“God, who is rich in mercy and love, gives us a new birth into a living hope through the sacrament of baptism. By water and the Word God delivers us from sin and death and raises us to new life in Jesus Christ. We are united with all the baptized in the one body of Christ, anointed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and … Continue reading Baptismal Promises and the Hope and Wait for Easter
Today is Good Friday. We have traveled through Lent, and this past week through Holy Week– from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday to today. On Good Friday, we see ourselves as participants (in all of our good, bad, and ugly) in the darkest section and moment of our faith and belief. We are confronted with humanity in a way that we only face in worship … Continue reading Good Friday- Gawking at the Cross
Tuesday means that it is time to share some of what I have found interesting and thought-provoking over the past week. This week’s topics include: 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 enjoy them. Church and Ministry Thought & Practice … Continue reading This Week’s Links
Last week I shared what I believe are some potholes of stewardship. Today, I would like to offer some reflection about how leadership plays a role in navigating, responding to, and overcoming these potholes. Let me put a few assumptions out there before I begin. My understanding of a leader, is that they lead and guide with the values, mission, and vision of their congregation … Continue reading Leading around the Potholes- Thoughts on Stewardship Leadership
Tuesday means that it’s time to share with you some of what I have found interesting in the past week. This week’s topic categories are: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; Vocation; Worship; and Miscellaneous. I entrust these links to you now, and hope you enjoy them and find them thought-provoking. Church and Ministry Thought & … Continue reading This Week’s Links
Over the weekend I had the opportunity to attend a “Jump Start Your Stewardship” event put on by the Minneapolis and St. Paul Area Synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). I attended this event last year and enjoyed it, and so attending this year’s event was a no-brainer. Unfortunately, I didn’t quite enjoy this year’s as much. There was good material, but … Continue reading Potholes of Stewardship
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
Timothy Siburg 