As we continue to travel through Holy Week, today we observe Maundy Thursday. Since Palm Sunday, the mood has turned more somber. In our observation of Maundy Thursday, we are called to remember Jesus’ love for us, the reasons for the sacrament of Holy Communion, and even to reflect on our common human responses to fear and challenge- fighting or fleeing, rather than wondering what … Continue reading Maundy Thursday Thoughts and Questions
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
Previously, I said that I would add more reflection about some of the days as we travel through Holy Week. So as promised, here is some pondering about Palm Sunday. In many congregations on this day, people experience the joy and triumph as they join shouts and the singing of “Hosanna.” We hear the Palm Sunday story read (this year from the Gospel of Matthew … Continue reading Palm Sunday Ponderings
A funny thing happened to me this morning. My computer decided it was time. I have been living on borrowed time with that computer, I know. But my laptop today has had enough. I am hopeful that I will be able to access the hard-drive some how, but that’s probably not going to be likely. It’s my own fault for not backing up everything of … Continue reading Holy Week fast approaches bringing Questions
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
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 