Friday, April 13, 2012

Connections: Faith and Life Revised and Digitized

An excellent adult study resource "Connections: Faith and Life" has just been re-issued in a free, downloadable format. The curriculum uses the catechism to explore our common, baptism-grounded ministry and the ways that ministry is played out in our homes, our communities, our workplaces and our whole world. Check it out at http://www.wartburgseminary.edu/template_resources.asp?id=459
And thanks to Wartburg Seminary for helping to make this curriculum available.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Vacation Bible School kit

As most of you know, Augsburg Fortress no longer publishes Vacation
Bible School kits, but they offer other publications that can very
easily be used for that great week (usually) of learning during the
summer months. Such as: the Taking Root series, Rotation Sunday School
materials, and there are still resources available for Baobab Blast.
We have just received the kit from Cokesbury: Operation Overboard -
Dare to go deep with God. The kit contains the classroom leader guides,
the Director's guide, some of the crafts and other "sea life", as well
as other highlights of the program.
If you would like to review this offering from Cokesbury, call the
Resource Center at 715-833-1153 or email: staff@synodresourcecenter.org

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

A new DVD for adults and youth

"People of Faith: Christianity in America" is an excellent choice for
an adult forum or for educating your confirmation class or for a senior
high class. It's the story of how Christianity shaped life in the
United States. Well researched, balanced, fast-paced and insightful,
"People of Faith" features expert commentary from an array of scholars
representing Evangelical, Mainline Protestant and Catholic
prespectives. This amazing resource will help you discover the
importance of Christian history as we consider the future of the church
in America.
Check it out now for Sundays in Lent.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Stations of the Cross

If you are interested in implementing the Stations of the Cross in your congregation this year, and if you have a copy of the hymnal "This Far By Faith", turn to page 96 in the forepart of the book. There you will find 8 stations and a conclusion. This could be very meaningful for Good Friday worship.

Check it out and see what you think!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

We have it at the Resource Center!

Making Sense of the Cross - the Leader Guide, Participant book, and the DVD are here for your consideration. It may be a possibility for Lenten study, adult forum, an evening Bible study or during the day. Whenever and however you decide to use it, you as leader or participant will be glad to be part of it and share it with others.

In the same casual conversational style as "Making Sense of Scripture", author David Lose brings out discussion that will cause readers to think about and experience the cross and its meaning in their lives.

Call now to reserve the set: 715-833-1153 or email at staff@synodresourcecenter.org

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Free resources from Augsburg Fortress!

This from Beth Lewis (to be shared with your synod/s):

Bet you didn’t know…..we have lots of free resources on our webstore!
Posted: 17 Jan 2012 03:33 PM PST

One of the ways we support congregational leaders is through the
creation of resources to help them incorporate our faith formation,
worship and music resources seamlessly into the life of their
congregations. Of course, many of these items are built right into
the resources themselves! But, in addition, we offer a number of free
resources that you can download. Here are just a few:

§ "Worship Helps" to assist in using items such as our Book of Faith
Lenten Journey, Water Marks not only in adult forums or small groups,
but as an integrated part of your Sunday morning or Wednesday night
Lenten worship services. These types of "Worship Helps" are available
for a number of other Book of Faith resources, as well! Look for the
"Worship Helps" tab toward the bottom of the product pages.

§ We have a free music planning calendar available on our store for
those of you who follow the lectionary.

§ We offer a number of free webinars on a variety of topics. While
some of them are product specific, more and more of them focus on
teaching and learning techniques or other helpful insights for
professional Christian educators and worship leaders or for members
who are engaged in congregational leadership. Our webinars are
offered at varying times during the day and evening because of the
wide range of scheduling needs and timezones across the country.

§ If you want to try out some of the innovative and very popular
sparkhouse resources for faith formation before you purchase them for
use in your confirmation class, youth group or high school Bible study
class, we offer complete lesson samples for free of both the print and
video resources for the re:form collection on our sparkhouse
website.

§ For many years, Augsburg Fortress has been famous for hosting Music
Clinics in both the winter and summer in various cities across the USA
to assist church musicians with learning about and trying new pieces
of music. While the winter Music Clinics are almost concluded, be
sure to sign up for notification regarding future dates via our free
eNewsletters or on our Music Clinic Facebook page.

§ And, of course, our Little Red Book is now available as a free
download for your Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, etc. to help you
keep up with the lectionary dates in the church year and much more!

So, if you are looking for something free to help with your ministry,
I hope you'll check out a few of these links. And, of course, please
share them with your local colleagues and via your own Facebook &
Twitter feeds!
Blessings,
Beth
@bethalewis
ceo@augsburgfortress.org