Please share what your congregation is doing for Lent! This rich season of the church year is prime time for deepening our worship life and living the remarkable drama of new life in Christ.

Send a note to juliea@eandsynod.org

Lenten Journey: Water Marks is the newest in the Book of Faith Lenten Reflections. These water stories from both Old and New Testaments would be really helpful for a focus on baptism. Other Lenten Journeys include 40 Days with the Lord’s Prayer, Marks of the Christian, and Seven Wonders of the Word. Weekly themes and ideas for worship are included. For individual, group, or congregational use. Preview copies available.

Baptismal themes can also be found in the Washed and Welcome Sourcebook. Articles for reprinting in worship folders or newsletters are available. In Living the Promises of Baptism, key bible verses are highlighted.

ELCA World Hunger offers a Lenten series—12 meals, 12 related stories which are also scripted as dramas for those interested, facts, placemats, fundraising and ideas.

For worship, be sure to consider the DVD series, The Greatest Story: Jesus. The focus on gospel stories includes compelling sand art images that will engage all ages. Preview copy available.

For C.S. Lewis aficionados, themes from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe provide a creative way to focus on Lenten themes using the video, the book, and the LLW Discovery Guide. Copies available.

Check out Pastor Tom Weitzel’s Handbook for the Discipline of Lent, A Lenten Retreat, and Stations of the Cross as well as other Lenten resources at liturgybytlw.com

For worship planning: Worship Guidebook for Lent and the Three Days together with the Music Sourcebook for Lent and the Three Days from Augsburg Fortress. Preview copies available.

Ideas to consider:

Stories Around the Fire: three or four people tell two-minute stories of a favorite Bible verse—how they came across it, what it meant to them then and what it means to them today. Each week people who tell their stories write their names in a congregational family Bible next to their texts in the margins. “We had people as young as nine and people in their 80′s share their stories.”

Sermon series are memorable. There are so many cleverly named series all over the internet. Pick a catchy title and develop your own pieces to it.

Spirituality for Busy People: everybody is busy. Then pick practices such as Sabbath keeping, service, prayer, blessing, eating together, vocation, testimony to unpack during Lent.

Consider Barbara Brown Taylor’s An Altar in the World: look for God outside of church walls. Take a chapter a week to find God in the everyday events of our lives. Have people tells stories of God at work, at school, at leisure—in unexpected places.

The timelessness of Holden Evening Prayer: “We are still in love with Holden Evening Prayer—it sustains us year after year!”

For a rich Lenten worship experience, consider the new Holden Prayer Around the Cross, a set of resources adapted from Holden Evening Prayer and Prayer Around the Cross by Susan Briehl, Tom Witt, and Marty Haugen. To accompany HPAC, a set of musical resources is available in Singing Our Prayer: Companion to Holden Prayer Around the Cross.

TheThoughtfulChristian.com has several downloadable resources available for Lent. Take a look at Walking the Way of the Cross with Paul.

You’re invited to take a look at a stewardship resource ideal for Lent: Mark Allan Powell’s Biblical Stewardship: Our Duty and Delight features seven 20-minute video sessions on DVD, a comprehensive study guide and participant handouts. Session titles include Belonging to God, What is a Steward?, Treasures and Hearts, Motives for Giving, Duty and Delight, and Cheerful Sacrifices.

The 40 Day Journey books for small groups or individual use are designed for Lent. Titles include Journeys with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Joan Chittister, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther, Madeleine L’Engle, and others.

If you’ve found the Nooma films interesting, consider matching themes from the texts for Lent with the short and engaging DVDs. It’s an excellent way to repeat the themes and invite conversation about the weekly texts. Call the Resource Center for a list!

Bread themes for Lent? Try a Lenten study called Bread in the Wilderness: Spiritual Famine or Gospel Feast, six sessions about hunger and food. A new six-part bible study called Bread and Broth also invites participants to share soup and bread while learning about Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Elisha, John the Baptist and Jesus.

Northwestern Minnesota Synod has shared “Lent 2012: A Season for Prayer and Renewal.” For congregational renewal and reflection, it includes prayer petitions, a plan for midweek worship, Bible readings, mission resources and more. Call the Resource Center for a copy or download.

Teach us to Pray introduces participants to the full spectrum of Christian prayer methods and encourages them to incorporate these practices into their daily lives. Twenty-two lesson plans can be used as a year-long course, as four separate courses or individually. Adaptable for Lent, adult education, prayer and spirituality groups or retreats.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Lent 2012

SPARK

SPARK Family from Augsburg Fortress is a quarterly magazine for families and children. It provides a way to talk with children about God centered in well-known Bible stories. Family Sample copies available.

Spark Bibles from Augsburg Fortress are designed to help introduce children to age-appropriate Bibles. The Spark Story Bible and Spark Bible NRSVare for ages 2- 6th grade. Preview copies are available from the Resource Center or Augsburg Fortress.

Vibrant Faith Ministries

New from Vibrant Faith Ministries: Teaching the Bible with Children, Youth, Families: Unit 1- Equipping Households of Faith, a resource based on an understanding of baptism that informs the belief that home is the primary place for nurturing and passing on the faith. This will help congregations build a strong and vital partnership with households for a common mission – to experience God’s story and practice the Christian faith in daily life. DVD416

Among many resources produced by Vibrant Faith Ministries is their Faith Formation Learning Exchange. Check it out!

DVDs

The Way of the Child: Helping Children Experience God focuses on the spiritual formation of children. This new resource in the growing Companions in Christ family helps children learn and experience spiritual practices that will lead them into a deeper awareness of God’s presence in their lives. DVD360

For effective worship-centered ministry centered on faith nurture for young children, Helping Children Experience God is based on the book Young Children and Worship by Jerome Berryman and Sonja Stewart. It’s an effective worship-centered ministry of faith nurture for young children. The dvd provides an introductory overview of the program for pastors, Christian educators, worship teams, parents, and lay leaders. DVD126

From Paraclete Press, Tell Me About God can help parents and others talk with children about God’s presence and a God who loves them unconditionally. DVD14

More Resources

Washed and Welcome: A Baptism Sourcebook and Living the Promises of Baptism: 101 Ideas for Parents are part of new baptismal formation resources from Augsburg Fortress. These resources will help pastors and parents with ideas for celebrating the gifts of baptism in daily living including meals, bedtime, play, seasons, milestones, transitions. Ideas are appropriate for children from infant to upper elementary. K172

With humor and honesty, Denise Roy tells stories that can help readers see God’s presence in the ordinary events of family life and children in My Monastery is a Minivan: Where the Daily is Divine and Routine Becomes Prayer. B3776

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Faith Formation in Children

This rich season of the church year is prime time for deepening our worship life and living the remarkable drama of new life in Christ. Here are some themes and ideas to consider for your Lenten journey:

Essential for Lenten worship planning is Worship Guidebook for Lent and the Three Days together with Music Sourcebook for Lent and the Three Days from Augsburg Fortress. Preview copies available.

If you’ve found the Nooma films interesting, consider using Lump, Rhythm, Today, Shells, and Matthew during Lent as a way of repeating the themes and inviting conversation about the weekly texts. Call the Resource Center for a list!

For an adult study exploring the lectionary texts for Cycle A, check out the series Signs of Lent DVD. Each of the seven segments is 10-12 minutes and follows a similar format. Themes are sand, wind, water, earth, rock, tree and light all focusing on texts from Matthew and John.

Book of Faith

Heaven on Earth: Studies in Matthew is the newest Book of Faith study. This six- session study from Augsburg Fortress is timely as we begin the new cycle in the lectionary. Preview copies available.

The 40 Day Journey books for small groups or individual use are designed for Lent. This year’s Book of Faith Lenten Journey: Seven Wonders of the Word is by Kathryn Kleinhans. Additional titles include Marks of the Christian based on Romans 12; the Lord’s Prayer; and 40 Day Journeys with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Joan Chittister, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther, Madeleine L’Engle, and others.

Focusing on Stewardship?

You’re invited to take a look at a stewardship resource ideal for Lent: Mark Allan Powell’s Biblical Stewardship: Our Duty and Delight features seven 20-minute video sessions on DVD, a comprehensive study guide and participant handouts. Session titles include:

• Belonging to God
• What is a Steward?
• Treasures and Hearts
• Motives for Giving
• Duty and Delight
• Cheerful Sacrifices

Bread themes for Lent?

Try a Lenten study called Bread in the Wilderness: Spiritual Famine or Gospel Feast, six sessions about hunger and food. A new six-part bible study called Bread and Broth also invites participants to share soup and bread while learning about Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Elisha, John the Baptist and Jesus.

Care of creation theme?

Check out:

• Plymouth Carbon Fast Blog (external link) -  daily thoughts for a carbon fast
• Creation Waits with Eager Longing (external link) – A Lenten journey about climate justice
• Living Earth Series (external link) –   A Lenten Journey: Joining the Hymn of All Creation

Music for Lent?

Jay Beech suggests a replacement for the Alleluia, Not by Bread Alone; hymns that fit the texts and themes of Lent and more. Purchase at Baytone Music (external link)

For a rich Lenten worship experience, consider the new Holden Prayer Around the Cross, a set of resources adapted from Holden Evening Prayer and Prayer Around the Cross by Susan Briehl, Tom Witt, and Marty Haugen. To accompany HPAC, a set of musical resources is available in Singing Our Prayer: Companion to Holden Prayer Around the Cross.

Baptismal themes?

Watch for Washed and Welcome, exceptional new baptismal formation resources from Augsburg Fortress.

Please share what your congregation is doing for Lent! Send a note to Julie at the Resource Center.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Lent 2011

New Resources for Worship and Sacramental Life

As part of the Sundays and Seasons family of resources, you may want to take a look at Bread for the Day: Daily Bible Readings and Prayers for 2011. It’s a beautiful collection of scripture, prayers, reflections on the seasons of the church year, hymns, table graces and more. A perfect resource for individuals, groups, families, church councils, confirmation students!

The Narrative Lectionary is a new resource that works through the story of God’s people from Abraham and Sarah through Acts. It begins on September 12 and ends the last Sunday of Easter. Visit their website (external link) for more information.

A copy of Sundays and Seasons 2011 is available for preview. If you aren’t using this comprehensive set of worship resources, check it out. It’s available online at www.sundaysandseasons.com (external link)

Words for Worship 2011, Year A is available as a CD-ROM (external link). A preview copy can be borrowed from the Resource Center.

To accompany the new hymnal, a preview copy of Hymnal Companion to Evangelical Lutheran Worship is available for loan.

Many of you have used Fed and Forgiven, a new set of sacramental resources introducing the Eucharist to children and adults. For exploring the many meanings of Holy Communion, Fed and Forgiven includes age-appropriate DVD segments containing materials for PreK-K, grades 1-3, 4-6, and adults. A comprehensive leader’s guide, learner resources and a communion handbook for adults are included. This resource is for preview only.

Washed and Welcome, a similar set of resources for baptismal formation, will be available this fall. The first, Sourcebook, is a truly comprehensive resource for introducing the whole congregation to the many themes of baptism. A CD-Rom of pdf and customizable rtf files will be included. Several additional baptism resources will follow. To whet your appetite, call the resource center for more topics! Sample topics include:

• Learning through the Liturgy: A Walk through the Baptism Service
• Baptism; One Name, Many Meanings
• re:catechism: Baptism 101 for Lutherans
• Let the Children Come: Using Daniel Erlander’s Baptism Manual

Our synod also has a human resource available to congregations. Pastor Mark Strobel is part of a network of ELCA worship leaders with the title, Partners in Evangelical Worship. Mark is willing to visit with congregations, pastors, and worship committees about ways to deepen our worship life. Many additional worship resources are available online. Call the resource center for more information.

Synod Pastor Julé Ballinger has shared an excellent one page presentation on worship. It’s a great resource for adult education, worship committees, and pastors. It includes Top Ten characteristics of ‘exemplary’ worship, Questions to consider, and Topics to consider. Call the Resource Center for a copy!

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Worship and Sacramental Life

For a rich Lenten worship experience, be sure to consider the new Holden Prayer Around the Cross, a set of resources by Susan Briehl, Tom Witt, and Marty Haugen adapted from Holden Evening Prayer and Prayer Around the Cross. It includes fourteen sample liturgies that could be used in a variety of settings. To accompany Holden Prayer Around the Cross, a set of musical resources is available in Singing Our Prayer: Companion to Holden Prayer Around the Cross.

Ask about a new Lenten series called Water for Your Soul: Living in Baptism Every Day by Glenn Borreson. It’s a powerful way to focus on baptismal catechesis and includes material for Ash Wednesday to Holy Week.

Brand new from Augsburg Fortress, Worship Guidebook for Lent and the Three Days is a must-have for worship planners and leaders. The Music Sourcebook for Lent and the Three Days is also new. Preview copies available.

The 40 Day Journey books for small group study or individual use are ideal for Lent. The newest is Book of Faith Lenten Journey: Marks of the Christian (based on Romans 12). Additional titles include 40 Days with the Lord’s Prayer;

40 Day Journeys with Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Joan Chittister, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther, Madeleine L’Engle and others.

Find complete worship planning beginning with Ash Wednesday see the newly expanded resources online at Sundays and Seasons (external link).

Gail Ramshaw’s 40 Days and 40 Nights is a beautiful collection of readings for the weeks of Lent.

The Three Day Feast (by Gail Ramshaw) from Worship Matters gives worshipers and worship planners much to ponder – a feast itself!

Lutheran poet and writer, Herb Brokering, has given us Stations of the Heart, a beautiful book of devotional reflections.

Finally, take a look at From Death to Life, a new book about resurrection hope by EaND synod pastor Scott Block, Grace / Oakes and Nazareth/Cogswell.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Open for Exploration: Lent 2009

Faith Formation: Rethinking Christian Education – Called to Be Church

Baptism is a very big deal. In that radical act of being marked and set apart, we are joined to the Body of Christ, the church. This lifelong journey that begins in baptism challenges us to rethink and reexamine Christian education and what it means to be “formed in faith.”

The following resources help distinguish different ways of thinking about faith formation. They take into account differing learning styles. In many cases, they intersect and overlap. By categorizing them in this way, we hope to stimulate some creative thinking. Hopefully, we’ll glean the best from each in order to provide a rich mix of ways to live the faith we proclaim, to “be church.”

Featured Resources:

• Will Our Children Have Faith? by John Westerhoff
• Liturgy and Learning Through the Life Cycle by John Westerhoff
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd by Gianna Gobb and Sofia Cavalletti
• The Vine and the Branches by Sofia Cavalletti
• Godly Play: An Imaginative Approach to Christian Education by Jerome Berryman
• Helping Children Find God by Helen Oppenheimer
• Fashion Me a People: Curriculum in the Church by Maria Harris
• Come Unto Me: Rethinking the Sacraments for Children by Elizabeth Caldwell
• The Religious Potential of the Child by Sofia Cavalletti
• Building God’s People by John Westerhoff
• Sharing our Biblical Story: A Guide for Using Liturgical Readings as the Core of Church and Family Education by Joseph P. Russell
• The Good Shepherd and the Child by Sofia Cavalletti
• Bringing up Children in the Christian Faith by John Westerhoff
• Helping your Child Discover Faith by Delia Touchton Halverson
• To Dance with God: Family Ritual and Community Celebration by Gertrud Mueller Nelson

Featured Links:

• The Youth and Family Institute (external link)
• Faith Inkubators (external link)

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Faith Formation