Family Time, Processing, and Reflections on Holy Week 2014

If you read my blog often, then you probably are aware that this past week was Holy Week. On the blog I shared some thoughts as we journeyed from Palm Sunday to Maundy Thursday, to Good Friday, Holy Saturday and then Easter Sunday. What you may not know is that my Mom and Dad were out visiting us and joined us for the fun. That … Continue reading Family Time, Processing, and Reflections on Holy Week 2014

This Week’s Links

Tuesday means that it is time for me to share some of what I have seen and found interesting and thought provoking in the past week with all of you. This week’s categories include: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Neighbor Love; Vocation; Worship and Miscellaneous. Church and Ministry Thought & Practice Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Presiding … Continue reading This Week’s Links

Baptismal Promises and the Hope and Wait for Easter

“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

This Week’s Links

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

Leading around the Potholes- Thoughts on Stewardship Leadership

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

Thoughts about Mentoring

The other day I asked some friends what they would be interested in reading about on my blog. One of the ideas that seemed to get the most traction was mentoring. When thinking about the idea of mentoring, a few questions come immediately to mind: What does it mean to mentor? How were (and/or are) you mentored? Do you mentor?  I have been blessed and … Continue reading Thoughts about Mentoring

This Week’s Links

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

Potholes of Stewardship

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

Lent, Youth, and Opportunity

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

Asking the Questions- Faith and Theological Focus

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