Workshop Prep Time #ext16

Hello friends and conversation partners! As I mentioned previously, my wife Allison and I will be presenting and leading a few different workshops at the ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza in just about a week. My two workshops are in the “Tools for Leadership” category. In preparation for these workshops, I wanted to share the workshop topics and descriptions with you. Perhaps you have some creative … Continue reading Workshop Prep Time #ext16

The Problem with Bejeweled Butts

Those poor pews. Early on in a pastor friend of mine’s new call, she heard from a parishoner (a worshiper and congregational member) that the pews in the sanctuary were being unduly scratched and irreparably harmed. The person pointed to people wearing jeans and dress slacks with bejeweled butts as the problem. Apparently this was a major issue that was harming the church. The person … Continue reading The Problem with Bejeweled Butts

This Week’s Links

Happy Tuesday! Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and thought provoking over the past week. To help make sense of all of these links, I have grouped them by the following categories: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Stewardship; Vocation; and Miscellaneous. I hope that … Continue reading This Week’s Links

A Dream Enfolding; God’s Word Fulfilled- A Sermon for Epiphany 3C

The following is the text of the sermon I preached this morning at Messiah Lutheran Church in Hazel Dell. The sermon is based on the readings for today from 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, and Luke 4:14-21, and incorporates some of the stories I have heard and experienced while serving as mission developer at Messiah’s North Site in Ridgefield.  Hello and good morning- I am excited to … Continue reading A Dream Enfolding; God’s Word Fulfilled- A Sermon for Epiphany 3C

This Week’s Links

Happy Tuesday! Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and thought provoking over the past week. To help make sense of all of these links, I have grouped them by the following categories: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation; and … Continue reading This Week’s Links

This Week’s Links

Happy Tuesday! Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and thought provoking over the past week. To help make sense of all of these links, I have grouped them by the following categories: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor Love; Social Media & Blogging; Stewardship; Vocation; and … Continue reading This Week’s Links

Lessons in Lay Leadership- in memory of Sheryl Jacobson

In the work and ministry I do, cultivating volunteer or lay leadership is a must. This is a reality for working in congregations, community groups, faith communities, nonprofits, and I suspect schools too, to name a few. In the past I have written and shared some lessons about lay leadership. Today, however, I want to share some lessons in lay leadership that I learned from … Continue reading Lessons in Lay Leadership- in memory of Sheryl Jacobson

This Week’s Links

Happy New Year and Merry Twelfth Day of Christmas! Each week on the blog I get to share some of what I have seen, read, and found interesting and thought provoking over the past week. To help make sense of all of these links, I have grouped them by the following categories: Church and Ministry Thought & Practice; Cross-Sector Collaboration; Leadership Thought & Practice; Millennials; Neighbor … Continue reading This Week’s Links

The Boy Jesus in the Temple & Christmas Surprises

My wife Allison and I both preached at Messiah Lutheran Church in Vancouver, Washington this past weekend, preaching on the gospel text from Luke 2:41-52. What follows is the majority of the text that I preached Saturday evening and Sunday morning.  Grace, peace, and Christmas blessings and surprises to you! I will let you in on a little secret, as someone who has been a … Continue reading The Boy Jesus in the Temple & Christmas Surprises

Peace & Freedom- Days 22 & 23 of Advent

Christmas Eve is tomorrow, and I need to catch up on these posts. I am writing as I currently sit in a hospital waiting room. I’m here on a visit for a congregational member about to go into surgery. It might seem to be a weird place to start reflecting about peace and freedom, but I think it makes sense. There’s a sense of peace … Continue reading Peace & Freedom- Days 22 & 23 of Advent