Thanksgiving is a delightful holiday with a simple premise of counting our blessings. How unfortunate that it’s become sort of starting gun for a frenzy of shopping and consumerism. In this thoughtful essay Lori Sanders reflects on how to keep the spirit of thanks alive even as the world goes shopping. (Photo: Marco Verch, Creative […]
Part of good leadership is the ability to see compassionately. Effective leaders who desire to build bridges and bring people together learn to be present, attentive, and aware of those around them. Read this excerpt adapted from C. Paul Schroeder’s book Practice Makes Purpose: Six Spiritual Practices That will Change Your Life and Transform Your Community.
Now that Halloween is past, the culture will be full steam ahead with the holiday season. And that means parties and alcohol. Stay healthier and safer this season by preparing to keep a lid on excessive drinking. Addiction expert John Mendelson, MD, provides some excellent advice. (Photo: Davis Fisers, Creative Commons)
The environmental crisis threatens the existence of the human race. So why aren’t churches speaking out about climate change and pollution? “Our apathy and indifference to our earth exposes a gap in our discipleship,” writes Terrence M. McKinley in an insightful essay in Sojourners.
Less than 10 weeks will usher in 2019 — do you have a strategy for year-end giving? Why not give your parishioners a project or an idea to fund? Retire the mortgage? Remodel the sanctuary? Raise enough to hire a youth worker? This article from Church Law & Tax has great ideas on selecting and […]
OK, so maybe the fall got away from you and you didn’t have time to plan a stewardship emphasis? Here are three simple program ideas that you can put into action before the year’s end. Any of them will help keep stewardship front and center. From Rob Blezard, web content editor for Stewardship of Life […]
Folks can learn a lot about stewardship through this simple lesson dealing with the “french fry tax” that many youth and children have to endure. This funny, well-done Youtube video explains it all in about two minutes. Perfect for Sunday school, youth group or a temple talk. (Photo: Keith McDuffee, Creative Commons)
More than 4 million Americans live in places where contaminants in drinking water exceed a legal limit, the Evironmental Working Group has found, and a new database EWG has established enables residents to key in their ZIP code and find out how their own water checks out. Read about it from Citylab.com. (Photo: Russellstreet, Creative […]
With the possibilities for small-church budgeting being so flexible, are there guidelines that are universal? Writing in ChristianityToday.com, Karl Vaters says there are. He lists nine principles that can help leaders develop a budget that will serve the ministry needs and keep the church’s financial train on track. (Photo: taxcredits.net, Creative Commons)
“If you’re going to be effective in ministry, you have to become comfortable talking about money. Few church leaders I know are,” writes church consultant Carey Nieuwhof. Those who don’t address money are generally leading their congregations to bankruptcy. Nieuwhof offers seven good ideas. (Photo: www.inkmedia.eu, Creative Commons)
