A Message from Our President, Diane McGeoch

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

‘Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.” Anne Lamott

We look to the future all the time in our ministry roles. We are planning, visioning, and dreaming of programs, events, people, and approaches that will support the work of faith formation. The church season begins anew with Advent and with that beginning we move through many seasons and ministries. The Christian Education Network of the ELCA is entering a new season of its life. Our Board of Directors voted on October 30, 2023, to enter a partnership with APCE – Association of Partners in Christian Education.

This vote happened after months of prayer, discernment, and discovery. A Covenant Task Force has been established and has begun conversations about the how and when of this partnership and all the steps involved. Members of the Network will vote on the partnership, and we plan to have two question and answer sessions for members to discuss concerns, ideas, and our way forward. We will announce these sessions as soon as they are scheduled.

As I write this, we are entering the season of Epiphany, and celebrating the light of the star that led the Magi to Jesus. We have much to celebrate as the Christian Education Network. We have a long history of supporting, equipping, and empowering faith formation leaders. This work will continue in old and new ways. We are in the midst of creating something new, and it is exciting and scary all at the same time.

The quote above mentions three activities: waiting, and watching, and working. We wait during the process of creation for something new to emerge. We watch for people and resources who can help us along the way. We work hard to honor the past, live in the present, and plan for a hopeful future. We can look back on what was, celebrate what is now, and anticipate what is to come. We wait and watch and work together as partners in ministry.

Deacon Diane McGeoch Epiphany 2024 

Christian Education Network of the ELCA

• This is the audio file for the last print issue of Living Lutheran magazine. It includes looking back on the legacy of the magazine, a timeline of important events in the life of the magazine and the ELCA, and stories of ELCA members serving their communities. The looking back, celebrating the work, and looking to the future are common parts of transitions for ministries, organizations, and congregations.

https://www.livinglutheran.org/issues/november-december-2023/

• This is the website for the Association of Partners in Christian Education, featuring their ministries of connecting, enriching, and empowering faith formation leaders in several different denominations. The resource section includes Post Pandemic Pondering and Planning, a resource for faith re-formation.

The annual event of APCE takes place every January and this year will be in St. Louis from January 24-27.

      https://apcenet.org

• This article by Kim Dawsey-Richardson – “How Do We Steward Waiting” reflects on her experience with a medical diagnosis and home repairs during the season of Advent, and her congregation’s journey during Advent. The author outlines four practices that can occur during times of waiting and waiting some more: Pay attention, practice presence, contemplative practices, and connections with people. As we wait for God, God waits for us. 

https://faithlead.org/blog/how-do-we-steward-waiting/

www.faithfulteaching.org