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

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

A Taste of The Best Resources:

Find a thoughtful source for stewardship ideas at the Stewardship of Life Institute (external link) at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Gettysburg. Former Eastern North Dakota Synod pastor, Sharron Lucas (Sheyenne-Oberon Area Ministry) writes a weekly column reflecting on lectionary texts (external link) on this site.

Pastor John Golv, interim at Peace Lutheran Church in Fargo, is author of Our Stewardship: Managing Our Assets from the Congregational Leader Series. It’s among the most accessible and engaging stewardship resources we have! (PR732)

Mark Allan Powell’s Giving to God: The Bible’s Good News about Living a Generous Life is among the most readable resources on comprehensive stewardship ministry… highly recommended! (B3512)

If you’ve not gone to www.elca.org/stewardship (external link) you’re missing one of the best sections of the ELCA website. It’s filled with helpful and current stewardship information. (See the seven-part curriculum described below!)

Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate by J. Cliff Christopher will be reviewed in the May newsletter. This new vision for financial stewardship is recommended by Pr. Jerry Protextor, Peace Lutheran in Fargo. (B3716)

NIV Stewardship Study Bible: Go to Luther Seminary’s Stewardship section (external link) for a helpful summary (external link) of this new stewardship resource from Zondervan. From our own Pr. Kari Bahe: “The best resource for stewardship is the Bible.” (B3717)

Herb Miller’s New Consecration Sunday is a revised stewardship program kit focusing on a biblical and spiritual theology of the need to give. Available for loan.

A number of congregations have appreciated using Ask, Thank, Tell by Charles Lane. It’s a straightforward, easy-to-read stewardship guide. “The section on ‘Creating a Culture of Thanksgiving’ is [excellent].” (B3211)

The How’s and Why’s of Money Leadership (external link) is a free, seven-part curriculum for “leaders who want to plumb the depths of their congregation’s financial soul.” It deals with attitudes about money, congregational finances, leadership, money and theology and more. Especially for congregations who find themselves stuck and looking for direction, this resource was developed cooperatively by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Alban Institute and the Lilly Endowment.

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: Stewardship

Our new electronic resource, Open for Exploration, provides a monthly reminder about current resources. It’s downloadable and can be used as a bulletin insert or in congregational newsletters. It is also a feature in the synod monthly e-news, eQuip. Download this resource and/or subscribe to the eQuip online.

New Curriculum

Fed and Forgiven is a set of print and DVD resources introducing children and adults to the sacrament of holy communion. DVD segments explore the many meanings of the Eucharist in ways that are appropriate for each age level. A feast for all ages! (K168) (DVD279)

SPARK! Curriculum samples (ages 2-Grade 6) are available for preview. We also have SPARK children’s bibles as well as the new Lutheran Study Bible for loan. If your congregation is still deciding which material to use, go to a free curriculum selection tool (external link) from Augsburg Fortress.

Two new Vacation Bible School kits are available for preview. BaobabBlast from Augsburg Fortress (external link) focuses on God’s creation and the community of faith. ReNew from Spark House (external link) uses the Parable of the Sower to address care of creation and a green environment.

For older youth and adults, the LIQUID series invites participants into the Bible by pointing to specific stories and making them come to life with contemporary examples. Crossing features five stand-alone stories from Joshua. Mirror Image brings five well-known parables to life. (DVD316, 317)

For congregations interested in using the Alpha course as a practical introduction to Christianity, we have the “Just Curious Kit” introducing Alpha as well as the dvd set, The Alpha Course (express version and full length version). (K169) (DVD312, 313)

A ten-session dvd program, Living Faith by Tom Wright, explores the essentials of Christianity. The sessions explore scripture, history, beliefs and practices and how Christianity differs from other religions. (DVD315)

The Missional Church is a twelve-session dvd to help a congregation think more intentionally about its calling. Sessions focus on biblical understandings of the missional church in the Old and New Testaments, a Reformation understanding of mission, confessional and theological perspectives, and strategic models for helping lay leaders think about ministry in daily life. (DVD311)

Another excellent resource for rethinking what it means to be a missional church is The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church. Participants will learn how to recognize six important realities church leaders must face if we are to move beyond “churchianity” to a more authentic and missional Christian faith. This ten-session dvd curriculum includes a leader’s guide, participant guide, and four dvds. (DVD202)

A dvd resource about the history of conflict between religion and homosexuality has been given to the resource center. The documentary, For the Bible Tells Me So provides thoughtful reflection and background and offers clarity, healing, and understanding to anyone struggling with issues of scripture and sexual identity. (DVD 272)

EarthBound: Created and Called to Care for Creation is a cutting edge six-session series that takes Martin Luther’s understanding of justification and vocation and expands it across God’s magnificent creation. It addresses the origins of our misconceptions about scripture’s portrayal of creation and invites viewers to recognize God’s call to us to relate to the whole creation as our vocation. (DVD314)

A PBS special, The Congregation: Questions of Faith in Changing Times is the story of a church struggling with basic questions about being the church in the 21st century. A discussion guide accompanies the DVD. (DVD44)

Nooma films continue to be good discussion starters for all ages. The online catalog includes twenty-four titles including the newest, “Whirlwind” about wanting certainty and answers in a world that is often uncertain. (DVD278)

The ELCA’s Feautor.org (external link) – Check out this excellent open source site for sharing unpublished religious resources. Many resources posted here come from Eastern North Dakota Synod.

We have a large collection of Children’s books for loan. Check them out!

Modern Parables: Living in the Kingdom of God is a DVD-based bible study combining cinema and theology. Short dramatic films explain Jesus’ parables. 12 sessions, 12-20 min. each for older youth, adults. (DVD249)

Down and out: it’s the life God gives us, the life to which God calls us. Down and Out: Where Grace Takes You is a six-part series for adults about rediscovering what Martin Luther made so clear five centuries ago: grace takes us out into God’s world, out of our churches, to co-create with God on behalf of others, for the sake of the world. (DVD204)

LeaderResources (external link) has given us a preview copy of The Many Faces of God: An Interfaith Encounter for Youth and Adults by Denise Yarbrough. For ongoing study of interfaith issues, this provides a very thorough process for learning about other traditions. (PR992)

Logos Productions (external link) is highlighting a recent book by Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity together with two very interesting companion resources:

• Experiencing the Heart of Christianity is a twelve session program for small groups led by Tim Scorer and Borg (accompanying DVD) divided into two main parts: Seeing the Christian Tradition Again and Seeing the Christian Life Again.
• Living the Heart of Christianity–also a companion to Borg’s book–is a guide for putting faith into action.

Exploration of Faith and Emerging Church Resources

Many new resources on the topic of the emerging church are available. See our featured collection on the topic of the emerging church as well as the resource sheet called Being Church in the 21st Century: Themes from the Emerging Church.

Check out the following:

• The Future of Christianity: A Startling New Vision of Hope for the 21st Century (DVD262) Go to www.futureofchristianity.com (external link) to learn more about this conversation
• Christianity for the Rest of Us: How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith by Diana Butler Bass (B3419)
• The Gods Aren’t Angry (DVD243) Rob Bell’s latest presentation on the origins of religion
• The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World by Alan Roxburgh and Fred Romanuk (B3453)
• A New Kind of Christian by Brian McLaren (B3387)

Alban Institute Resources

Alban Institute’s (external link) free online guide to resources for faith communities is available at www.congregationalresources.org – Check it out it’s a treasure! Alban also offers regular webinars (external link) on topics of congregational life. Call the Resource Center for more information. We also subscribe to the Alban Weekly and have most Alban publications available for loan.

Labyrinth

Our portable labyrinth, Circle of Peace Labyrinth continues to be well-used. This twenty-four foot Circle of Peace canvas labyrinth is a seven-circuit Chartres design. It can be used as a spiritual tool, a way of silencing the noise and turmoil in our busy lives, and for centering and meditative or contemplative prayer. Call the Resource Center to reserve! (K147)

If you are interested in using the labyrinth, you may like to borrow a dvd, Rediscovering the Labyrinth: A Walking Meditation which introduces this ancient practice. (DVD100)

Continuing his series of conversations in spiritual theology, Eugene Peterson’s books and study guides provide stimulating grist for discussion:

• Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading (B3280)
• Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology (B3487)
• The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways that Jesus is the Way (B3388)
• Tell It Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus (B3648)

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: New Curriculum and Resources for the Missional Church

This collection of resources is meant to stimulate conversation about stewardship as central to who we are as Christians. In his book, The Steward: A Biblical Symbol Comes of Age, Douglas John Hall reminds readers that “… stewardship describes the whole posture called ‘Christian.’ ” This group of resources provides a manageable look at the many ways we approach stewardship. It doesn’t begin to address deeper issues of justice and discipleship. We hope you will find it helpful!

Featured Resources:

• Books and articles by Walter Brueggemann
• Where Your Heart Is
• The Great Permission: An Asset-Based Field Guide for Congregations
• I Have Something That Belongs to You
• To the Castle: A Musical for Stewards
• Created and Called: Discovering Our Gifts for Abundant Living
• How to Improve Financial Stewardship
• Ever Expanding Circles: A Stewardship Video Curriculum (VT2447)
• Managing God’s Good Gifts (VT2034)
• Foundations for Christian Stewardship (VT1813)
• Growing Stewards in the Parish (VT1814)
• Stewardship of All of Life (VT600)
• Reading Scripture and North St. Louis (VT72)
• Caesar and God: Ethics and Stewardship (VT752)
• Personal But Not Private: Theology and Stewardship (VT1024)
• Personal Stewardship (VT722)
• Tithing as a Way of Life (VT688)
• The Pelican Project resources for children
• Beyond the News: Money (VT1714)
• The Great Permission: An Asset-Based Field Guide for Congregations by Bob Sitze (B2249)
• Consecration Sunday Program Kit by Herb Miller (PR562)
• Step by Step: Fostering Financial Stewardship by Michael Meier (PR772)
• Liturgy: A Life to Share (PR652)
• Our Stewardship: Managing our Assets by John Golv (PR732)
• Nickel and Dimed–On (Not) Getting By in America (B2790)
• How Much is Enough? Hungering for God in an Affluent Society (B2788)
• Generous Saints: Congregations Rethinking Ethics and Money (B2523)
• Plain Talk About Churches and Money (B2108)
• All the Good Gifts: On Doing Biblical Stewardship by Wallace Fisher (B299)
• Generous People…How to Encourage Vital Stewardship by Eugene Grimm
• Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan (B1226)

Featured Web Sites:

• Stewardship resources at ELCA.org (external link)
• Stewardship of Life (external link)
• Stewardship in the 21st Century from Luther Seminary (external link)
• Stewardship Resources from CSS Publishing (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: Stewardship: Sharing the Abundance