Six New Things – Week of July 26, 2021

The power of honesty and speaking one’s truth are what it’s all about this week:

ONE

Mightier than the Sword: Rebels, Reformers, and Revolutionaries Who Changed the World through Writing (Beaming) connects over 40 biographies of world-changing writers with activities and tips to inspire and encourage young people in embracing “the transformative power of words to bring good to the world”. Download a Mightier than the Sword Activity Pack for further exploration.

TWO

Creation’s beauty and diversity is the backdrop for processing feelings of grief and loss in healthy, honesty ways – for Littles and their families – in Remember Me When… (Chalice); a blank page allows for writing in family remembrances.

THREE

Adults struggling with truth-telling in the face of conflict can find wisdom and tools in How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger and the Work of Peace (MennoMedia), a primer in following Jesus’ example of naming and confronting enemies in order to love them.

That wisdom may come in handy as you listen to Heresy Is Good (Progressive Christianity), a podcast dedicated to “fighting back (sic) against the evangelicals’ disinformation and distortion of the gospel…” and as you continue the struggle against racism, inspired afresh by Rev. Tyler Sit’s The Gospel for Changemakers (Church Anew blog).

FOUR

Equip leaders with “wisdom for relating to others”, knowledge for helping others tell their truth, and confidence in new-found facilitation skills: demythologize small group leadership with Gather Us In (Upper Room) a “comprehensive guide to leading small groups”.

FIVE

Create a safe space for people to be honest about their suffering: Hiding in the Pews: Shining Light on Mental Illness in the Church (Fortress) is a beacon of hope for many who struggle.

SIX

Have some fun naming today’s realities in worship:

  • Progressive Christianity created an Olympic Games Liturgy
  • Barn Geese Worship has a Bread of Life Worship series –
  • pair that with edible theology’s Bake with the Bible dinner church and curricula – for late summer, 2021
  • and “Believe Jesus”, our third Summer Worship Series: Liberation installment, will be ready later this week! Rev. Jia Starr Brown speaks truth to all who prefer to doubt the vulnerability and wounds of the Risen Christ, embodied in our neighbor. Watch the website for updated links, or simply make a request and we’ll send them to you!