Listening for the first time — When conference leaders gathered in Williamsburg, Va. recently for the semi-annual Constituency Leaders Council (CLC), one item on the agenda was responding to the Delegate Assembly resolution, “Growing together as communities, even in conflict.”

Convention 2011: Welcoming more than your delegates — Have adults in your congregation been searching for an educational opportunity to broaden their church experiences or a religious conference to strengthen their spiritual life?

Congregational Budgeting Packet now available — A new resource for congregational treasurers and finance committees as they develop annual spending plans.

Giving Project — Remember the Giving Project? We pulled out the Congregational Financial Management section as it includes helpful information on congregational budgeting.

Updated: Interchurch Relations Website — Check out the latest from the Interchurch Relations team, André and Joanna, at our recently revamped website.

World Fellowship Sunday resources from Mennonite World Conference — On January 24, celebrate World Fellowship Sunday with other Anabaptists around the globe. This year’s materials extend the theme of the Mennonite World Conference Assembly 15, held July 14-19, 2009, in Asunción, Paraguay encouraging us to “Go on living together in the way of Jesus Christ.”

Youth Worship Source Book is filled with creative resources to get youth thinking about, planning, and participating in worship. Each of the 10 units introduces one aspect of worship.

New! Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book: Morning and Evening Prayers for Advent Through Pentecost.

Order Lent-Easter bulletins by January 7 — Order Lent-Easter bulletins by January 7, 2010: 8 bulletins for Feb. 21-April 4, including a Maundy Thursday/Communion bulletin.

Words for Worship 2 — Dianne Zaerr Brenneman has assembled a dynamic collection of prayers, litanies, and other elements for worship throughout the church year.

Great for piano offertories, preludes, and other worship music — Great for piano offertories, preludes, and other worship music: With Heart & Hands: Arrangements for Piano includes 18 piano arrangements from Sing the Story and Sing the Journey.

Churches take a second look at budgets — Congregations are spending more time reviewing their budgets in lean times. Learn from pastors what they have done and what they plan to do ahead.

Nov. 8 is designated as Mission Sunday — Nov. 8 is designated as Mission Sunday across Mennonite Church USA. Although we hope that congregations integrate mission with worship on a regular basis, this special Sunday is set aside to intentionally explore the topic.

Great for Christian education, small groups, and book clubs! — Jesus Matters: Good News for the 21st Century helps readers understand what Jesus means for us today. Use the chapters in order, or pick and choose.

Youth Bible study — Search is a leader’s guide with systematic Bible study for youth in grades 9-12.

Need ideas for youth midweek, adult classes, or congregational study?

Meet God on the Mountain for VBS 2010! — Check www.mpn.net/vbs for a 5-day overview and Bible texts.

Evaluating Sunday school curriculum, or other Christian education resources? — A free evaluation tool is available from Mennonite Publishing Network.

Spark interest in Gather ’Round Sunday school by sharing a12-minute introductory video with information on Gather ’Round’s age groups, materials, and teaching approach.

NEW for download: Quick ’n Easy Bible Plans are perfect for children’s clubs, midweek activity groups, or camp or retreat settings.

!Explore: A Theological Program for High School Youth invites applications — !Explore, the program of AMBS that encourages high school youth to listen for God’s call to ministry, is inviting applications for the summer 2010 program.

Register now for continuing education opportunities at AMBS — Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary offers several one-day continuing education workshops early in the new year as well as the four-day Pastors Week.

Blog identifies key issues in ministry — The blog sponsored by AMBS’s Engaging Pastors program is reflecting what pastors say are key issues in their ministry.

Interterm at AMBS next January — Five courses will be offered in January at Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary.

Do you have favorite canning, preserving, pickling, or drying recipes? — Perhaps it’s a great tomato sauce recipe, a technique for drying herbs, etc.

Interested in writing for The Gather ’Round curriculum? — Writers are needed for Preschool, Primary, Middler, Junior Youth and Youth.

Economic Crisis and the Divine Economy: A Discussion Guide for Congregations — Leo Hartshorn’s 24-page pamphlet helps churches move beyond dialogue, toward connecting with people and then moving to action.

Service: Try it on! — Now is a great time to engage young people in conversations about where God may be calling them to serve, whether they are currently in school or in transition.

Looking for a different kind of gift this Christmas? — Watch for the Mennonite Mission Network gift catalog!

Church in China tour: capturing the spirit of the early church — Have you ever wondered what it would be like to visit churches that reflect the nature of first-century believers? After spending several weeks visiting Chinese churches, Pastor Jim Loepp-Thiessen of Kitchener, Ontario, discovered the “kind of spirit that needs to be recaptured in North America."

Did you know about the e-mail resources offered by Mennonite Mission Network? — Check out our “subscribe” page, where you can sign up to receive youth worker resources, the latest MMN news, media and peace newsletters, and more.

Youth Worship Source Book is filled with creative resources to get youth thinking about, planning, and participating in worship.

New! Take Our Moments and Our Days: An Anabaptist Prayer Book: Morning and Evening Prayers for Advent Through Pentecost

Order Lent-Easter bulletins by January 7, 2010 — Eight bulletins for Feb. 21-April 4, including a Maundy Thursday/Communion bulletin.

Words for Worship 2 — Dianne Zaerr Brenneman has assembled a dynamic collection of prayers, litanies, and other elements for worship throughout the church year.

Great for piano offertories, preludes, and other worship music: With Heart & Hands: Arrangements for Piano includes 18 piano arrangements from Sing the Story and Sing the Journey.

Churches take a second look at budgets — Congregations are spending more time reviewing their budgets in lean times. Learn from pastors what they have done and what they plan to do ahead.

Mission Sunday November 8 — Nov. 8 is designated as Mission Sunday across Mennonite Church USA. Although we hope that congregations integrate mission with worship on a regular basis, this special Sunday is set aside to intentionally explore the topic.