Equip the saints of your church with a daily Advent devotional: “Generosity in Hope, Peace, Joy and Love.” Produced by the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCA, the free, downloadable booklet offers ways to explore, serve and pray over Scripture passages. Organized by weekly Advent themes of hope, peace, joy and love.
Just think of all the bible verses that offer thanks to God and you’ll know that gratitude is a characteristic of healthy faith. Supplement your bible studies and workshops with these insights from Psychology Today about the power of gratitude. (Photo: Vistamommy, Creative Commons)
Yes! A recent study concluded that practicing gratitude does indeed have a direct effect upon one’s eating habits and making healthier dietary choices. Read more about the study and its conclusions to be a better (and more grateful) steward of your health. (Photo: Marco Verch, Creative Commons)
Think of the church leaders you admire for their effectiveness. Chances are they exude a sense of gratitude for who they are, where they are and what they are doing. Not that things are perfect, but they deal with problems and life. Gratitude affects your attitude and makes a big difference in your ministry. Leadership […]
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but medical science proves that it’s a good idea to find ways to give thanks for the things in your life every day. This month take it on as a spiritual discipline by keeping a “gratitude journal,” sending out three thank you cards a week, or just counting your […]
Want to cultivate radical generosity in your congregation? Start with a personal thank-you to those who give to support church mission and ministries. Surprisingly, this is an often overlooked practice, and it’s one that can yield wonderful results both in deepening discipleship and in increasing support. Writer Ben Stroup offers simple suggestions to thank givers at […]
You don’t have to wait for Thanksgiving to encourage “thanks-living.” Here’s a list of 10 short videos about random acts of kindness and gratitude. Use these films as discussion starters with your youth groups, faith formation classes, or other venues in your faith community. (Photo: marco antonio torres, Creative Commons)
Here’s a 30 day gratitude quiz that’s definitely worth exploring–with children, teens, and adults. Author Robin Shreeves suggests adapting it for your context. (Photo: Rick Bradley, Creative Commons)
Lectionary Reflection for the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost, Year C, October 9, 2016
If living a grateful life leads to so many positive results, why isn’t everyone hopping on the gratitude train? The story from this week’s gospel lesson can shed some light on that and lead us to the wholeness Christ offers. (Photo: Tiger Girl, Creative Commons)
Lectionary Reflection for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year C September 18, 2016 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in […]
