A Prayer for the beginning of Lent:
O God, who makes all things new,
new stars, new dust, new life;
take my heart, every hardened edge and measured beat,
and create something new in me.
I need your newness, God,
the rough parts of me made smooth;
the stagnant, stirred;
the stuck, freed;
the unkind, forgiven.
And, then, by the power of your Spirit,
I need to be turned toward Love again. Amen
from "The Awkward Season: Prayers for Lent," by Pamela Hawkins
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What is new and thought provoking at the Resource Center??:
Lutheran Social Service (LSS) of Minnesota has developed an amazing study called
"My Neighbor is Muslim: Exploring the Muslim Faith."
LSS of Minnesota President and CEO says, ""My Neighbor is Muslim" is a very special gift to the church and local communities. Join us in conversation and learning about our new neighbors. Keep refugees in your prayers. and join in our shared work of welcome." These materials were developed in response to the 60 million people in our world who are displaced from their homes- nearly 20 million have crossed international borders seeking safety and are considered refugees. With this resource you will gain a better understanding about the Muslim faith through these chapters:
Everyday Culture and Vocabulary
Five Pillars of Islam
Islam and Jesus
Islam and Jews/Christians
Islam and Charity
Islam and Violence
Islam and Finance
Islamic State
The authors of this resource include: Todd Green, of Luther College; Dirk Lange, Matthew Skinner, Karoline Lewis, Rolf Jacobson, Eric Barreto, and Adam Copeland, all professors at Luther Seminary; and Yusuf Abdi, Director of Refugee Services, LSS of Minnesota.
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Another resource on other faith traditions:
We just received a copy of the 2016 revised edition of
"Honoring our Neighbor's Faith: A Lutheran Perspective on Faith Traditions in America."
This study deals with questions such as
- How do we view the wide variety of faith beliefs and practices in the United States?
- How does the Lutheran tradition compare with others?
This book deals with these questions by deepening our understanding of various faith traditions, as well as our own, making it a valuable resource for congregational study or personal exploration. This book explores thirty-two faith traditions that represent a wide spectrum of beliefs or stand out due to their size or public profile in America.
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And more food for thought:
We have a copy of the slide presentation, "Ethics in a Lutheran Way" that was presented at
the Sierra Pacific Synod Women of the ELCA 12th Biennial Convention in October 2015,
by Margaret R. McLean, Associate Director Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. She gave a great presentation and these slides offer many excellent insights into Lutheran Ethics! A great resource to get you thinking.
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VBS resources are 'out there' and in here, at your Resource Center!
It IS time to begin considering and planning for his summer's VBS!
The Resource Center can help you in many ways.
We carry lots and lots of old VBS kits for your use, including a few great ones from Group:
"Weird Animals" and "Everest!" AND MORE! We can loan you one of these kits for a few months!
If you are looking for something brand new this year, please send me an email,
I would love to help you decide what VBS is best for you. 2016 has no shortage of VBS programs!!!!
We do have the 2016 Group Cave Quest at the Resource Center for hands on viewing.
Email me if and when you will be in Fresno!
There are also some excellent interactive websites where you can get a good picture of what is new and exciting! I do my best to stay up-to-date on all current VBS programs and am willing to share with you,
