So Much Summer Fun!

Thanks to Rev. Rebel Hurd, assistant to the bishop in the Northwestern Minnesota Synod, ELCA, for sharing this pile of Great Ideas in the NWMN Northern Lights Newsletter! Rev. Hurd wonders, 'What is your strategy for keeping people in your…

Little Free… Toy Library!

Thanks to Doreen Gosmire, director of communications, Dakota UMC for sharing this Great Idea in the Dakotas Conference UMC newsletter. Doreen shares a beautiful narrative of the birth and growth of the South Dakota Toy Lending Library - and…

3 Ways Out of Overwhelm

Thanks to Elliott May for sharing these three Great Ideas in one in Building Faith's post. Elliott May writes, "After a long stretch of constant pandemic adaptation, it's clear that many church leaders are working to discern what comes next…

Singing While Gray

Thanks to Rev. Dr. Anna Hall from Convergence for sharing this Great Idea for re-envisioning 'church choir'. Rev. Dr. Anna Hall outlines a number of challenges congregations are facing with regard to congregational singing - particularly…

MMIR MONTH

We are creating a packet of resources to support congregations digging deeply into their local roots on behalf of water, well-being and relationship-building. It's fitting we'll be unveiling it on May 18: right in the middle of Missing and Murdered…

No Mow May

Thanks to Rev. Sheri Nelson at MN Conference UCC's Outdoor Ministries for sharing this Great Idea! In her post, 'Beatrice the Bumblebee Is Excited to See the Flowers Bloom', Rev. Nelson writes, "No Mow May is back. Will you take the challenge…

ERASING FEARS

Thanks to Traci Smith for highlighting this Great Idea in her Treasure Box Tuesday post. Smith shared a reddit link to one community-minded response to growing anxiety: a giant chalkboard with a ready supply of chalk on which folx are invited…

Thou Shalt Not Steal – and Hunger

Thanks to Vernita Kennen of Incarnation Lutheran Church, Shoreview, for sharing these important insights in the St Paul Area Synod's Newsletter! Vernita wonders, 'What does a commandment about stealing have to do with hunger?' She lists…

3 Ways to Use ChatGPT for Ministry – and not

Thanks to Jim Keat at Convergence for sharing these three Great Ideas in one. Jim Keat is the media wiz at Convergence, full of tech wisdom and media insight for ministry in diverse settings. Keat suggests three great ways to use ChatGPT…

Read. Just Read.

Okay, the title is a riff on Cinderella's/Drew Barrymore's line in Ever After, but the concept is sort of the same: focus on something small and simple and giant issues and struggles can both be avoided and eliminated. Thanks to Rev. Beth…