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Dear Ones,
At EGR, we believe the best tools for ministry come
from people actively doing ministry! That means
YOU
are the research and development arm of MDG ministry
in the Episcopal Church.
General
Convention provided a mandate for the
church's engagement with the Millennium
Development Goals. Now comes the fun
part -- creating new, innovative and
envelope-busting ways of spreading the Good News of
God's call to us and our ability to respond.
So kick-start both sides of your brain and invite
your most creative friends to join the fun. Here's
what we need:
Prayers -- Write
your own prayers and liturgies with an MDG
focus. Get your Sunday School and youth groups to do
the same. Write a Stations
of the Cross service with the MDGs. Prayers
of the People.
Special morning
and evening prayer services. A
liturgy for the Last Sunday after Pentecost (the
Sunday where the Episcopal Church will be focusing
on the MDGs.)
Printed materials - bulletin inserts,
brochures, fliers, postcards, bumper stickers -- you
name it. Anything we can put on our website in a
.pdf file that anyone can download for use in their
congregation. Be creative. Have fun.
Bible Studies - Thematic or lectionary-based.
What are creative ways we can incorporate the MDGs
into our weekly scripture study. Share what you're
trying!
Activities by and for children and youth -
Some of the best ideas
for engaging the MDGs have come from people under
21! Turn 'em loose and remove the phrase "we can't"
from your vocabulary. A lot of times, the goofiest
ideas are the best ones!
Hi-tech - Build a website,
blog about the
MDGs, make your
own videos to put online, make
podcasts of MDG
stories, link people with listservs,
create powerpoints
and flashmovies, online
photo albums, etc., etc. Need help? Read above
under Children and
Youth!
Art and music - Whatever your medium, turn
yourself loose on God's mission of global
reconciliation. Art and music can move us in ways
unlike any other. And don't hide your light under a
bushel. When you create, share it with us
so God can
work through you to touch others.
Everything else -- Fundraisers, displays,
activities, demonstrations, adaptations of other
ideas and stuff nobody's ever thought of before. Let
your imagination run wild. Have fun with this!
Most important, whether it's something you have to
share or a challenge you help with, make sure to let EGR know so
we can help make it happen, too.
Need ideas to start with? Spend some time surfing
around the EGR
website ... that'll give you plenty to chew
on.
Remember, this is a movement -- which means we don't
wait around for something to happen or someone to
tell us what to do. We become what's happening. We
pray that God will use us, and then we get busy!
Christ's peace,
Mike Kinman
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation
phone:
314.348.6453
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