Saturday, April 15, 2023

Saturday Lagniappe: '4 Affirming Truths for Pastors — Especially on a Monday' And More


4 Affirming Truths for Pastors — Especially on a Monday
“Don’t quit on a Monday.” This is a common axiom among pastors, and with good reason. Monday is often the hardest day of the week for those who lead a church or ministry.

Navigating the Unholy Trinity of Burnout: Burnout, Compassion Fatigue, and Vicarious Trauma
In this podcast episode, Jamie Aten dives into the unholy trinity of burnout: burnout itself, compassion fatigue, and vicarious trauma. This trio is familiar to many people in helping professions, ministry positions, or volunteer roles. Understanding their definitions and root causes is essential for preventing—and overcoming—each of them.

Grounded in Grace: A Christian Technique for Relieving Stress and Strengthening Faith
In this episode, Jamie Ate introduces a Christian grounding technique he and Kent Annan developed for the Spiritual First Aid certificate course, called Grounded in Grace: The 5-4-3-2-1 Technique. The technique is designed to help manage stress and anxiety by directing our attention to the present moment through our five senses. Because it incorporates prayer and visualization, this practice can also strengthen our faith and deepen our connection to God.

Please Bear with Me
Being a member of a local church is an intimate thing. In order to obey the “one-anothers” of Scripture, there is a closeness that is assumed among the people of God... This closeness is a benefit for the people of God in every way, yet anyone who has lived in close community with another person knows that things can get messy. Offenses are bound to come... The more two sinners interact, the more chances there are for misunderstandings, annoyances, and offenses. And when the church is most healthy, this will be even more the case.

10 Tips for Writing Worship Songs
The most important thing in a discussion about writing worship songs is to agree on the fundamentals of worship leading. Why? Because songs are the tip of the worship spear. I suggest that the fundamentals of worship leading can be summed up with the “three Cs”: Christ centered, congregationally accessible and consistent.

What Every Songwriter Needs to Know About … Verbs!
Here’s what every songwriter needs to know about verbs. (Yes, verbs!)

Copy Right or Copy Wrong?
Useful information for anyone that is creating your church’s social media, newsletters, or website content whatever your denomination.

Fear and the Great Commission
We feel a burden for the lost, but what should it be founded upon? How do we get started on the right track? 1 John 4:18–19 tells us, “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” If John is trying to motivate Christians to love, then he is not doing it with fear. In fact, he excludes its place altogether. This should inform our view of God’s mission.

Looking for Partners Helps Illinois Parish Grow
St. Luke’s story of renewal offers a hopeful vision of what remains possible for congregations struggling with declining numbers.
“Being honest about the demographics in your area and what growth is possible within your context is important. I also think playing to the strengths of your already existing congregation is essential. For us, partnering with other churches has really been life-giving and energizing in a way that we never could have done alone.” - Rev. Kat Banatas
Cathedral Visitor Numbers Rebound after Pandemic
Visitor numbers are returning to pre-pandemic levels across English cathedrals, according to latest figures. The Association of English Cathedrals (AEC) said that many recorded a more than 100 per cent increase on 2021 figures, when the pandemic was still causing disruption.

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