"Christmas is NOT your Birthday" - by Mike Slaughter(Every year we say we're going to cut back, simplify, and have a family Christmas that focuses on the real reason for the season .. Jesus. But every year, advertisements beckon, the children plead, and it seems easier just to indulge our wants and whims. Overspending, overeating, materialism,and busyness rob us of our peace and joy and rob Jesus of His rightful role as the center of the celebration."and"Hundred Dollar Holiday" - by Bill McKibben"Too many people have come to dread the approach of the holidays, a season that should -- and can -- be the most relaxed, intimate, joyful, and spiritual time of the year. In this book, the author offers some suggestions on how to rethink Christmastime, so that our current obsession with present-buying becomes less important than the dozens of other possible traditions and celebrations."How about starting 2015 with an "Animate:" class?
The comments from those using the Animate series are pretty positive. We now have copies of the newest: "Animate: Practices."
Just as with "Animate: Faith" (where presenters ask strong questions, such as "What is it about us that makes us always choose the bedazzled cross and not the actual one?"),
and "Animate: Bible" ("Does your faith feel like a response to the Good News?),
"Animate: Practices" deals in challenging new ways with our practices: prayer, food, worship, sacraments, money, service and community. Seven topics, seven different speaker/leaders.
If you have wished for A SPANISH LANGUAGE RESOURCE for teaching First Communion to young children, we now have one! "Manual para la Primera Comunion" is a bilingual teacher's guide - offered in both Spanish and English -- complete with twenty 90-minute lessons for Latino children in grades three to six. It has three parts: teacher's lesson plan, student worksheets and a step-by-step craft. The teacher's guide is two sided, to make it easy to flip from Spanish to English. It also comes with a CD recording of twenty Christian songs from the "Libro de Liturgia y Cantico," the ELCA's Spanish-language hymnal, that correspond with the lessons.
And, for YOU BONHOEFFER READERS, especially if you work with youth, we have a new book written by Andrew Root entitled "Bonhoeffer as Youth Worker." Root, the Olson Baalson Associate Professor of Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, teaches on youth ministry, young adults, family, church and culture.
One review says this:
'I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story of Bonhoeffer's start in congregational ministry (it mirrors the story of so many leaders in the church today!) and his navigating children as he learned how to translate his academic experience into a child's hearing. A quote that makes this point, "Bonhoeffer then used the spiritual as a way of helping his own young people do the theological and hear the theological voice of others as they sought for God next to and within their concrete and lived experience." From Germany to Spain, to Italy and America and back home again, the model was consistent and Bonhoeffer constantly learned as he engaged children, youth and young adults.'
DEVOTIONAL BOOKLET FOR 2015
Are you ... or someone you know ... wishing for a structured daily Bible reading guide that will give your faith life a real "shot in arm"?
Order from Augsburg Fortress the small book entitled "Bread for the Day - Daily Bible Readings and Prayers - 2015." It follows the lectionary, offering scripture readings, a related hymn, and brief prayer thoughts. Your $8.95 will be well-spent.
THE LENTEN SEASON
will be here soon!
We lift up two new resources.
"Grace & Peace: Devotions for Lent 2015" will soon be available at Augsburg Fortress.
This full-color devotional takes you through Lent with daily readings from Ephesians. Each reading is accompanied by a photo, quote, reflection, and prayer. Available in regular (pocket-sized), large print, and eBook formats.
"Conversations for Lent" is a new ELCA resource developed around the four emphases which Bishop Eaton has identified for the ELCA:
We are the church.
We are Lutheran.
We are church together.
We are church for the sake of the world.
