Friends, family and neighbors are precious gifts from God. February, the month of love, is the perfect occasion to begin, nourish and deepen all sorts of relationships, advises this month’s Toolkit newsletter. Also, weekly RCL-based bulletin snippets.
MLK possessed a uniquely dynamic leadership style. As we observe his special day, church leaders can learn from his powerful integration of prayer and contemplation with a profound commitment to decisive and loving action in the world. Transforming Center explores.
The inferno in Southern California may go down as the most costly wildfire event in history. Razing thousands of homes and displacing tens of thousands, the wildfires are especially deadly because of climate-change, Yale’s Climate Connections reports. (Photo: Creative Commons)
RCL reflection for Baptism of Our Lord Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025. Many Christians mistakenly think of the Holy Trinity in hierarchical terms: God at the top, Jesus in the middle and the Holy Spirit in the bottom. This Sunday’s lessons (as all of Lectionary Year C) offer a great opportunity to lift up the work of the Holy Spirit and fire in our faith journeys.
Scammers steal $28 billion a year from Americans over 60, an AARP study estimated. The FBI says scams are growing more sophisticated, more prevalent, and especially preying on vulnerable older people. The AP reports. (Photo: Creative Commons)
To teach young children as well as help them stay occupied in church, a creative pastor created an “I Spy” bingo card to encourage them to identify items around the sanctuary. Learn how! Post from Building Faith includes a link to a template. From Building Faith. (Photo: Creative Commons)
Everyone knows exercise is good for your heart and muscles, but recent studies show the benefits are widespread across the body, affecting virtually every tissue and system. Watch this PBS Newshour video or read the transcript. (Photo: David Hudson, Creative Commons)
RCL reflection for Epiphany of Our Lord. Jan. 6, 2025. This Sunday, consider texts for Epiphany rather than those for the Second Sunday after Christmas. The Wise Men’s story offers many opportunities to lift up the mystery and wonder of the incarnation. The Rev. Elisabeth Shelton Hartwell explores. (Photo: Creative Commons)
This was the hottest year on record, so it’s not surprising that the World Resource Institute’s top 15 stories were mostly about climate change, including floods, fires, droughts, and public policy sluggish to take the matter seriously enough. But several of the stories showed progress and reason for hope.
A New Year, a fresh start. How will your church’s stewardship ministry handle things differently in 2025 than in previous years? It’s a good idea to set some concrete, realistic goals. The Lewis Center for Church Leadership explores how to make them – and achieve them. (Photo: Creative Commons)
