» Download: Nourished and Sustained (download pdf file)
Among the many privileges of the work I do is the opportunity to explore resources from a wide spectrum of writers, producers, and publishers. To this rich mix, add the bonus of regular conversations with colleagues, pastors, and teachers whose passion for learning and teaching is contagious. The result continues to be an almost insatiable appetite on my part for reading and learning, hearing and viewing books and tapes, lectures and presentations, travel related to study, and opportunities of all kinds for continuing education.
You will find here a “working list” of some resources which continue to be life-giving and faith-stretching! These people, themes and metaphors, films and books celebrate paradox, mystery, ambiguity. Even more than providing a new lens through which to experience God’s presence, the resources described here are well-springs of grace and truth that continue to nourish and sustain. These extraordinary people and their enduring gifts of interpretation can help us experience the mystery of God’s love and the wonder of being
human.
The Resource Center functions as a center for learning, a crossroad for sharing best resources and best practices. It’s a deep well! I hope you will “dig deeply” so that this center helps serve as a creative source for your life and ministry.
Julie K. Aageson
Director, The Resource Center
Coordinator, ELCA Resource Centers
Themes and Metaphors
- grace and gratitude
- the book and the meal
- God as indiscriminate host
- emerging church
- learning to be “we”
- Body of Christ
- God resting on our eyelids
- the book and the bath
- worship as rehearsal for bearing
- God’s work, our hands
- faith practices the reign of God to the world
- liturgy and learning
- tree of life
- bread of life
- original blessing
Liturgy and Learning
Go to Lifelong Faith (external link) for the very best resources for Christian education and lifelong faith formation. We subscribe to The Lifelong Faith Journal (external link), available for loan.
Liturgy and Learning Through the Life Cycle by Westerhoff and Willimon
In this classic study linking liturgy and learning, the authors provide a framework for parish life that celebrates the essential acts of the church as nourishing and enduring anchors of faith.
The Religious Potential of the Child by Sophia Cavalletti
This groundbreaking approach to faith formation is based on encounter with the mystery of God in liturgy, scripture, and life and is as important for adults as for children.
To Dance with God by Gertrud Mueller Nelson
Rhythms and rituals of Christian life are described in this beautiful celebration of Christian life as it is shaped by the seasons of the church year.
Holy Things and Holy People by Gordon Lathrop
Both books are a feast of riches about the power of the liturgy to renew and transform the church.
Worship Matters Series
Each of these little booklets from Augsburg Fortress provides rich insights into all aspects of worship.
Emerging Church
The Practicing Congregation: Imagining a New Old Church and Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith both by Diana Butler Bass
Both books offer compelling descriptions of vital congregational life and new birth among Christians. See also www.dianabutlerbass.com (external link)
A New Kind of Christian and Finding Our Way Again (and others) by Brian McLaren
A voice to be reckoned with as the church continues to wrestle with ongoing reformation. See also www.brianmclaren.net (external link)
Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell
An edgy, insightfully honest look about what it means to be Christian. See also www.robbell.com (external link)
Reflections on Faith
Turn My Heart: A Sacred Journey from Brokenness to Healing by Briehl and Haugen
This collection of music, poetry and texts is for all of us who at one time or another are broken and longing for healing and hope.
Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles
“A love song to the feast at the altar and the feast of a food pantry…” A truly stunning story of Christian conversion. See also www.stgregorys.org (external link)
An Altar in the World: A Geography of Faith by Barbara Brown Taylor
There are not two worlds–secular and sacred–God is present everywhere. God’s kingdom is here and now. See also www.barbarabrowntaylor.com (external link)
Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott
A raw and compelling confession of faith that graphically illustrates the light of Christ and its persistent ability to penetrate darkness.
Radical Amazement: Contemplative Lessons by Judy Cannato
Pay attention to the universe we’re part of–it speaks of God at every turn.
Under the Tree of Life-the Religion of a Feminist Christian by Gail Ramshaw
This lovely confession echoes much of my own faith journey and struggle. Ramshaw’s elegant use of language and her scholarly yet common insights about corporate Christian life are profound and truthful.
Sacrament of Life, A Life of the Sacraments by Leonardo Boff
Taking ordinary elements of daily life–a journey, a mug, his father’s cigarette butt, water–Boff illustrates God’s presence in this beautiful little study of sacramentality.
Wisdom Distilled from the Daily by Joan Chittister
Following the Rule of St. Benedict, Chittister clearly describes the richness of daily life when guided by attention to St. Benedict’s common sense reverence for God, self, and others.
Original Blessing by Matthew Fox
Fox’s daring view of historical Christianity and his theologically sound basis for celebrating the goodness of God’s creation is life-giving and grace-filled.
A Metaphorical God by Gail Ramshaw
A feast of images for God!
I Asked for Wonder-A Spiritual Anthology-Abraham Joshua Heschel ed. by Samuel Dresner
I first read Heschel thirty years ago. This collection of his most vivid observations about God’s presence and our meager interpretations is a jewel.
Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation by Parker Palmer
Compassionate and compelling meditation about vocation and call
Stories of Faith by John Shea
Shea the storyteller has an uncanny gift for cracking open scripture to unleash the transforming power of the biblical stories.
The Preaching Life by Barbara Brown Taylor
“You will find an altar in nearly every paragraph of this book …she works with God’s word, God’s people, God’s gifts, God’s hope for the world.”
Listening for God–Contemporary Literature and the Life of Faith I & II
This uncommon collection of short stories by some uncommon writers addresses the convergence of faith and life in memorable and graphic storytelling.
In Search of Belief by Joan Chittister
A challenging and profoundly thoughtful confession of faith. See also www.benetvision.org (external link)
Rapture Exposed by Barbara Rossing
An important contribution to conversations about end times and the book of Revelation
Treasures Old and New: Images in the Lectionary by Gail Ramshaw
A collection of 40 images most used in the lectionary texts
Video / DVD / Film
The Nooma Films – this series of 10-12 minute films by Rob Bell uses the experiences of life to teach forgiveness, discipleship, unconditional love and more
Celebrate What’s Right with the World – photography and dialogue about beauty and how we look at the world
Differences – a short film that makes provocative comments about difference
The Rapture Racket – informed and thoughtful presentation about the book of Revelation
Babette’s Feast – Isak Dinesen’s tale of Babette and the meal she prepares for a pious congregation isolated on the coast of Denmark
The Gods Aren’t Angry – Rob Bell’s discussion of our struggle to define God and the origins of religion
Everyday Creativity – inspiring ways for fostering creativity and seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary
Making the Connections: Worship and Evangelism – Gordon Lathrop and Walter Kallestad discuss the relatedness of worship and outreach
Sacred Stories – three storytellers, Maya Angelou, Frederick Buechner, and James Carroll, reveal the power of faith and the presence of God in the stories of their lives.
The Rabbi’s Gift - an unforgettable allegory about a community’s longing for Christ’s presence
Elie Wiesel’s Greatest Figures of the Bible – beautiful “tellings” of the big stories, based in part on Wiesel’s Messengers of God and Biblical Portraits and Legends
Everything is Spiritual – for Jesus and his tradition, all of life is spiritual
The Overwhelming Love of God – a passionate and persuasive confession of God’s grace and love by Brennan Manning
How Do We Help? The Goal of Christian Ministry – insightful observations about the purpose of Christian life and ministry
A Second Chance – a short film about grace and forgiveness
CD’s
Turn My Heart: A Sacred Journey from Brokenness to Healing by Susan Briehl and Marty Haugen
Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell
Our Search for the Living God by Elizabeth Johnson
In God’s Eyes, We’re All Minorities by Krister Stendahl
A Christian Theology of Religious Pluralism by Krister Stendahl
The Gods Aren’t Angry by Rob Bell
The Rise and Fall of Christendom by Douglas John Hall
A New Vision of the Parish by William Willimon
Bread from Heaven by Richard Hays
How Shall We Worship by John Westerhoff
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