Friday, December 01, 2023

Friday's Catch: 'What is Advent? Leading Your Church in Celebration and Anticipation' And More


What is Advent? Leading Your Church in Celebration and Anticipation
Whether or not your church participates in Advent traditions, this season can be one of reflection, thanksgiving, and hope.

6 Ways to Deepen Your Congregation’s Connection to the Community this Christmas
As you prepare for Advent and Christmas, here are six ways your congregation can deepen its connection to the community this holiday season.

VOICES: Is America leading the world in ‘child neglect’?
Americans are more accustomed than they should be to hearing that their country is leading the world in this category or that cultural development. And, they tend to just assume that whatever the subject or category is, it is a positive development. After all, it’s America! This tendency to narcissistic self-regard has never been one of America’s more attractive traits, and it has served to blind Americans to serious problems bringing serious, perhaps catastrophic harm to its people.
The single parent family in one of the realities of twenty-first century America. A question that churches need to be asking themselves is how can we minister to single parents and their children.
Unsung Heroes of Methodism: Barbara Heck
Sometimes a story that’s too good is still true. The story of Barbara Heck, “The Mother of American Methodism”, is one of those stories.
The Methodist movement began as what in modern-day parlance would be described as a renewal movement in the Church of England in the eighteenth century.
7 Quick Reminders For Pastors During Christmas Season
"I want to share some quick reminders for pastors during Christmas season," writes Ron Edmondson. "You already know all of these, but sometimes we get so busy with all the season’s activities that we failed to do some of the more important things. If you are intentional, Christmas can be one of your church’s best momentum-building times of the year."

4 Simple Decisions that Can Boost Personal Productivity
Charles Stone summarizes four simple decisions we can make to help boost our productivity.

How to Continue Leading Worship Even Into Old Age
...some of us are even well into the last quarter of our leading worship career. We’ve accumulated decades of knowledge, experience and practical application so we know how to work smarter. But just working smarter doesn’t seem to be helping some of us finish well.

Campus Ministry Tips: 5 Ways to Expand Your Effectiveness
Do you lead a campus ministry, or are you thinking of starting one? Then check out these veteran youth ministry tips for effective campus outreach.

Are You Ready to Be Healed?
Healing comes with a heavy cost. We can release our grip on resentment and rebellion, receive help and experience renewal in every part of our lives. But.... If we do that—if we embrace the kind of healing available to everybody who is broken and in pain—we’ll have to let go of some things that are quite precious to us.

Pope Francis asks theologians to ‘demasculinize’ the church
‘Women have a way of reflecting on theology that is different from us men,’ Francis told the International Theological Commission.

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