Six New Things – Week of August 29, 2022

Five women and a transgender man bring us back to basics - with a twist - including 'revolutionary' approaches to prayer; leadership 101 for navigating tension and intense boundaries; and Biblical insights to turn justice and the church outside…

Six New Things – Week of August 22, 2022

Hope springs eternal! Six amazing resources to re-member hope, inspire perseverance, develop faith, playfully anticipate justice, buoy awareness, and look to the future with joyful expectation. ONE How can saving one tree inspire an entire…

Stop Confirming Teenagers…!

Thanks to the Association of Partners in Christian Education for creating this Great Idea - and to United Church Educators for sharing it broadly!! Mark Hinds writes, "...Confirmation and the profession of faith are not synonymous... We've…

10 Racial Justice Actions

Thanks to Christa Meland and the UMC's General Commission on Religion & Race's, R² Resource team for sharing this Great Idea. A lot of individuals and congregations are wondering how to move from 'talking about' racial injustice and…

Six New Things – Week of August 15, 2022

Diana Butler Bass's Bad Blood: Christian Theology and Civil War highlights how what we believe and how we live it out is essential for the wellbeing of the world - these days perhaps more than ever before. As some voices call for division,…

Whose Needs? Simple Questions to Deepen Traditions

Thanks to CYMT's Meghan Hatcher for sharing this Great Idea (or Eye Opener). Hatcher shares a story of beginning a new ministry just as the congregation prepared for their traditional Back-to-School Sunday observation, in which congregational…

Involving Everyone in Music

Thanks to the SparkHouse blog and Cathy Skogen-Soldner (of Cathy's Music) for sharing this Great Idea - which is more of an inspiration and how-to than a new way of doing ministry. I (Emily) am the daughter, grand-daughter, niece and cousin,…

Get School Off to a Poppin’ Great Start!

Thanks to author Traci Smith for sharing this Great Idea! She and her congregation handed out bags of Smartfood Popcorn at a local back-to-school fair with these tags attached. The tags can be personalized with your congregation's name on…

SIX NEW THINGS – WEEK OF AUGUST 08, 2022

Stories, art, journaling, and poetry: developing and deepening spiritual practices - for both individuals and the community - helps us develop and deepen our sense of self, and our sense of belonging. ONE Henry loves pink. But others believe…

Six New Things – Week of August 1, 2022

It's August - and we are moving into a new season, in so very many, many ways. As we walk a road out of loss, division, and isolation into opportunity, community, and hope, let's let loving reflection, compassionate truth-telling, and gracious…