Resources for effective church leaders
+ October 25, 2021
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We've upgraded MinistryLink by organizing articles by subject. Scroll through the bold subject headers to find the information you need. |
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Scroll down for:
Vital Congregations | God’s work. Our hands. | Worship Webinar | Communications Webinar | Property | Stewardship | Anti-Racism | Advent Resources | Faith Formation | Doing Good | Lay Eucharistic Ministry Training | Equipping Rostered Ministers | Ordination | ELCA News
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In our latest “Ministry in the New Abnormal” webinar, Pastor Bryan Penman, chair of our Synod's Vitality Team (did you know that we had one?) discusses what vitality is and how the synod and ELCA are working to help congregations express their full vitality. You don't measure vital congregations by attendance or offerings but by their focus on strengthening people's relationship with God, with each other, and being a strong presence in the community. Recorded webinar from Oct. 21, 2021. |
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Faith, Philadelphia has for the last few years shared our worship space with a Seventh Day Adventist congregation called Beersheba. Beersheba's membership is largely Haitian and Haitian-American. They have joined us for an ecumenical Easter celebration in the past and their youth dance troupe has performed at one of our worship services. In addition, they have honored Faith Lutheran with a generosity award and given an award to one of our families for exemplifying Christian family living. They also provided the technical support which allowed us to record and edit our virtual Christmas Eve service during the pandemic. We have really enjoyed our partnership with them and, quite frankly, they help us pay the bills.
The August 14th earthquake was devastating to this fellowship as many of the members have family in Haiti. One of the elders of their congregation, Maurice Casseus, went on a mission trip in September to aid the victims of the earthquake. Faith Lutheran took up a collection to sponsor this endeavor. With fewer than 40 people in regular worship now, we raised over $2,000 which went directly to Haiti and provided 100,000 bottles of much-needed drinking water and 300 tents for temporary shelter.
Image: Elder Maurice distributes water in Haiti.
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Webinar: Liturgy for Traumatic Times
w/ Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero, United Lutheran Seminary
Thursday, Oct. 28 at 11 am
Dr. Kyle Schiefelbein-Guerrero is the Steck-Miller Assistant Professor of Worship and Liturgy at United Lutheran Seminary. His current research interests include the intersection of ritual and pastoral care, and digital theology and liturgy. He will join us for a conversation about liturgy that can help address individual illness and collective trauma experienced by our congregations and translating ritual and pastoral care into the online environment. Bring your questions!
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All Saints Vespers - God's Own Time
(Virtual Worship Experience) from St. John Lutheran Church - 1802 Skippack Pike, Blue Bell. PA 19422
We gather in the evening to sing as the church triumphant. Join us for an expanded setting of Evening Prayer. The service will include J. S. Bach's moving cantata 106 (God's time is the best time) with chamber orchestra. This is a virtual only event and will be live-streamed on the church's YouTube channel. Visit www.stjohnbluebell.org for additional information.
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Deacon John Weit, ELCA Churchwide Executive for Worship, shares about what we have learned to adapt in worship and how Advent and Christmas are opportunities to again exercise creativity in shaping hybrid worship. He also shares a number of resources for congregational worship leaders. |
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Webinar: Digivangelism
w/ the creatives from Digivangelism
Thursday, Nov. 11 at 11 am
Digivangelism helps leaders of liturgical/progressive communities of faith share the Gospel message through engaging, effective digital media. They’ll share Facebook enhancements including digital tithing and the proper way to advertise worship online. And we’ll be introduced to some less familiar services including TinyPNG/TinyJPG, GoogleMyBusiness, Buffer/Later, Clubhouse, Marco Polo, and TikTok/IG Reels.
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Rev. David Hansen, the "Digital Pastor," shares strategies and tactics for engaging every church's third audience -- the community that watches and gathers digitally. Share this with your digital ministry team.
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From the Lewis Center: Reimagining Church Buildings
How can your church building be an asset rather than a liability? Dave Harder says we must interrogate the dominant narrative that says church is what happens in the building for a few hours on a Sunday and let a new narrative emerge — one that focuses on God’s hopes and dreams for the neighborhood.
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The Southeastern and Northeastern Pennsylvania synods are sponsoring a hybrid Generosity event on Saturday, January 22, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale. Keynote speakers for “Stewardship and Vitality in the NOW Normal” are Louise Johnson and Soong-Chan Rah, with workshops featuring Dave Daubert, Ryan Burge, Doug Powe Jr., and others.
The cost is $40 in-person or virtual. Visit ministrylink.org for more information.
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From Living Lutheran: From Awareness to Action
In Becoming a White Antiracist: A Practical Guide for Educators, Leaders, and Activists (Stylus Publishing, 2021), co-authors Mary E. Hess and Stephen D. Brookfield offer a road map for people of European descent who want to turn their awareness of racism and systemic injustice into action. Living Lutheran recently spoke to Hess, who has been on the faculty of Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minn., since 2000, about how she and Brookfield aimed to create a resource for white readers seeking to create conversations about race, teach or arrange development workshops on racism, or help colleagues, students or fellow congregation members create an antiracist environment or culture. Read the interview.
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Prepare for Advent with ELCA World Hunger
Celebrate the excitement, anticipation and wonder of Christ’s birth with new ELCA World Hunger Advent resources! As congregations across the ELCA find creative new ways to worship online and in person and continue to support the work of important ministries, we are eager to equip leaders with useful resources this season. ELCA World Hunger offers an Advent calendar, weekly study guide and Congregation Action Kit for use in your home or church. Browse resources.
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Let Lutheran World Relief help you this Advent. |
Lutheran World Relief has created FREE, easy-to-use resources based on the RCL Advent texts from the Gospel of Luke, all available at lwr.org/advent. |
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Living Lutheran: Generations of Faith
“If we’re going to truly be the body of Christ, we need to have all generations in ministry,” says Linda Staats in “Generations of Faith,” the lead feature in October’s Living Lutheran. Read more about how ELCA congregations are using intergenerational ministries to bring people together and connect members of all generations
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New Options for ELCA Good Gifts
In a year when the needs can seem overwhelming, ELCA Good Gifts provide an easy way to make a real impact. Your gifts share the love of Christ one goat, water well or school uniform at a time. New options for 2021 include:
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If you’re planning a congregation-wide fundraiser for ELCA Good Gifts be sure to take advantage of our online tools — like “wish lists” and “group gifts” — to make collective giving a breeze. Learn more with our new how-to guide for online fundraisers.
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Lay Eucharistic Ministry Training |
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St. Paul's, Olney on November 6
If you enjoy a good conversation or showing you care in concrete ways, consider joining with us on Saturday, November 6th at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Olney! We will be hosting a day training for serving others by bringing Communion and Care to people unable to be in church.
Pastor Sandra Brown will be leading us from 9:30 to 4:00 pm. Lunch and treats will be provided. Please contact the church office or Pastor Kathleen Kerin if you are interested.
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church
5900 N. Fifth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19120
Church office: 215.424.4800
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Equipping Rostered Ministers |
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⬆ Watch for more information. |
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“Struck Down, But Not Destroyed…”
The Road To Reconnection
SEPA Synod Rostered Ministers’ Equipping Event
November 16 and 17, 2021
A Hybrid Event
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Ordination: Ms. Courtney Smith
Ordination of Courtney Smith
to the Office of Word and Sacrament in the ELCA
To be held on Saturday, November 13th at 10:00 am at
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
132 E. Valley Forge Road
King of Prussia, PA 19406
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Bishop Eaton on Silence
Silence: Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reminds us that spending time in silence is a spiritual discipline, a way of being in God’s presence. Read her October column for Living Lutheran in English at https://bit.ly/3jfr8dLand in Spanish at https://bit.ly/3n5x8ab.
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A pastoral letter from the ELCA presiding bishop regarding the actions of the Reformed Church in America General Synod 2021
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Have stories, events, or resources to share?
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Thank you
The Rev. Bob Fisher, assistant to the bishop for mission interpretation/communications
Ms. Cynta Outterbridge, communications assistant
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