A national identity resolution by the Delegate Assembly at San José 2007 has prompted the development of new resources for helping congregations and their members follow Jesus in a world that is not. In San José, delegates heard a powerful sermon about Joseph in Genesis 37 to 50 by Jennifer Davis Sensenig, now pastor of Community Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Va., called Enlisted: Called to claim God’s power (see Jennifer’s sermon at www.MennoniteUSA.org/identity).

She wondered what it meant for us as citizens of the United States to live God’s call today and so did delegates. They asked the Executive Board to help the church “explore our identity as Mennonites living in what many consider to be the wealthiest and most powerful nation on earth.” Delegates asked for resources that help them live faithfully in Christ-like ways.

The February 3, 2009, issue of The Mennonite provides some resources on the national identity theme for use by congregations. Additional copies of this issue of The Mennonite are available for $3/each (discount for bulk orders) by calling 1-800-790-2498. This material is also available in Spanish.

Many more stories and articles, including sermons and worship outlines, are available at www.MennoniteUSA.org/identity. Also available on the Web site is a three-part congregational study (link to attachment) that uses the Feb. 3 issue of The Mennonite and additional stories and articles available on the webpage listed.

All of these resources will help you and your congregation think more about what it means to give our primary allegiance to Christ. Plan now to join the Delegate Assembly in Columbus, Ohio, June 30 to July 5 for the Mennonite Church USA Convention 2009 where delegates will talk about their experiences with these study materials and think more about where God is calling us as Mennonite Church USA congregations and conferences.

This summer’s issue of Leader magazine offers a weekly worship guide connected to the summer Gather ’Round Sunday school curriculum, on the theme “Letters to the Early Churches.” If your congregation holds worship first, classes may explore the worship themes in greater depth through the activities provided in the curriculum. If your church has Sunday school before worship, children and youth may be invited to share their gifts of music, reading and drama during worship—leading prayers or litanies, or presenting skits used in the curriculum to go along with the biblical texts. If your church doesn’t have regular Christian education in summer, these resources will bring Gather ’Round themes into worship.

Each week’s guide follows a basic order of gathering, praising, confessing and reconciling, hearing, responding, and sending, using content from the summer Gather ’Round curriculum, Hymnal: A Worship Book, Sing the Journey, and Sing the Story. Suggestions for children’s time and “sermon seeds” are included.

Plan now to use these connecting resources by ordering Leader magazine and the summer Gather ’Round materials: the Multiage teacher’s guide, Together (Multiage student book), Preschool teacher’s guide, My Bible Storybook (Preschool student book), Connect (Parent/Caregiver guide), Youth/Junior Youth Supplement (for use with Connect or the Multiage teacher’s guide), and the Talkabout. Be sure pastors and worship team members are aware of and have access to these resources. To order, call 1-800-245-7894 or order online at www.mpn.net.

This summer, provide busy families with an easy way to grow in faith by giving them a Talkabout and a copy of Connect (the Gather ’Round parent/caregiver guide) to use at home or on vacation. Offer a “Summertime Blessing” during worship in late May to introduce families to the summer Gather ’Round theme “Letters to the Early Churches.” Show everyone the Talkabout, a series of colorful postcards with brief Scripture readings, discussion ideas and prayers—some of which are designed to be mailed to others. Say a prayer that, through using the Talkabout postcards, families will encourage one another and their friends to grow in love for God through Jesus Christ, just as Paul encouraged the early churches through his letters.

Edited by Diane Zaerr Brenneman, Words for Worship 2 offers fresh prayers, litanies and other worship resources prepared for use throughout the church year.

A do-it-yourself appendix has templates for worship and congregational prayer, and three extensive indices guide planners to find resources fitting a theme. Also included is a section featuring elements for morning and evening prayers, praying in public places, and for special times within regular worship such as blessings and dedications, and commissioning. Sample services provided include the Longest Night, Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and All Saints’ Day.