Eastern North Dakota Synod

» Download: New Curriculum and Bible Study Resources (download pdf file)

New Star Thrower (external link) leadership resources are now available.   Like Star Thrower’s Dewitt Jones videos (Focus Your Vision, Celebrate What’s Right with the World, and Everyday Creativity), these engaging short films focus on human interest topics. (DVD and print)  (4-10 minutes each)

• A Second Chance (everyone deserves a second chance)
• Differences (differences give us each unique skills and talents)
• Seeing Red Cars (encourages positive decisions, less negativity)
• We Are the Ones (looking to ourselves for leadership, change)

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
• Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places: A Conversation in Spiritual Theology
• The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways that Jesus is the Way
• Tell It Slant: A Conversation on the Language of Jesus

Curriculum for fall and beyond….

We’ve been waiting a long time for this!  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!

SPARK! (external link) 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.

Nooma (external link) 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)

Check out excellent ELCA’s Shared Resources (external link) open source site for sharing unpublished religious resources.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)

Book of Faith

Go to www.bookoffaith.org (external link) for regular updates about resources.  Go to www.bookoffaith.ning.com (external link) for social networking and sharing stories of faith.

• New bible studies continue to be added to the Book of Faith offerings:
• Books of Faith studies include Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, John, Romans, Galatians, and I John and each is accompanied by a DVD for leader preparation.
• People of Faith studies include:
  • A Gardener, Two Travelers, and a Cheat (Adam, Abraham, Sarah, Jacob);
  • A Lamenter, A Dreamer and Two Pretty Good Leaders (Rachel, Joseph, Moses, Joshua);
  • A Grandmother to a King, A King-Maker, A King and a Royal Pain (Ruth, Samuel, David, Elijah);
  • A Prostitute, Two Prophets and Poor ‘Ol Job (Gomer, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Job).
  • Together in Faith includes three lectionary studies: God’s Will for Life (Mark); God’s Extraordinary Church (Ephesians); God’s Standard or Gold Standard? (Proverbs).
• David Lose’s new book, Making Sense of Scripture: Big Questions about the Book of Faith is an introductory course focusing on seven questions for people new to bible study.
• Foundational courses include:
  • Opening the Book of Faith introducing four methods of bible study;
  • Rediscovering the Book of Faith, a three-session overview for beginners;
  • the new Lutheran Study Bible;
  • and SPARK bibles and curriculum for faith formation.
• DVDs for leader preparation are also available for preview.