Supporting vibrant
ministry for our changing world

The Ministry Lab curates and creates resources to generate experimentation and innovation in diverse ministry settings.

We are funded solely by our generous judicatories. If you find this website helpful, please join them in supporting The Ministry Lab. Learn about the benefits of membership and become a subscription member, today!

Join Today!

BIG OPPORTUNITIES!!!

EXPLORE. GROW. SUPPORT.

~~~

WE’VE GOT FRESH & FREE RESOURCES FOR ADVENT & CHRISTMAS 2023 – A PAGEANT, LITURGY, AND SERMONS!!

Learn more here.

~~~

OUR TRANSFORMATIVE INNOVATIONS SERIES MOVES INTO THE NEW YEAR – REGISTER TODAY!

TRAUMA-INFORMED MINISTRIES W/ LEADERWISE – THURSDAYS – JANUARY 11 (1:00-4:00 PM CT), 18, 25 & FEBRUARY 1, 2024 (1:00-3:00 PM CT)
ECUMENICAL ANTIRACISM PANEL & WORKSHOP – TBD/FEBRUARY, 2024
SUSTAINABLE FINANCING/SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURISM – TBD/APRIL, 2024

Learn more about all of these in our Blue Whirl Webinars from The Ministry Lab page here.

~~~

READY TO INNOVATE – BUT NOT SURE THE CONGREGATION IS? Ask us about the INNOVATION CULTURE INDEX!! Through our partnership with Innovation Lab, up to 10 Ministry Lab member congregations have reduced-cost access, facilitated results-sharing, and follow-up consultations!

READY FOR A FULL-ON INNOVATION CULTURE SHIFT? Check out the MINISTRY TRANSFORMATION LAB!! Find testimonials and learn more by contacting ED REV. EMILY MEYER.

~~~

Not a member? Become one today!!

Fresh & Free

Members have free access to resources made just for you!

Blessed Advent!!

As we move into the shortest days of the year, embrace the dark, and prepare for Christ coming among us, here and now, we’ve got resources for Advent and Christmas worship, pageantry, and faith formation. Find them here.

Six New Things

The most intriguing new offerings from publishers, podcasters, websites and thought leaders

Let’s play with our heads: in a fun, community-building, intergenerational-relationship-creating kind of way. Embrace grief, develop mental and spiritual strengths, and create belonging with lament and liturgy, puzzles and games – and pageantry.

Great Ideas

Get inspired by the Great Ideas of other leaders – and inspire others by sharing your own!

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT INTENTIONALITY

Two opposing ideas about Christmas Pageants result in critical, creative, and constructive approaches to sharing pageants – or not.

Read this Great Idea here.

~~~

Find more Great Ideas in our archive; share your Great Ideas here.

Ministry Lab Resources

Lib Guides

“Lib guides” are pre-curated lists of multi-media resources to inspire study, reflection, and/or action. Peruse our website to find lib guide links for different areas of ministry. Find all of our lib guides here.

We thank United’s Spencer Library for hosting our lib guides.

Hard Copy Library

Members enjoy free unlimited loan or review access to our hardcopy library, including:

Books
Curricula
DVDs & Study Guides
Worship Resources
and more!

We also have a die-cutter. Search our die options here.

Vimeo Channel

Our Vimeo Channel houses resources created in-house and by our partners, including our Visual Word collection of sermons and contemplative reflections; our recorded worship services; and Jia Starr Brown’s call to justice, Journey to Freedom. See the full line-up here.

Labyrinths

We lend labyrinths! Two sizes accommodate various sized indoor settings. They may be reserved up to one year in advance.

Learn more about our labyrinths and how you can reserve one here.

NEW!! Our Tibetan Singing Bowl is an opportunity to share this beautiful prayer tool with a small group or the whole congregation. Learn more and reserve it here.

Opportunities for Leaders & Communities

Unlimited Consulting

Members – leaders and planning teams – have unlimited consulting opportunities for all areas of congregational life with our executive director, Rev. Emily Meyer. Contact The Ministry Lab to schedule a consultation via zoom or in person.

Want free access to unlimited consultations? Become a member here.

Spiritual Practices

Midweek Retreat, which posts every Wednesday at noon, is a new, recorded practice exploring diverse prayer forms; often appropriate for sharing in a group setting. Learn more here.

Discover online and in-person opportunities for prayer, worship, retreat, and music in our Spiritual Practices listing.

Find inspiration for new and seasoned practitioners in our lib guides.

Seasonal Offerings

We curate online and in-person offerings appropriate to the season for all ages – individuals or groups. Find camps, retreats, devotions, music and other arts, pilgrimages, and cohorts for fun, contemplation, renewal and growth here.

Midweek Retreat always reflects the season.

New and seasoned practitioners: find inspiration in our Spiritual Practices Church Year/Seasonal lib guide.

Blue Whirl Webinars

Conferences, workshops, and webinars support all areas of ministry. Find our constantly updated local, regional, and national list here. Find Ministry Lab-created offerings here.

~~~

What would you like to explore? Send us an email and we’ll make it happen!

Community Opportunities

Build community beyond your walls inspired by resources on our Engaging the World page.

Find specific options for justice action and social engagement through our Community Opportunities listing.

Continuing Education & Cohorts

Opportunities for personal growth and skill development – for all areas of ministry – abound through our partner, United Theological Seminary, and others. Suggestions curated to suit all our judicatories’ leaders are in our Continuing Education and Cohorts list.

Learn More

Have something you’d like to discuss? Need to check out resources? Share questions, interests and ideas with The Ministry Lab’s Executive Director, Rev. Emily Meyer (ph. 651.279.1677) or search our site.

Supporting vibrant ministry for our changing world