 14 years. Chrissie has coauthored three previous Bible storybooks: All of Us, All Together, and Great Big Love. She attends Rochester (NY) Mennonite Fellowship.

Jasmin Pittman Morrell has a bachelor’s degree in English, journalism, and creative writing from Berry College and a master of fine arts in narrative nonfiction writing from the University of Georgia. Her writing is featured in Bigger Than Bravery (2022) and other anthologies. Jasmin also supports Family Voices, a creative writing mentorship program for children of color in Asheville, North Carolina. She believes deeply in radical hospitality and the holy power of the imagination.

Teresa Kim Pecinovsky holds a master of education from the University of Houston and a master of divinity from Vanderbilt Divinity School. She is an ordained minister through the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Rev. Teresa is the author of the children’s book Mother God and works as a hospice chaplain. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her family and co-leads the pastoral care team at Houston Mennonite Church.

To schedule an interview with Chrissie Muecke,  project editor, or Joan Daggett, project director, contact LeAnn Hamby at 540‑908‑3941 or LeAnnH@mennomedia.org.