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Sierra Pacific Synod Resource Center
 
January 2014
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A new year unfolds, but our responsibilities continue.
No doubt your church staff is busily preparing reports for the congregational annual meeting. What wonderful resources those annual meeting hand-outs are for your congregational archives! These are especially important when the congregation celebrates an anniversary and wants to revisit the past.
Those reports also make filling out the annual "trend" report easier. That "trend" report is an extremely important tool for the synod and churchwide staff who annually must write the story of "who" the ELCA is, at this point in time. What is our current ELCA membership? How are we receiving new members? And how are we losing members? Facts that contribute to "our story."
Which leads to another question...Do you have congregational archives and are they up to date?
There are some helpful materials available for you in setting up or updating your archives. One is found on the ELCA website. You can reach it by www.elca.org/archives, then following the links to "View Archive resources" to the Archives page, then click on "Brief Guide for Archives of Congregations." (Or just ask us for it.) Another is an excellent power point presentation, taking you step by step, through the process of setting up archives. This has been prepared by Carol Schmalenberger, who is the archivist at PLTS. Send an email to the resource center, and we will e-mail you the power-point presentation. All of these incorporate the process of storing hard-copy pieces of history together with online materials.
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Help us! What kind of resources would you like us to provide?
This is your lending library.
We have a wide variety of materials awaiting your use.
Check-out periods are generous, to fit your planned use.
Our goal is to help you make your small group studies, classes, personal reading as interesting and helpful as possible. We will work with you in finding what fits for you or your group. Click here to send an email to the Resource Center, Our office hours in January:
Jan. 3. Jan. 6, 8. Jan. 13, 16, 17. Jan. 21, 22, 23. Jan. 28, 29, 30.
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., or by appointment - 559 345-2725 #120
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LOOKING FOR SOME ON-LINE STUDY?
"ENTER THE BIBLE" is kind of an expanded online commentary, only better. This is a monthly online newsletter that could help you grow in your faith, add depth to your personal Bible study, and show you how to more effectively engage the scriptures. There is a monthly Bible Q&A podcast available free on iTunes. This is called Tips & Resources. Take a look and see if this might be for you. Firstthird.org might be of interest to you if you are a parent of young children, or a teacher, or someone involved in family ministry. This a blog, aimed at concerns involving the "first third" of one's life. Click the title and you'll be there.
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WORSHIP MATTERS
new!
Augsburg Fortress has a new series of resources out under that title - Worship Matters - and the use of these should make it much easier to train and encourage the folks in your congregation who take part in leading or serving during your worship services.
The main piece is called "Leading Worship Matters, a source book for preparing worship leaders." (It has both a CD-Rom and a DVD)
Its chapters cover Assisting Ministers, Readers, Intercessors, Acolytes, Ushers & Greeters, Communion Ministers (both in the assembly and sent from the assembly), Altar Guild,
Tech Ministers, Musicians and Cantors, Children's Sermons, and Worship Space.
Two handbooks are out, with more coming. They are the handbooks for assisting ministers and for readers. All of these are available now for preview or check-out at the Resource Center. Click here and ask about them.
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Is this the year to "perk up" your use of web technology?
Congregational Life Discipling Team is offering a day-long workshop.
Social media, websites, wi-fi, technology during worship -- do you find yourself mystified by it all? Well, then, here is the resource you have been waiting for!! Saturday, Feb. 8th, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., join others in exploring social media and technology in church settings. Cost $10 ($15 after Feb. 2). Email Laurie@spselca.org for more information.
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Margie Back, Interim Director
559 345-2725 x 120
This is YOUR Resource Center; YOUR lending library!
Never used the Resource Center? You are missing out!
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Call us or email us today!
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