The following post is one that I originally wrote for the First Third blog at the invitation of Dr. Terri Elton. This post offers congregational scenarios and approaches for creating opportunities for youth and youth leadership during the season of Lent. Perhaps there are things here that might be interesting to try for your congregation next year? I hope you enjoy it, and I share this post here … Continue reading Lent, Youth, and Opportunity
On Sunday, friend and pastor Stephanie Vos shared a sermon which was equally beautiful, honest, and poignant at Trinity Lutheran Church. The sermon was grounded in the text of Luke 20:1-8. In unpacking the passage, Stephanie broke it into four parts: 1) A question about authority, posed by the chief priests, scribes and elders (vs. 1-2) 2) A question about John’s Baptism, posed by Jesus … Continue reading Asking the Questions- Faith and Theological Focus
Today we pick-up the conversation about what it means to live in diverse community, and particularly with people you deeply disagree. Previously we laid the ground work, and then offered reflection on the how to live in such a community. Today, we consider some of the theological ideas that give me hope that this is possible. Theological Solace Perhaps this is where I see the … Continue reading Living in Diverse Community- Part 3
This is going to be a relatively short post. APRIL FOOLS! 🙂 Anyway, Happy April and hopefully wherever you are the snow has melted or is melting, and spring has really begun in earnest. As it is Tuesday, that means on the blog that it is time to share what I have been reading, seen, or found interesting in the past week with you. This … Continue reading This Week’s Links
This post is the second in a 3-part series pondering what it means to be in community with people we disagree (particularly in congregations). The previous post laid the groundwork, and today we start to tackle the questions of how and what this looks like. How to Live in Diverse Community To engage and live in a diverse community takes intention. It takes a willingness to … Continue reading Living in Diverse Community- Part 2
This post offers beginning reflection for a 3-part series pondering what being in community means with people we disagree. Looking back This past fall, friend and pastor Kent Shane and I went back and forth imagining what it might mean to really claim all are welcome, all are sought, and to have a community and practice of accompaniment as part of this. It was our conversation which really … Continue reading Living in Diverse Community- Part 1
I have been wrestling with being willing to write this or not. Well, since you are reading it, its obvious that the push to write it won out over my resistance to doing so. If you haven’t heard by now, World Vision, an organization I do respect, recently made a decision to be willing and open to hire people, regardless of their sexuality and if … Continue reading Palm to head, repeat, then hope, trust and speak (or write)
One of the areas of theology, ministry, neighbor love and leadership that I love is stewardship. I have written some occasionally on the blog about my perspectives about stewardship, but thought it might be good to do some intentional wrestling about stewardship. To do some wrestling though, I believe takes some definition or at least some expression of what assumptions might be being made. First of … Continue reading Defining Stewardship and Steward
Tuesday means its time to share some links. I use the word “some” loosely this week, as it seems I must have done a lot of reading. This week’s topic categories are: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation; Worship; and Miscellaneous. I entrust these to you now and hope you find … Continue reading This Week’s Links
Today marks the first birthday of this blog. The first post appeared right here on March 23, 2013. Since then, we have gone through a few design changes. But the topic and focus on the intersections of and thought about the church, leadership, and the neighbor have remained consistent. I believe we have covered a wide range of topics and asked important questions as we … Continue reading Happy Birthday to the Blog!
Timothy Siburg 