Resource Browser Page
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| May 17, 2010 |
When Jesus Guides: CalledSpiritual Formation If we believe that Jesus guides us, then we also need to listen for the call of Christ in our life. |
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| May 31, 2010 |
When Jesus Guides: TogetherSpiritual Formation For many, the word "church" evokes negative images. As an institution it is seen to be cumbersome rather than nimble. After all the sex scandals in the news, church is perceived as harbouring potentially dangerous people. Many would say, church (Sunday worship) is boring and mundane. Of course these are not the only images: others think of particular people who embrace them with love, a sense of home, or a deep sense of comfort. The word "church" is layered with our experience for good and ill. Interestingly, the first thought doesn’t turn to the guidance that Christ provides. Yet Christ has chosen to continue the work out salvation in this world in and through the community called church. |
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| June 7, 2010 |
I Don’t Believe in “Waiting Till Marriage”: A Brief Reflection on Sexuality and SpiritualityPastoral Care Sometimes in our attempts to address one concern we end up communicating the wrong message. So what does “wait till marriage” mean? The intention is noble: sexual intercourse has its proper place in marriage and should be reserved for this relationship. And yet the message has unintended consequence. Among other things... |
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| June 29, 2010 |
Giving Support in Times of DepressionPastoral Care Trying to fix things or make them go away seldom works. But perhaps if we are willing for a moment to see the possibility of new life after the days of hardship, perhaps if we are willing to imagine that even this darkness is not too dark for God, perhaps if we can visualize that Christ can take this misery and redeem, then through all the darkness of depression there remains hope for renewal. |
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| August 2, 2010 |
Leadership, Respecting People, MotivationLeadership You don’t have to be a Christian in order to notice that there are practices which motivate and practices that hinder motivation in people. Daniel Pink suggests that autonomy, mastery and purpose are critical components for enduring motivation. It’s not about money. Bakke, in Joy at Work, makes similar conclusions. “When given the opportunity to use our ability to reason, make decisions, and take responsibility for our actions, we experience joy at work.” |
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| September 7, 2010 |
Encouraging Faith Nurture in Our HomesSpiritual Formation Families are God’s idea. We see this as He created Adam, Eve and children. Later He told the children to leave and cleave and form a new close unit. It is within the bonds and commitment of marriage where we grow in intimacy with each other that we learn to bring each other, our thoughts and needs before our heavenly Father, seek His way for our lives and live as He directs. This living in community requires ... |
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| October 19, 2010 |
Death by SuicidePastoral Care At approximately 2:00 p.m. on November 2, 1993, my husband took his own life. That event brought me and our four children face-to-face with a death we did not understand—indeed, did not want to understand. My husband’s suicide brought us pain that was and is immeasurable. Initially, and for some time after Bill’s death, I questioned what I could have done differently. I also experienced some regrets about things said or unsaid during the last few days of his life... |
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| November 2, 2010 |
Wise to Elephants in the RoomLeadership I like to think that there are many times we can develop health within the congregation – not by addressing the particular problems- but by maintaining health. Much like good nutrition can help our physical bodies fight disease and increase joy so by insisting on healthy organizational dynamics and godly practices of respect and honor the elders can fight dysfunction within the congregation. |
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| November 17, 2010 |
Pastoral Evaluations and the ElderLeadership Recently, I have been asked about pastoral evaluations. It is an interesting moment in the life of the pastor. Most often when I have experienced evaluations the elders are also scrambling. The only evaluation they have done is over the coffee table. Never written. Never formal. The first question is usually: how do we do this and what is available to help me do this? |
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| December 14, 2010 |
Ministry to those with Economic ProblemsPastoral Care These people struggle with loss, fear, depression, and the pain of rejection. There is no single way to minister to them. The officebearers must become aware of such people and devise forms of ministry in keeping with their needs. |
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| January 5, 2011 |
The Home Visit: Preparation & GuidelinesSpiritual Formation Home visitation is a traditional strategy for ministry. At its best, it is a tool that allows the office bearer to encourage spiritual development among members of the congregation. I prepared the following materials for the elders of my previous congregation to use as a guideline in making home visits. |
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| June 27, 2011 |
Pastoral Care, Homosexuality and the ElderPastoral Care The elders care within the congregation is first and foremost the practice of being the presence of Christ. As representatives of Christ every strategy begins with an attitude that says “I am with you and for you.” This attitude is present long before any conversation takes place. There are at least two elements: unconditional love and |
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| June 7, 2010 |
Christian Maturity & the Call of the ElderLeadership Paul desires a maturity in Christ. Clearly, to be filled with the fullness of God requires that the love of Christ shapes our very being. Jesus makes it clear that this includes loving your enemies and forgiving those who sin against us. Mature Christian living is not just a matter of experiencing Christ’s forgiveness but being transformed in Christ’s love to reflect the love of God for his world. Elders are agents of such transformation. |
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| June 15, 2010 |
Joy in the Work of EldersSpiritual Formation Elders have often said to me that one of the highlights of being an elder is listening to the testimony of those who want to become members of the community. Now they were given a chance to teach. And they found joy in their ministry. |
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| June 23, 2010 |
Discipleship, Discipline and Naming SinSpiritual Formation In order for elders to exercise their shepherding responsibility and name sin in a person’s life, there needs to be a relationship of some meaning. We may be frustrated by another’s behavior but perhaps we need to reflect first on the nature of our relationship with the person. |
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| July 1, 2010 |
Taking Time to GrowLeadership I was working on new material for our catechetical program for the fall. In our first sessions, we want to focus on how we grow as Christians. I want youth to know what they need to practice in order to grow to maturity. In the process I listened to some youtube videos of Richard Foster. (Get a Life: the with-God life ). |
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| July 20, 2010 |
Elders, Learning and Doing TheologyLeadership Every conversation about the things of God is laced with reflection about God. As elders, we are challenged to lead people in clear thinking. But that means elders need to think things through as well. So this makes me wonder: when and how do elders practice disciplined learning in the matters of faith? |
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| August 2, 2010 |
How Shall We Lead Children?Spiritual Formation In a bookstore we picked up the audio version of Jesus Storybook Bible (Sally Lloyd-Jones). We started to ask: how can we use this as a congregation? It got me thinking about elders and the spiritual lives of children. When I came home from vacation one of the first newspapers we received had an excerpt from a book by Peter Hitchens (brother to Christopher): it spoke about the need to pass on faith to children. He writes |
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| August 17, 2010 |
Community in a Lonely WorldLeadership "There are three activities absolutely vital in the creation of community. The first is eating together around the same table. The second is praying together. And the third is celebrating together.” |
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| August 30, 2010 |
From Stranger to FriendWe are strangers to each other. We know each other’s names. We can sketch some truths about the other out. But more often than not there are secrets so deep and movements of the heart so hidden that we remain strangers. Hospitality is a way of grace. It is creating safe compassionate places to free the soul to become more human, where sinners are loved into wholeness and where the self-assured can become more Christ-assured. |
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| September 13, 2010 |
Budget Crunch, Money and the Holy LifeAdministration Our use of money is one place where our spirituality gets incarnated. Spirituality in our imagination is rather high-minded, mystical, and holy. But money matters seem stressful, mundane, practical and –in these days of recession – discouraging. |
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| September 27, 2010 |
The Pathological Pursuit of GoodnessSpiritual Formation Yesterday I preached on the parable of the prodigal – with emphasis on the elder son on the story. This morning I read Psalm 1. The two passages provide an intriguing intersection of ideas. Psalm 1 celebrates the Law of the Lord. It is a source of life and hope. Such a life of righteousness is a place of abundance. Yet the elder son who did everything commanded stands on the outside of the celebration of redemption. |
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| October 4, 2010 |
Job Descriptions and Council LeadershipLeadership I was reminded by a conversation in the forum that I had planned to develop material on the various positions and tasks in the community of elders. I’m glad someone took up the challenge of the job descriptions. I am not particular enough for naming it all. What interests me more is the question what makes for excellence in council leadership. It clearly means more than leading a meeting well or providing competent or interesting minutes. Here are some thoughts I have: |
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| October 19, 2010 |
Facing a Troubled Congregational PastChurch Order This coming week at our fall classis meeting we will discuss an overture to make some changes to Article 17. The request comes out of a concern for the ministry of the church: we have been given a ministry of reconciliation and yet in our practice of Article 17, reconciliation and healing seem so problematic. |
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| November 2, 2010 |
Too Occupied to NoticeSpiritual Formation It is around this time of the year that the demands of community life add up. From school to sports, social life to planning for upcoming events, from regular commitments to unscheduled sickness, the moments seem to press in on us. There is a simple consequence. In busy times I default to the urgent. |
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| November 17, 2010 |
75 YearsSpiritual Formation As a congregation, we just celebrated 75 years of existence. It was a wonderful weekend. We ate together, worshiped together, laughed together. It was very good. |
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| November 23, 2010 |
Rumors, Maturity and the ChurchSpiritual Formation Rumors are necessary for church life. Fact is, we could never keep up with our friends and neighbors in church if someone else did not share information about them. .... Still... |
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| November 29, 2010 |
WaitingSpiritual Formation Waiting is hard. Especially in our culture of instant gratification. Waiting is an incubator of our hopes and fears. Waiting is a profound act of trust. We wait because the most important action that can be taken is not one for us to make. |
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| December 14, 2010 |
ListeningLeadership Thinking before you speak is harder than it appears. Conversation is by nature reflexive: you speak and I reply. It is dialogue. But how is it possible that as soon as you finish speaking, I can begin replying... |
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| January 5, 2011 |
The Elder and Lord’s SupperLeadership According to the church order, “The sacraments shall be administered upon the authority of the consistory in the public worship service…” and “The Lord’s Supper shall be administered at least once every three months in a manner conducive to building up the body of Christ and in keeping with the teachings of God’s Word.” While not providing details, there is some direction... |
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| January 11, 2011 |
Covenant and Motivation in Church LifeSpiritual Formation I just finished hearing Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely. I couldn’t resist the title. For those who confess that all people are “inclined toward all evil”, a book on irrational behavior might just provide an interesting take on the human heart. And indeed it did. |
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| January 17, 2011 |
Remembering Who You Are: Ten Commandments, Signed Commitments and DishonestySpiritual Formation Would reminding people of the Ten Commandments keep people honest? Would reminding people of commitments made keep people honest? |
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| January 9, 2010 |
Guiding the Faith Journey: A Map for Spiritual LeadersSpiritual Formation I've written this book to help church leaders guide others on their spiritual journey. The 19 brief chapters can be used for devotions at council meetings, where participants can examine their own spiritual growth and explore how to discuss topics with others. |
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| January 26, 2010 |
Elder Visitation RecordAdministration Sample form for record keeping of elder's visits to church members. This is designed ot be used as the first page of an elder's visitation log of visits to a church member. For subsequent pages, use the Elder Visitation Record page 2. Use with appropriate caution and discernment regarding confidentiality and privacy laws. |
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| January 26, 2010 |
Elder Visitation Record Page 2Administration Sample form for record keeping of elder's visits to church members. This is designed to be used as subsequent pages after Elder Visitation Record. Use with appropriate caution and discernment regarding confidentiality and privacy laws. |
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| January 26, 2010 |
Member Involvement LetterAdministration This sample letter can be used by an elder to assess the gifts of church members and their willingness for participation and involvement in caring for other members within their district |
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| January 28, 2010 |
Conversations for Listening GroupsSpiritual Formation Listening Groups have one purpose: to listen to God. The people may change, the questions may change, and the circumstances may differ but as we gather together one thing remains the same: we know that the Word and Spirit will guide us to follow Christ and bring glory to God, our Father. |
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| November 2, 2010 |
Introducing Our Church (PowerPoint)Leadership This is the PowerPoint presentation we use in our "Woody Nook 101" class that introduces new people to our church. You can use it as a sample for building your own. |
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Average Rating | |
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| January 9, 2010 |
Elder's Institute (PCC)Leadership The Presbyterian Church of Canada provides their elders with training. THis site gives you a window into their training and provides a number of very useful resources. Take a look. |
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| January 9, 2010 |
Building Church LeadersLeadership Christianity Today has developed this site with many helpful resources. Browse away. |
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| January 9, 2010 |
Alban InstituteLeadership I have often found very helpful articles and books on this site. They have provided leadership as church consultants. |
