August 2010 Equipping

Team Leadership in the Church — From time to time, I hear pastors complain about the loneliness they feel in their jobs. In small churches, it seems, this is partly due to being the only paid staff person. But even in larger congregations, I have heard pastors speak about the amount of time they spend alone, studying for sermons or working on office tasks.

Howdy Neighbor, Do You Want to Hang Out? — Becoming an anti-racist church doesn’t come naturally. Our natural tendency is to assemble/congregate with those that look like us; those who speak like us; and with those of similar socio-economic backgrounds. Like the old adage goes, “birds of a feather flock together.” Hey, it is natural! It is human nature, but the thing is, God often calls us to go against what we see as natural.

Church Education Sunday will become part of the new Christian Formation Sunday — Beginning in 2011, the second Sunday of September will become Christian Formation Sunday. The Sunday, sponsored by Mennonite Education Agency (MEA), Mennonite Church Canada Formation, and Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN), provides: “An emphasis on the ministry of Christian nurture and education through congregational formation activities, publishing and church schools.” The first Sunday in February—set aside as Church Education Sunday many years ago—will be discontinued.

The Anabaptist story … from its roots through today’s global Anabaptist family — Are you ready to take your part in God’s drama? That’s the question posed by Stephen M. Nolt and Harry Loewen, authors of the newly-revised Herald Press book, Through Fire and Water: An Overview of Mennonite History. Published with the support of Mennonite Schools Council and Mennonite Education Agency, it is written in an accessible and nonacademic style and incorporates new historical research and discoveries.

Book mission speakers today! — November may seem far away, but Mission Sunday is really right around the corner. On Sunday, November 14, Mennonite Church USA will celebrate Mission Sunday, and we invite your congregation to consider celebrating as well.

Mission Bank Tools Available — Is your congregation looking for a way to teach children about the global church and stewardship? Consider using Mennonite Mission Network’s mission bank teaching tools and globe banks.

Shaping Families station update — WTOW in Washington, North Carolina, airs Shaping Families every morning at 6:15 a.m. The manager has been airing this “weekly” program on a daily basis and has received positive responses from listeners.

See where else you can listen to Shaping Families.

School for Leadership Training at EMS — "Pentecost Remixed: The Work of the Holy Spirit" is the theme for School for Leadership Training at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, January 17-19, 2011.

Fall Online Courses from EMS — Eastern Mennonite Seminary is offering four online courses this fall: Old Testament:Text in Context, Church in Mission, Cross-Cultural Discipleship, and Prayer in the Christian Tradition.

Seminary Alums launch blog for young adults — Where do young adults go to discuss what's right with the church, not just what's wrong with it? Two Eastern Mennonite Seminary alumni, Jeremy Yoder and Laura Lehman Amstutz, have created a blog and web magazine to provide a forum for young adults who are committed to staying in the institutional church but want to discuss what that means.

Continuing Education events at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary — Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary plans two day-long continuing education events this fall.

Advent Planner: An unexpected hour — Advent Planner equips pastors, worship leaders and musicians to guide their congregations into the season with creative ideas for scripture presentations, visual elements, congregational prayer and rituals, and music.

Promise and peril: Understanding and managing change and conflict in congregations — Promise and peril: Understanding and managing change and conflict in congregations, Friday, October 15, 2010.

Webinars announced for fall — Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary will offer nine webinars through the upcoming school year.

Pastors Week to focus on preaching — Pastors Week 2011 at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary will focus on “Preaching with Imagination and Creativity in the Post-Modern Era.”

Values-based Leadership Program — Looking for a new approach to leadership? Sign up for the Values-based Leadership Program, where you will discover how Anabaptist faith values and individual leadership styles can dovetail to inspire outstanding leadership.

The Corinthian Plan: Wellness Incentives — Pastors and church workers with Corinthian Plan health coverage: Don't miss your opportunity to participate in 2010! — The deadline to access the Corinthian Plan wellness incentives has been extended to September 30, 2010. In addition to learning valuable information, you are eligible to earn a financial incentive.

Worship Arts Training — Walk more deeply into the facets of worship—music and accompaniment, prayer, aesthetic design, Scripture, rituals—and learn how to integrate them at Worship Arts Training, September 24-26 at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center.