The latest Alban resources

Just in: from the Alban Institute - "Leading Through the Water" in the Vital Worship, Healthy Congregations series. Written by Paul Galbreath, with a Foreword by Craig Satterlee, it is excellent reading for looking at how important our baptism is in our lives of faith.

"Open Source Church - making room for the wisdom of all." The author, Landon Whitsitt, gives some insights into a new way of thinking, acting, doing church. The Foreword is written by Carol Howard Merritt.

The last one is "Becoming the Pastor You Hope to Be - Four Practices for Improving Ministry." This one is written by Barbara J. Blodgett with a Foreword by Bruce G. Epperly. This book, as the title indicates, is focused on you, as a pastor, and trying to make a difference in your life and other people's lives.

All three books are great for putting forth some new ways of thinking about the old ways of doing ministry. Well worth your time spent in reading them.

Come and see them or call and they can be sent to you. The number is: 715-833-1153. We are located in First Lutheran Church, 1005 Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54703 on the second floor.

A great new resource!

We have just received a new publication from Augsburg Fortress entitled, "Washed and Welcome: A Baptism Sourcebook". "It offers resources that support your congregation's baptismal ministry and the participation of God's people in the lifelong gift of baptism. Here you will find:
+five approaches to baptismal preparation with parents, caregivers, and sponsors of infants and young children;
+a library of helpful topics that explore both pastoral and practical considerations accompanying baptismal preparation and formation;
+advice, suggestions, inspirations, and examples;
+reproducible pages for parents, sponsors, godparents, children, families, and the whole congregation;
+encouragement and resources for strengthening your congregation's total baptismal ministry."
All of the content is contained on an accompanying CD-ROM and is reproducible and customizable.

Also, with this sourcebook is, "Living the Promises of Baptism: 101 ideas for parents" which has some great ideas for living out your baptism of all ages; "Welcome, Child of God", a board book for infants and toddlers which will be published soon; and, a "Certificate for Sponsors" - a four-page certificate that will become a keepsake with space for family history to be recorded.

Check out these resources for faith preparation soon from the Synod Resource Center!

An up-date on Washed and Welcome

"Washed and Welcome" - a new family of resources is on the horizon.
The first phase of the resources focuses on families of infants and young children who are being baptized. The second phase will focus on adults - but planning is only just beginning for this.

By the end of November, we'll see three new items:
First, a "Sourcebook" of resources including
a) 5 different approaches for a pastor to use in preparing families for a baptism (using the Catechism, walking through the ELW, walking through scripture passages, using Dan Erlander's "Let the Children Come" and a suggested way to involve youngsters who are infants in preparation for their own baptism;
b) short, practical background pieces - also for pastors;
c) customizable handouts for sponsors and parents
d) reproducible bulletin inserts

Second, a book "Living the Promises of Baptism: 101 Ideas for Parents"
This is a small, illustrated volume that will look more like a gift book than a theological book; it has short suggestions for ways that families can act on the promises they make during a baptism for children from infancy to age 12; suggestions are in categories like "meal, play, bedtime, celebrating the seasons."

Third, a certificate for godparents. The certificate includes some simple ways that godparents can carry out the promises they have made during the child's baptism.

Then, next spring we will see a board book for infants and toddlers, "Welcome, Child of God." It's written by Anne Ylvisaker, and the text can be sung to the tune "All Through the Night." Illustrated by Claudia McGehee (who also illustrated "Living the Promises of Baptism." See her work at www.claudiaillustration.blogspot.com)

Watch for new resources!

There are some great new resources coming from Augsburg Fortress:
Washed and Welcome - Baptismal formation materials in four parts. The first three parts are due toward the end of November. This publication will deal with families with infants and young children because those are the ones most commonly baptized. It will have a Baptism Sourcebook with a CD-ROM and there will be a full-color smaller sized book to give to parents or sponsors with 101 Ideas for remembering, celebrating, continuing the rite of baptism.
The fourth part will come in the spring and will deal with adult baptisms.
Be sure to watch this site for news of its arrival. Get your name on the list to preview this new, long awaited material.