Christmas
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Posted on December 22, 2011, 7:27 am
Topics: Congregational Life
It is almost here. And it would not be hard to miss it. Really! It is such a hectic time of year. Calendars are so cluttered with activity. The worship schedule is heavier than usual, and it was already heavy. The only relief this year is that the holidays fall on Sundays.
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Posted on December 20, 2011, 4:14 pm
Topics: Safe Church
I grew up watching A Charlie Brown Christmas. Charlie Brown can’t seem to get anything right as he plans for the Christmas pageant, even choosing a bad little tree that could scarcely hold an ornament. This year, wanting to have some kind of Christmas decoration for my office, I came upon a Charlie Brown Christmas tree in a local store.
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Posted on December 20, 2011, 3:06 am | 3 comments
Topics: Worshiping Community
On Christmas morning everyone will be dressed in their festive best, but look closely--the slightly curved lips and muttered “Merry Christmas” won’t disguise the well of tears barely held back. As we prepare to celebrate in worship, let's also bow in a prayer of hope for those who are in pain this season.
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Posted on December 19, 2011, 9:15 am
Topics: Teaching
The story of Jesus’ birth is one scene in God’s story of redemption and restoration. All the stories you’ve been telling your kids each week at church and all the stories you’ll be learning together after Christmas are part of that big story about what God has done, is doing, and will continue to do.
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Posted on December 12, 2011, 12:48 pm
Topics: Communication, Organization
Here we are in the midst of the Christmas season. You’re well on your way with plans for Christmas. With just a few weeks left, are there still some things you can do to make sure your church has the best impact that it can?
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Posted on December 12, 2011, 7:00 am | 1 comment
Topics: Youth
Christmas is a couple of weeks away. The focus in most of our homes is on gifts. Youth group students have created long lists of all the items they “need.” My question is this, how do we cover this topic in our youth groups in such a way that we impact thought without instilling guilt?
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Posted on December 6, 2011, 8:20 am
Topics: Pastors
The troops are coming home. What does this mean for the churches and our worship during this holiday season? What kind of person is coming back from these wars? Is there a calling to the church from our Lord at this time to make our worship and ministry meaningful for these warriors coming home for Christmas?
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Posted on November 22, 2011, 8:28 am | 1 comment
Topics: Caring
A simple, short guide won't make all the challenges go away, but it can help everyone enjoy the holidays a bit more. This new guide, written by Barbara Newman, gives practical advice that can be of help to those who care about people who have a difficult time with all the changes that come with the holidays.
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Posted on November 22, 2011, 1:09 am
Topics: Community, Congregation
We are entering the Christmas season and, as deacons, there are a lot of different initatives that we can undertake to help spread the hope and joy of this time. As we engage in these converations among our teams it can be helpful to brainstorm and share best practices from other congregations, so, let's do just that!
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Posted on November 22, 2011, 12:43 am | 3 comments
Topics: Spiritual Formation
Spiritual formation never happens in a vacuum. It always happens when the call of the gospel challenges our habits of thinking and our way of living. Tension alerts us and invites us to pay attention. Amid the tension we can speak words that encourage new faithfulness.
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Posted on November 7, 2011, 10:14 am
Topics: Faith Tradition, Occasions and Themes
Christmas Eve is about… children, costumes, choirs, carols, candles and candy canes. One more ‘c’ word. Coordinators. Behind the scenes of our Christmas Eve pageants or dramas are volunteers or staff who have their own families and personal events to plan. They may have been practicing since September, only to...
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Posted on October 17, 2011, 8:33 am
Topics: Organizing
It is only October but all of us in church ministry know that we need to be thinking about Christmas and the Christmas program by now or we’re in big trouble. So how can you plan for programs that accomplish what you want while minimizing the headaches?
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Posted on January 6, 2011, 4:35 pm
Topics: Congregational Life
The week before Christmas was supposed to be easy. On my Monday off I took a pick-up load of scrap metal to Adelstein’s Recycling and pocketed $129.60; more than paid for stocking stuffers for the children and grandchildren who would start trickling in on Wednesday. They’d stay till December 27. Menus were planned, groceries bought.
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Posted on December 23, 2010, 9:28 am
Topics: Worship
Thank you for all you did that we never saw...
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Posted on December 16, 2010, 9:51 pm | 1 comment
Topics: Leadership
My kids and wife hardly give me stuff anymore, regardless of the occasion. Around Christmas, birthdays, and Father’s Day, they once paid close attention to the perpetual gross list I’d stick over family pictures disguising the refrigerator: “Two of everything.” (A Mennonite friend calls that my “Noah List”—but I never wanted even one cat.)
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