January 27, 2021
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God Sighting: We Are Called and Equipped
A member of our congregation pointed out that reading “A Mighty Fortress Is our God” isn’t the same as singing it. Here's what he did about it.
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December 8, 2020
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Preparing for Christmas in a Pandemic
Are you struggling to find your Christmas joy amid the pandemic? Focus on God's precious gifts of hope, peace, love, and joy even amid the challenges.
October 8, 2020
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Pop Psalms, Pop Prayers
Our favorite pop, rock, hip hop, and country songs echo the wisdom literature of the Bible. Explore what hit songs can teach us about God and ourselves through "Pop Psalms."
August 26, 2020
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Is Your Liturgy Political?
Kaitlyn Scheiss' book, The Liturgy of Politics: Spiritual Formation for the Sake of our Neighbor, helps us think through how to be formed for living well in the political sphere.
May 5, 2020
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A Moving Mother's Day Video for Online Worship During COVID-19
Pay attention to the wide spectrum of mothering by including this video in your online worship service or by sharing it via social media.
March 3, 2020
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Ann Arbor CRC Lent Video: Kingdom and Cross
Kingdom and Cross: these two things are often kept separate. But if the story of Jesus tells us anything, it's that the Kingdom comes through the Cross.
February 27, 2020
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Lent Resources? Share Them Here
Know of a great Lent resource? Let us know in the comments below.
April 30, 2018
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What to Do - And Not Do - in Church on Mother's Day
The well intended ways in which your church acknowledges Mothers Day may be a source of pain for some worshippers. Here's how to change that.
March 28, 2018
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Holy Week Meditations: The Ungrateful Party Guests
Oh merciful Father, I’m the one who rejects the Kingdom invitation. I know you have the best and most satisfying food and drink, and yet I’d rather eat baloney and mustard sandwiches. Father, forgive me.
February 20, 2018
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What Is One Way You Hope to Grow Spiritually This Lent?
We often think of Lent as a time to "give something up." But what if we flipped the focus to what we are trying to gain. Will you join me in sharing just one way you hope to grow this Lent?
February 7, 2018
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Lent in the Christian Reformed Tradition
Growing up in a Christian Reformed Church, I can’t say that I was very aware of the season of Lent. However, my ability to experience Lent has grown proportionately with my involvement in planning worship.
June 9, 2017
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Lessons From the Cracker Barrel
Whoever designed the first Cracker Barrel restaurant was a genius. Everything in that place screams, "Welcome, we’ve been expecting you!" What if our church foyers radiated this same intentionality?
May 24, 2017
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Blessed by the Blessings of Others
I’ll never forget the professor who read Psalm 13 and tied it to his lifelong struggle with depression. The sanctuary was so quiet as he spoke that it seemed like everyone was blessed in glimpsing the blessings he received from this short but powerful Psalm.
April 12, 2017
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He Bore It All For Me (A Poem by Johnny Cash)
Country singer icon and Christian Johnny Cash was a prolific poet. Cash was not a bad theologian either. He bore it all for me...and you...
April 12, 2017
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What Are the Most Meaningful Parts of Holy Week and Easter to You?
As we go through Holy Week and celebrate Easter Sunday, I'd love to know: What traditions and/or parts of the week are most meaningful to you?
February 27, 2017
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3 Things I Learned From Moving and Looking for a New Church (Again and Again)
If you are looking for a new church, don’t make up your mind before you even begin. Be open to being surprised about where God will use you — even if the building or worship style looks way different than you imagined.
February 9, 2017
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Worship That Welcomes
My church has approximately 40 different denominational backgrounds represented. In such a diverse group, the tendency is to go "wide," stripping worship to singing and a message. But what if we opted to go "deep" instead?
January 16, 2017
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Organizing Your Faith Formation Tools
One question I hear from church leaders is: How can we organize our practices, groups, and curriculum for lifelong faith formation? One simple way to organize faith formation is around the liturgical calendar.
December 7, 2016
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Faith: Inspired by a Star
Hope is much more than just a blind wish. It's having a clear expectation and the confidence that what you hope for will come to pass. Like the wise men we too have hope—hope for today and for the future.
November 8, 2016
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Where Does Jesus Live in Your Church? - Part 3
In my 62 years as a member of the CRC, I’ve noticed that we tend to describe people either in terms of the opinions they hold or the stories they share. And these two are very different.
October 24, 2016
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Being Real: The Power of Faith Stories
Telling faith stories is a powerful way to bring your congregation together and help people of all ages grow in faith.
July 25, 2016
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Enough Room for Everyone
When I picture that mic stand, I'm reminded of Jesus’ intentional endeavor to enfold the least, the last, the lost, and the little. It may seem like that spot was only significant to our friend, but to be honest, it meant a lot to me too.
April 20, 2016
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A Cure for Busy
Time has become the most valuable commodity in our culture and its scarcity is one of our leading stressors. And ultimately we are too busy for God. What's one to do? Here's my modest proposal.
May 13, 2014
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Celebrating Disorganization
For what seemed to be a brief while (to me) there was a bit of a trend in the Church to abhor "planning" as a way of "stifling the Spirit." But has this short little trend been replaced with too much "order", "planning", and "professionalism"?
April 25, 2012
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Children at the Lord's Table
This webinar was recorded on: Wed, 04/25/2012 Is your congregation reflecting on Synod's decision to welcome children to the Lord's Supper? Join us to explore the roles of the pastor, elders, and parents in this significant process - and equip your congregation to move forward with joy.