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Sierra Pacific Synod Resource Center
 
October 2014
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THE ANIMATE: SERIES SEEMS TO BE WELL RECEIVED. HAVE YOU TAKEN A LOOK?
Animate: Practices is the newest one, following
Animate: Faith, and Animate: Bible
Each of these has a dvd, leader guide and learner book.
In this latest (Practices), the seven sessions center on Prayer, Food, Worship, Sacraments, Money, Service, and Community. It is the fifth session, entitled "Money: The Joy of Sharing," which has caught my eye (since so many of us are talking stewardship right now):
From the intro:
"Who knew a spiritual practice could become so, well, political? How we spend and share our money has long been a challenging issue for faith communities. But Shane Claiborne asks us to start thinking about money -- and all of our resources -- as yet another way we can bring God's goodness into the world. For Shane, the question isn't whether we should share what we have, but how should we do so? What habits would we have to change to live more generously? And what else might change if we did?" Email us: rspselca@pacbell.netHere is a related quote:
"Living is giving. We live life best as we give our strengths, gifts, and competencies in the service of God's mission. We are called to serve, not survive. Our giving makes a difference in our families, our work, our community, our world, and our church." - Kennon Callahan
A SPECIAL TREAT FOR ALL OF YOU WHO WERE ONCE 'AUGUSTANA' LUTHERANS
The Synod Resource Center has received three books relating to the history and ministries of the Augustana Lutheran Church, which was founded by Swedish Lutherans in 1860 and became a part of the Lutheran Church in America in 1962. The congregations founded by the Augustana Lutheran Church, like other LCA congregations, are now congregations of the ELCA.
The three books are filled with historical information. One is called The Augustana Story, written by two church historians, Professor Maria Erling of the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg, PA, and Professor Mark Granquist of Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, published in 2008. The book is a comprehensive history of the Augustana church from its founding until its merger into the LCA. Not just a book of names and dates, it covers the founding of the church, its struggle for Lutheran identity in the new world, its various ministries in higher education, youth work, global missions, ecumenism, and so much more.
One of the other books is called The Heritage of Augustana: Essays on the Life and Legacy of the Augustana Lutheran Church,edited by Hartland Gifford and Arland Hultgren, published in 2004. It contains 28 essays and two sermons. The essays are grouped together under the following headings: "Sweden and America," "Illinois," "Kansas," "The Church," "The Seminary," "Global Outreach," "Women of Augustana," and "Two Notable Persons." The essays are very readable, since they were originally oral presentations given at Gatherings of the Augustana Heritage Association at Augustana College (2000) and Bethany College (2002).
The third book is a republication of "Prairie Grass Dividing" by J. Iverne Dowie, published originally in 1959 but updated in a new edition in 2014. It tells the story of early Swedish settlements in Kansas and Nebraska, relating how the pioneers established congregations, communities, and Luther College and Academy at Wahoo, Nebraska. It is based on original documents (letters, newspapers, minutes of congregations and other organizations, and more). Eminently readable, it is obviously a labor of love by a person, blind from the age of two, who overcame many personal obstacles and taught history at Luther College, Augustana College, and in retirement at California Lutheran University.
(Written by Arland Hultgren, chair of the Augustana Heritage Association Publications and Projects Committee, and a retired professor at Luther Seminary in St. Paul.)
Email Margie Back, Interim Director of your Resource Center, at rspselca@pacbell.net, to borrow a copy of one of these books.
WE ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT SHARING CHORAL MUSIC, AND FINDING IT TO BE A DAUNTING CONVERSATION. Stay tuned. We appreciate any input you can give us. rspselca@pacbell.net.
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We appreciate your calls and e-mails about resources!
Our office hours in the coming weeks....
Oct. 6, 8, 9, 10
Oct. 13, 16, 17 Oct. 29, 30, 31
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or by appointment - 559 345-2725
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Are you looking ahead to Advent?....
We have quite a few resources for Advent. Especially good are the four "book of faith" Advent reflections: "Making All Things New," "You Shall Have A Song," "While We Wait," "I Wonder as I Wander." We also have dramas, Advent/Christmas activities, crafts, devotions. "Christmas Legends to Remember" by Helen Haidle tells the legends of "the Candy Cane," " the Christmas Tree," and "Saint Nicholas." Look in our online catalog, www.resourcecenterspselca.org, or click here to send us a note.
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Luther's Small Catechism - pocket size
Our offer still stands! We are pleased to support Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton's
call to "dust off our Small Catechisms and take another look at the basics of our faith."
We have sent out around 600 copies of the Small Catechism over the past couple of months, and are happy to keep sending them out, either to individuals or to groups in your congregation.
No cost to you.
"Praying the Catechism" (Donald W. Johnson) is a good day-by-day look at it.
Just send us an email: rspselca@pacbell.net
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 Margie Back, Interim Director 559 345-2725 If you reach the synod office, ext. 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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