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.

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

Augsburg Fortress Book of Faith Resources

Irene Flynn posted this note in the resource center director's list serve. What she says applies to all of us. Enjoy reading her praise of the Augsburg Fortress Book of Faith resources.

Hi Everyone,
I’ve been thinking about all the great Book of Faith resources that Augsburg Fortress has published these past years! I just want to say that I think they are excellent! I love the 3 series –People of Faith; Books of Faith; and Together in Faith. I am especially pleased with the Books of Faith series. FINALLY! A book by book excellent study with great scholarship and great teaching suggestions and Lutheran takes on things! I appreciate them all! I also love the foundational series. I think David Lose has done an excellent job with his “Making Sense of…..” And those Lenten and Advent series have been stellar. The Lutheran Study Bible is so well done and that middle section is gorgeous . The Spark curricula is flexible and thorough. I must say, my favorite is the Spark Children’s Bible. I love looking at the illustrations and I love reading the stories. It’s just chock full of Good News! Thanks Augsburg Fortress and everyone who has worked so hard on all of these resources!

Irene Flynn
Specialist in Resources
Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA
813-876-7660 ext 229
IreneF@FBSynod.org

New resources coming soon!

There are new resources from Augsburg Fortress coming soon to your
Synod Resource Center. The new hard cover, Spark Study Bible for grades
3 and up, is here. We have a shipment coming which is a second
printing. The first printing sold out almost immediately so our
shipment may be delayed. It is a great publication, complete with the
ever-popular stickers.
If you are enjoying the re:form resource, you will like re:form
Traditions. A Lutheran, Methodist, and Reformed team have worked
together to create re:form Traditions that teach these three branches
of the Christian faith. AND, make it fun for the students to learn
about them.
The new Greatest Story is an ecumenical publication that does not have
references to the Lutheran Study Bible. Some who wanted to use the
study, didn't have the LSB, so all references to it were taken out. Any
Bible can be used in this new version.
There will be another study with The Greatest Story format, called The
Greatest Story: The Church - Walk Through the Gospels and will have a
new sand art DVD to go along with the lessons. This will be a wonderful addition to your adult studies.
If you would like to preview any of these items, call your Resource
Center. Some materials may not be published for a few weeks. Call ahead
to find out for sure: 715-833-1153.

You've got to try this Bible study!

The Ruth Circle at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin have been using The Greatest Story monthly since November and are completely excited with what it has to offer. Previously, we had used No Experience Necessary, which they thoroughly enjoyed, too. So, we kept the check-in feature from that series and incorporated it into The Greatest Story. Otherwise, we follow the lesson plan which brings out great discussion with the questions at the end, as well as the reading assignments. The dvd with the sand art never fails to regale the fifteen to twenty participants!

Thank you to Augsburg Fortress and all the contributors for creating this marvelous study.

Flannel Fortress Video

I just finished watching a four minute video titled "Flannel Fortress" which tells the story of Augsburg Publishing House. Beth Lewis sent me the link and asked that we share it. This is an engaging video, and I recommend playing it for your confirmation class, your adult Bible study groups, and Sunday morning if you use video projection.
Beth's letter tells the story of how it was created.
Enjoy,
Greg


Dear Friends:

What in the world is a “Flannel Fortress?”

It's a fun new video created to explain who Augsburg Fortress, sparkhouse and Fortress Press are to customers, prospective writers, prospective employees, and anyone else who wants to know!

A few months ago, my brother, who works as a sales manager for McGraw Hill (publishing runs in our blood...we have two cousins who work for MH, too!) sent me a link to a video that their corporate communications folks had put together talking about their sense of "mission" (I'm not sure that they exactly used that word, but that was the sense) as publishers....not just a Fortune 500 profit-oriented company. While the talking heads were a bit dull, the idea was interesting to me.

So, I sent it to our in-house video team. I said something like, "could we do something like this but not boring, talking corporate heads? And, without spending much money?" (tall order!) But, of course....they came through! They proceeded to interview a whole bunch of AF colleagues to ask about our reasons for working here, our sense of call, what Augsburg Fortress and Fortress Press and sparkhouse stand for, etc. Then, they went to work. They came up with the idea to play with a "flannel board" much like many of us used in the "pre-PowerPoint and video" days of Sunday School and to have some fun while getting across the sense of call that we feel for our work.

So, here it is ! Enjoy! Feel free to share it with friends, family, customers, and random strangers you meet along the way, post it, etc.

Blessings,
Beth

Free Web-based Bible Study Resource from AF!

I received this email from Beth Lewis, CEO of Augsburg Fortress. This is an offer no one can refuse!
Enjoy.
Greg

You asked for it....we've got it!

Over and over again, I have heard questions like these from people throughout the country:

"Does AF offer a web-based Bible study program?  We have members who want to participate in Bible study, but can't because they are  ___________.  The blank is filled in with a variety of phrases:

"too busy"

"traveling with their work"

"parents of young children who can't afford weekly babysitters"

"web-oriented and much more comfortable with the Internet than with traditional forms of reading and study."

You asked....we've got it!  Starting this Sunday, September 5, we are launching a FREE year-long  on-line  Bible study via our Lutheran Study Bible Facebook page!   Each day, we will post that day's reference from the very popular (and much requested) Bible Reading Plan (Survey Path) from our Lutheran Study Bible.  This will be an exciting year-long journey through the Bible!  

How can you participate?

You may journey through this Bible study on your own;

Or, with a small group;

Or, through your campus ministry;

Or, with your family and friends who live miles apart from one another;

Or, as a congregational activity;

Or, as a chaplain with the men and women in the armed forces with whom you serve.

The key is to participate!  And, we'd love to hear from you.  How are you using this new on-line Bible study resource?  We are confident that you'll have some creative ideas to share with us.

Thanks for asking for this new resource!  Be sure you let us know what else is on your "faith formation & worship resources wish list."  We're listening and trying very hard to meet the needs of your community of faith!

Blessings,

Beth

http://twitter.com/bethalewis
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Beth A. Lewis, President & CEO Augsburg Fortress

Teaching the Bible, Hosting the Conversation

As your resource center director and Book of Faith synod advocate, I'm always on the lookout for resources that will help you and your congregation encounter the Bible.

A critical role in the process is played by those leading bible studies in their homes or in their congregations.

Are you looking for material to enhance your teaching skills or support others who are teachers?

Teaching and learning the Bible is one of the primary faith formation practices for Christians. For members of the ELCA, the Book of Faith Initiative calls us to encounter the Scriptures in a deep and powerful way. Teaching the Bible, Hosting the Conversation helps support the development of teaching skills.

Taught by professors of Christian education, religion and the Bible at ELCA seminaries and colleges, this course explores the many facets of the church’s ministry of teaching, especially as it relates to the Bible. Focusing primarily on teaching adults, individual sessions examine the dynamics of adult learning, methodology, designing teaching/learning experiences, pastoral implications of teaching the Bible, multi-cultural considerations in exploring biblical texts, and the use of media in teaching.

1. Teaching as Conversation: Where Do We Begin?
2. Teachers and Learners: Relationships Matter
3. Adults as Learners: What Does the Brain Tell Us?
4. How We Teach Matters as Much as What We Teach
5. Hearing Other Voices: Multi-culture Encounters with the Bible
6. From Creche to the World Wide Web: Using Visual Media to Teach the Bible

I'm very pleased that their is an online version of this course that combines the use of the DVD lectures, reading assignments, and online interaction with fellow participants and the class facilitator, Diane E. Shallue, Ed.D., president of Lutheran Association of Christian Educators. You can find out more about how you can be part of this online course by contacting me at: gkaufmann@nwswi.org or 715-579-1556.