Six New Things – Week of December 16, 2024

Stories are at the heart of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany gatherings: prophetic stories and stories of hope; stories of the Christ Child's birth - 2000 years ago, and today; stories of hospitality and welcome to strangers from afar and neighbors…

6 Ideas for January 6

Thanks to Jeremy Steele for sharing these SIX Great Ideas in the UMC's Epiphany Resource Page. Here are Six Great Ideas in one - for Epiphany - January 6! Steele suggests - and outlines how to enact: Twelfth Night Dinner: Gather for…

Sweet Darkness – Lectio Divina

Thanks to Drew Benson, PhD, LP, for sharing this Great Idea in his LeaderWise post. Recognizing the upcoming winter solstice, when 'the balance of darkness to light in our days reaches its peak' and we again are offered, 'the yearly invitation…

Inclusive, Extravagant Welcome

Thanks to MN Conference UCC's, Rev. Kelly Gallagher, for sharing this seasonal reflection on inclusivity - and Great Idea for living into the Christmas Story. Gallagher invites us into the diversity and cat-herding joy that is Christmas Pageants,…

Family Vision Board

Thanks to Traci Smith for sharing this Great Idea - and permission to share it with others - in her weekly Treasure Box Tuesday post. Traci offers a full outline for 'Making a Family Vision Board for the Year Ahead', introducing the concept…

Animal Assisted Interactions

It's been a minute since I received this Great Idea. I regret not remembering who shared it with me. If it was you, please let me know and I'll update this post immediately! Proper credit notwithstanding, this is a super idea for any time…

Embodied Faith

Thanks to Kate Lawson-Hedger for sharing this Great Idea in her bulidingfaith blog. Lawson-Hedger writes, 'Embodied learning inspires embodied faith. To support embodied learning experiences, teachers need to create environments where learners…

Six New Things – Week of December 09, 2024

As Advent moves us through Hope into a Joyous Peace, we know these feelings are predicated on and necessary to the work of Love: Love for self, neighbor, and the planet. As we prepare for God's Love being born, we, too, are called to bear Christ…

Holiday Markets

Thanks to Sahan Journal reporter Katelyn Vue for sharing this Great Idea in their December 08, 2024, post. Vue writes: Cultural markets offer everything from Indigenous beadwork to Tanzanian blankets. The Twin Cities area offers cultural…

45-Day Soft Challenge*

Thanks to spiritual director Sam Rahberg of St Christopher's Episcopal Church (Roseville, MN) and Wood & Water Retreats for sharing this Great Idea in a recent post: Sam writes: During a recent class, Brother An, a Vietnamese monk…