SIX NEW THINGS – WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 27, 2021
Building a better future together is what it’s all about this week: inspire creative young leaders and develop the hope of elders; move toward a more equitable economy; amplify theologies of love and compassion; embrace change; learn best practices for employing technology; and celebrate God’s abundance in World Food Day and World Communion Sunday.
ONE
The world is in a time of loss, grief, and incredible uncertainty. All ages are feeling a little glum and unmoored.
Jump start conversations about a more joyful future inspired by partially deaf acclaimed youth artist – and former bullied kid – Tyler Gordon’s, We Can: Portraits of Power (Macmillan); address anxiety about climate change – with tips in how to address it – with All the Feelings Under the Sun: How to Deal with Climate Change (Magination) – and get your young people ready to lead!
Be sure to spark the vision of elders: address grief and get juices of hope flowing with From Dry Bones to Living Hope (Upper Room).
TWO
As congregations prepare for Stewardship Sundays and Congress debates a huge infrastructure package, engage in deliberations about what a more just, sustainable, and equitable economy might look like:
Our Fair Share: How One Small Change Can Create a More Equitable American Economy (Broadleaf), is a starting point; for easier chewing, Richard Rohr’s week of Daily Meditations on, What Do We Do with Money?, offers more bite-sized concepts to contemplate.
Find additional stewardship resources in our New Generosity lib guide.
THREE
Moving into God’s desired future may feel less threatening if we’re all on the same theological page. If God Is Love Don’t Be a Jerk: Finding a Faith That Makes Us Better Humans (WJK) could be a unifying call to compassion.
Additional empowering Emerging Theologies can be found in our lib guide.
FOUR
We can move into God’s future with greater confidence when we’ve got both faith and science in our pocket: Church After: Finding Transformation in Unexpected Change (Cane Mill) is “packed with practical ideas” that “utilize research on brain science and transformative learning to help congregations find transformation in unexpected change”.
FIVE
Speaking of science: having good tech is also essential to moving into what’s next. The Great Digital Commission: Embracing Social media for Church Growth and Transformation (Progressive Christianity) is designed for clergy, lay leaders, and social media managers in need of help articulating why a social media presence is essential for mission and offers tips for developing healthy social media accounts.
SIX
If nothing else, communion gives us glimpse of God’s desired future. Celebrate World Food Day and World Communion Sunday with help from resources in our new lib guide, where you’ll find multi-denominational liturgical elements and Living Faithfully in the Time of Creation (Wild Goose), full of liturgical elements for September through the UN Summit on Climate Change, and currently sharing a special free e-book offer.
