Six New Things – Week of June 26, 2023

We move into the height of summer empowering women and girls as they lead the way to sustainable environments, economies, theologies, and… everything!!

ONE

We’re delighted to share a new recorded Summer Sermon: Welcome & Water. It’s based on texts for July 2 (Psalm 13 & Matthew 10:40-42), but themes of water, welcome, and community – and amplifying the leadership of Indigenous women – make it appropriate to share anytime throughout the season (of summer and/or Pentecost). You’ll want to read We Are Water Protectors (Macmillan) as part of the service; sharing Sara Thomsen’s Water Is Life makes for a well-rounded water-themed worship.

Learn more here.

Contact Emily for the members-only link and to inquire about an accompanying liturgy.

Join us at the Spirit of Water event July 15 where we’ll unveil our congregational Watersheds & Interconnection Toolkit!!

TWO

What if ‘women, the underserved, and the planet [were] at the heart of systems’ of economics, politics, and society? The Defiant Optimist: Daring to Fight Global Inequality, Reinvent Finance, and Invest in Women (Broadleaf) boldly asks – and explores potential answers – around these questions.

Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney’s latest iteration, A Woman’s Lectionary for the Whole Church: Year B (Church), will go a long way to changing some of those systems from theology up.

THREE

Empowering girls is where it’s at this summer with the release of Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Springtide Research pulled together an interfaith panel of women to reflect on the book and the movie and its impact on spirituality, faith, and teen mental health. Watch it!!

Find more resources around Pop Culture in our lib guide.

FOUR

Welcome all your young people to safe spaces of growth, learning, and formation with this fantastic rainbow bulletin board. Send the image to be printed poster size for a super-easy focal point!

Set a gracious tone for gatherings with young ones with the Peace Table Story Bible (MennoMedia). It’s full of 140 stories illustrated by 30 illustrator who ‘invite children to see themselves in God’s story’; along with prayer prompts, questions, and action ideas – all encouraging children to ‘explore the ways that peace themes are woven throughout the Bible’.

FIVE

Empower leaders of all kinds with revitalized approaches to mentoring. Start with a Mentor Map – this one is academic, but you’ll get the gist.

Find more tips and tools for finding, recruiting, and equipping strong Mentors and Volunteers in our lib guide and in this week’s Mentoring Formation Leaders Great Idea.

SIX

If you’re feeling gratitude for these fresh resources – or maybe if you’re not – start journaling about it! See the Good Journal: 90 Days to Becoming More Grateful and Hope-Filled (Baker) will set you on a path to resilience and joy through noticing God’s goodness on a more regular basis.