https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Sat, 20 Apr 2024 02:53:21 +0000 Tue, 05 Apr 2022 14:03:48 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/poverty-and-hunger/food-and-faith Jesus ate a lot of food and meals with people throughout his lifetime. His eating with others reminds us of the down-to-earth nature of a life in Christ.  Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/poverty-and-hunger/food-and-faith Tue, 05 Apr 2022 14:03:48 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/justice-and-mercy/giving-dignity-christmas-and-beyond Many churches are already on their way to their yearly Christmas giving projects. But it’s never too late to evaluate and reconsider why, if, and how we participate this Christmas.   Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/justice-and-mercy/giving-dignity-christmas-and-beyond Tue, 30 Nov 2021 15:10:18 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/community-engagement/becoming-community-focused-church-cohort-few-spots Is your church interested in becoming a community focused church? Are you ready to help make your neighborhood and community a great place for ALL to live in, to be proud of and to thrive in, particularly those who have been marginalized? Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/community-engagement/becoming-community-focused-church-cohort-few-spots Tue, 02 Nov 2021 13:17:05 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/justice-and-mercy/new-faith-action-networking-and-learning-group You're invited to a NEW virtual gathering space for anyone involved in mercy and justice ministries (deacons, outreach ministry leaders, community transformation leaders, service leaders). Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/justice-and-mercy/new-faith-action-networking-and-learning-group Thu, 16 Sep 2021 15:15:17 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/justice-and-mercy/mercy-and-justice-3-part-webinar-series Micah 6:8 calls us to be people of mercy and justice.  Join World Renew for a 3-part webinar series as we explore the themes of mercy and justice and provide practical tools to help you and your congregations to use our whole selves as we learn, care and act. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/justice-and-mercy/mercy-and-justice-3-part-webinar-series Thu, 09 Sep 2021 13:13:53 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/leadership-and-administration/coordination-or-isolation-diakonia-between While attending Boston University for my MSW, I wrote a paper on the church and community, not realizing I would be working in this unique field years later. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/leadership-and-administration/coordination-or-isolation-diakonia-between Tue, 13 Jul 2021 13:21:57 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/diakonia-and-neighborhood For two weeks I have shared reflections from Ralph Kee’s brief, but thought provoking book, Diakonia: The Church at Work. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/diakonia-and-neighborhood Thu, 08 Jul 2021 13:06:49 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/deacons-harbingers-kingdom Last week I shared Ralph Kee’s concept of Cooperative Diakonia, from his brief, but thought provoking book, Diakonia: The Church at Work.  (Find article here: Cooperative Diakonia: Ser Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/deacons-harbingers-kingdom Tue, 29 Jun 2021 13:31:13 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/justice-and-mercy/diakonia-serving-or-sharing Recently, I ran across my copy of a little book by Ralph Kee called Diakonia: The Church at Work, from one of my MDiv classes at Gordon Conwell Theological School Boston campus. In this brief 26 page book, he argues that diakonia (service), is much more than a religious word. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/justice-and-mercy/diakonia-serving-or-sharing Wed, 23 Jun 2021 17:44:14 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/community-engagement/partnership-bringing-out-gods-color-our-community The Message’s paraphrase of Matthew 5 is one of my favorite ways to express Christians’ and congregations’ way of living in their communities. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/community-engagement/partnership-bringing-out-gods-color-our-community Tue, 20 Apr 2021 18:39:43 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/missed-welcome-neighborhood-series-videos-now We had a tremendous response to the Welcome to the Neighborhood series, a 7-part series exploring ways churches can be better neighbors. We learned a lot from the guests and each other!  Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/missed-welcome-neighborhood-series-videos-now Tue, 09 Mar 2021 14:54:40 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/vaccinations-through-equity-lens-what-can-churches-do It was this month last year that the first death to COVID-19 was reported in the United States. This pandemic has taken too many lives and could impact our communities for years. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/vaccinations-through-equity-lens-what-can-churches-do Tue, 23 Feb 2021 12:51:50 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/welcome-neighbourhood NEW UPDATE: We've added a GUEST! Join us Thursday, January 28 as we learn from Sarah Rinsema-Sybenda, Executive Director of Community EnCompass, Muskegon MI.  Sign Up NOW! Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/welcome-neighbourhood Mon, 04 Jan 2021 17:12:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/gifts-give-better-santa Last month I posted an article, Just Giving or Giving Justly, helping us to examine our and our Churches' Christmas giving projects.  Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/gifts-give-better-santa Sun, 06 Dec 2020 22:43:56 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/just-giving-or-giving-justly-questions-ideas-and As we head into December, churches across the United States and Canada will be challenged to think differently about their annual Christmas celebrations while living with the reality of the COVID virus. At the same time, they are planning their annual Christmas giving opportunities. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/just-giving-or-giving-justly-questions-ideas-and Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:12:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/every-table-world-hunger-sunday-november-1 On November 1, join with your church to participate in World Hunger Sunday. The theme for 2020 is Every Table. Food insecurity and scarcity is real for families around the world, all made worse by the outbreak of COVID-19 over the last year. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/every-table-world-hunger-sunday-november-1 Mon, 19 Oct 2020 19:10:44 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/gods-story-through-our-giving Do you notice how difficult it is for many Christians to talk about money? As a colleague and I reflected as to why that might be, she said, “It’s hard for us to talk about money, yet we don’t realize that the way we are using our money is speaking for us.” Our budgets, spendi Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/gods-story-through-our-giving Tue, 08 Sep 2020 16:05:54 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/webinar-re-imagining-church-budgets-reflect-kingdom-values COVID-19 has caused us to rethink everything, including church budgets. We are called to steward the gifts that God has given us globally and locally. This free webinar will explore how to approach church budgets from a Kingdom perspective and offer practical ways to adapt to our changi Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/deacons/webinar-re-imagining-church-budgets-reflect-kingdom-values Tue, 25 Aug 2020 00:29:41 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/school-and-church-creating-unique-partnership Back to school has a different tone this year. Uncertainty, risk management, and safety concerns occupy our thinking and planning. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/school-and-church-creating-unique-partnership Tue, 18 Aug 2020 13:48:47 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/how-long-o-lord-day-justice-2020 On August 16, 2020 we invite all congregations to participate in CRCNA Day of Justice. Jodi Koeman https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/how-long-o-lord-day-justice-2020 Tue, 28 Jul 2020 00:50:20 +0000