Six New Things – Week of March 13, 2023
From grief and lament to new beginnings; from earth-bound creation care to deep space exploration – here are resources for when Holy Week unfolds in daily life.
ONE
Grandpa’s Window (Flyaway) addresses the grieving process, both as a family member approaches the end of life as well as after death; includes a note for adults supporting children in grief and a discussion and activity guide for children.
For adults grieving, or simply struggling, in the midst of transition, Your New Now: Finding Strength and Wisdom When You Feel Stuck Where You Are (Baker) may prove helpful.
TWO
Groaning: Sounds in Search of a Witness (Cascade) places biblical lamentation alongside the ‘groaning’ of Black religious leaders in pursuit of developing ‘communities of faith to serve as witnesses to persons who struggle to flourish even as they carry their scars’.
THREE
Turn faithful witness into action with Interfaith Power and Light’s, Living the Golden Rule: Faith Action Organizer Kit – a themed organizer’s kit for Faith Climate Action Week in support of congregational creation care efforts around Earth Day.
Get inspired for climate care preaching, Earth Day Sunday, with our first-ever* Commentary Conversation. Ministry Lab director Rev. Emily Meyer chats with MNIPL Director of Faith Networks, Buff Grace, about the RCL texts for Sunday, April 23, 2023, in a conversation ranging from the dust and mud of Lent to recognizing the Risen Christ on the road to Emmaus and throughout the cosmos.
*(Is this a thing? If so, we’d love to know! Email us with comments: ministrylab@unitedseminary.edu.)
FOUR
For an inspiring story of faith in climate-care-action, see Flipflopi (Beaming), the true story of a Kenyan dhow boat built from 30,000 flip flops and other plastics found on the Kenyan coast – transformed into a 7 ton boat!
FIVE
Move from Earth-based creation care to universal awe and inspire younger generations about scientific innovations of cosmic exploration with the lyrical poetry and luminous art of The Sky Is Not the Limit (Eerdmans).
Keep folx grounded with a rigorous – yet whimsical – exploration of evolution with Baby Dinosaurs on the Ark? and its newly released Study Guide. (Eerdmans)
SIX
If actual Holy Week and Easter are on your mind, check out A Sanctified Art’s new Best of… blog, where they’ve culled their favorite Lent, Holy Week, and Easter resources – meaningful any year, no matter your theme – including Stations of the Cross, Holy Week liturgies, Easter worship art, and more.
Find our full list of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter liturgical elements and resources here.
