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 Some materials may not be published for a few weeks.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.

New resources just in!

A new resource that is sure to help you spend your "extra" time reading it, is "The Art of Curating Worship: Reshaping the Role of Worship Leader" by Mark Pierson from Sparkhouse in the new Clayfire emphasis. From the review by Leonard Sweet: "Mark Pierson believes that all of us are artists, born with a box of materials and supplies - words, images, song, dance, food, smells, dreams. Read this book to find out why we should open our box, reach in, and pull out our instruments for creating and curating. Few books provide such a quiver full of creative artistry as (this book)."

From the Book of Faith series, we now have studies on the book of Luke and on I Peter, and Making Sense of the Christian Faith by David Lose.

More will be coming from Augsburg Fortress soon. Stay tuned for the latest in wonderful, helpful resources!

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.

A new publication

Another new release from Alban Institute: "Welcome to Theological Field Education!" by a number of contributors, is designed to revitalize your ministry, whether you are new at your calling or a seasoned veteran. From the Foreword: "What we are treated to is nothing less than each author's copy of the music with its 'penciled annotations, the edges of the sheets rolled and frayed.' The reader gets to watch each of the authors play the piece. In field education, whichever of the roles - teacher, student, supervisor - they inhabit, they will try out their own interaction with its text. With these authors at their side they will discover and redisover the great joy of 'pressing the keys' and 'remembering the composition, creating sound, and evoking interpretation,' that is, they will discover and rediscover the great joy at the heart of their work." Written by Dudley C. Rose, Associate Dean, Ministry Studies, Harvard Divinity School.

Check this book out and revel in its help and teaching!

New book about leadership

A new release from Alban Institute is "Pursuing Pastoral Excellence: Pathways to Fruitful Leadership." From the Foreword: "How do clergy find ways to sustain the passion and effectiveness of their call, season upon season, crisis upon crisis, pastoral call upon pastoral call, sermon upon sermon? .... At the heart of this book is the gospel metaphor that weaves through the text: 'You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last' from John 15:16. The author, Paul Hopkins asks the question: How can a pastoral leader bear fruit that lasts? How can a ministry make a lasting difference?.... For opportunities to renew and strengthen our call to God's ministry, we are grateful for this book, its stories of witness, and the wise listener who heard and wrote about fruit that lasts." by Nancy Gieseler Devor, M.Div., Ph.D Vice President, The Samaritan Institute Director, Samaritan Institute Clergy and Congregation Care project.

This is a publication designed to give you and your ministry a "shot in the arm." Check it out soon!

Faith Formation 2020: Designing the Future of Faith Formation

Piggy-backing on the previous post shared by Rev. Greg Kaufmann, we have received a new book entitled, Faith Formation 2020: Designing the Future of Faith Formation written by John Roberto.

In the words of Sharon Ely Pearson, an ecumenical partner in Resource Center work: "...The goal of lifting up lifelong Christian formation in the church is not a new one, but this guidebook offers strategies, steps, and concrete tasks similar to how the Lifelong Faith Journal has given countless Christian educators tools for developing strong programs for supporting and strengthening the faith of their members. This is not a book for the faint hearted; it is for those who desire to step up to the plate and get serious about how collaborative leadership and long-range planning can make a difference in the life of the Church."

The book is ready to be checked out. Get it and start the ball rolling!

Faith Formation Learning Exchange

Vibrant Faith Ministries has created something that you need to know about. I've taken the liberty to reword some of the information you can find on their website. Enjoy it!

Are you searching for the most relevant and valuable resources for 21st century faith formation? If you are like most leaders today, you don’t have enough time to search for the latest research, practices, technologies, and approaches to respond to your congregation’s religious and spiritual needs.

Don’t worry...Vibrant Faith Ministries has done the work for you! They’ve created an online Learning Exchange where you can find the most current information, research, and resources in faith formation for all ages and generations. The Faith Formation Learning Exchange provides tools to assist congregations and their leaders to respond creatively and adaptively with relevant approaches to faith formation. The website will be updated monthly, so you’ll always have access to the most current information.

Congregational leaders, professors and ministry educators, ministry students, authors, publishers, and program developers will find the Learning Exchange valuable for both work and personal enrichment.

Vibrant Faith Ministry has designed the Learning Exchange to be easy to use. Just select one of the nine Faith Formation Centers and explore the resources in that Center or use their "Search the Exchange" feature to find a particular resource. You can navigate the Learning Exchange using the menu system on the left of each page or go to the home page for each Faith Formation Center and select the category of resources you want to review.

Where can you find it? http://www.faithformationlearningexchange.net/