Pastoral Helps

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Healing Violent Men
$30.00

Domestic violence is a widespread, though largely invisible, problem, often exacerbated by the pastoral urge to “keep the family together” at all costs. Yet if that is not a solution, how should the church relate to batterers?

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Assessing Spiritual Needs
$19.93

How do pastors, chaplains, and caregivers assess the spiritual well-being and needs of the people they minister to? George Fitchett presents a model for spiritual assessment that he and his colleagues developed, illustrated with case studies. He reviews a number of other models and provides a six-part framework for evaluating them.

Pastoral caregivers find that the effectiveness of their ministry is enhanced when they are able accurately to identify problem areas and needs in the spiritual lives of the people with whom they work. This book addresses many of the questions pastoral caregivers have raised about this timely topic and provides an informed and balanced approach for making decisions about spiritual assessment models and tools.

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Parables Of Jesus And Their Flip Side
$16.18

Written as a companion volume to Schmalenberger’s acclaimed CSS title The Miracles Of Jesus And Their Flip Side, this book takes an imaginative look at twelve of Jesus’ parables by examining their traditional interpretation (the “hit” side), and then turning them on their ear to see the “other side of the story” — a different perspective with relevance for our modern-day lives (the “flip” side).

For example, in addition to warning about the dangers of building on sand instead of rock, Schmalenberger considers how to rebuild after a flood. In the parable of the wedding banquet, he discusses the people who were invited live together after the undeserved feast. And in the parable of the lost sheep, he talks about how the shepherd needs the support of the “ninety-nine never lost” in order for him to go after the one lost sheep.

Schmalenberger’s punch, contemporary language, and narrative style produce hard-hitting and inspirational messages that offer a unique new twist in the interpretation of some old and marvelous gospel teachings — his “flip side” approach is sure to add freshness and sparkle to your preaching.

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Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit Series 3 Cycle A
$23.68

A well-told story can be motivational and inspirational, especially when it’s framed in familiar language that everyone can relate to. Constance Berg draws on her gift for storytelling to deliver modern parables that reach across cultural, class, gender, and social lines. Berg’s collection of tales illustrating biblical passages from Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary will touch your soul. Her stories are clear and easily understood – not only by those in the pew, but by anyone looking for insightful devotional reading.

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Lessons We Can Learn From The Animals
$14.93

Children learn that Jesus is their Lord and develop Christian character through attention-getting pictures and rhyming words in this book of children’s sermons and activity pages from the prolific pen of Julia Bland. Like all of her other popular CSS titles, these messages come with two-sided activity pages. Busy pastors and teachers will appreciate the coloring pages for younger children and the numerous activities reinforcing the lesson for older children.

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As The Shadows Lengthen
$23.68

As one of the most noted preachers and pastors in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for nearly 50 years, Richard Boye has seen just about everything. And readers of these messages are the fortunate beneficiaries of his experience as he shares much of what he has “learned along the way.” Both clergy and laity alike will find inspiration and many ideas in these distinctive messages, which Boye describes as being “the best of me.” Those who are climbing the arduous slopes of contemporary ministry will discover that Boye’s wisdom, accumulated from years of service in some of the most prominent Lutheran churches in the country and always rooted in the gospel, will be a great help and comfort as they chart their own course toward the summit. Among the many outstanding sermons in this volume is one that Boye preached at the ELCA’s first churchwide assembly.

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Telling It Like It Was
$16.18

Even though the sermon is the centerpiece of Protestant worship, preachers sometimes fail to capture the imagination of their audiences and communicate the spiritual resources that worshipers need. But David Rogne’s messages in Telling It Like It Was provide the living connection that worshipers are hungering for. Rogne introduces readers to an autobiographical homiletic style in which the preacher assumes the identity of a featured character. He shares his method of preparation, describes how to overcome obstacles, and then presents twelve monologues highlighting the experiences of both Biblical and more recent personalities. Each presentation is prefaced by a few paragraphs detailing considerations related to that particular individual. Some of the characters you will meet are Pharaoh, Solomon, Herod, John the Baptist, Pontius Pilate, St. Francis of Assisi, and Albert Schweitzer.

This book will be invaluable for preachers and seminarians who are interested in expanding their repertoire of sermon styles, as well as for anyone who wants a concise biographical portrait of the people who have shaped our faith.

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Childrens Sermons A To Z
$24.93

Anyone who has done children’s sermons will sooner or later hear from someone that “I learn more from the children’s sermon than I do from the real sermon.” And indeed, the truths of scripture are so simple that even a child can understand them. So it’s no accident that children’s sermons have become a central part of the worship service in many churches.

Brett Blair and Tim Carpenter offer a year’s worth of object lessons that engage children and impart profound lessons for all ages. Two sermons are provided for each Sunday in Cycle C of the Revised Common Lectionary, one based on the Second Lesson and one based on the Gospel. The messages are structured in two parts: the “lesson” uses an object to draw out active responses from children, then the “application” connects that object to the assigned scripture reading. Each message includes a clear statement of its exegetical aim.

Bright, innovative, perceptive, creative, grace-filled Brett Blair and Tim Carpenter are all of those and much, much more, and that is reflected beautifully in their new book Children’s Sermons A To Z.
James W. Moore
Pastor, St. Luke’s United Methodist Church Houston, Texas

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Praises From The Psalms
$13.68

Julia Bland comes to the aid of busy pastors and teachers with more practical, easy-to-prepare children’s messages and activity pages. Based on the Psalms, the lessons call youngsters’ attention to the many blessings we enjoy every day and teach them to praise God for all he does for us. Puzzles and coloring pages keep their interest while reinforcing the message.

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Word Is Near You
$18.68

The testimony of the entire Bible is that God searches for hearts, but even God has trouble with us because we are so fickle. The other side of this is that man has tried to find God, too. “Man is incurably religious,” we are told. And so he is, so we are. In times past people have ransacked the universe searching for God. They recited incantations or burned incense or spilled blood, all in an effort to find God. And all the while, God was close by to be found. This is what Paul was saying in Romans 10. “The word is near you,” he says. “It is in your mouth and in your heart.” (from “The Word Is Near You”)

For Don Aycock, the sermon is the church’s “verbal instrument of growth.” This book offers over 20 messages that are not intended as literary examples, but rather as flesh-and-blood efforts to proclaim the Word of God. Aycock is an inventive and experienced preacher who employs many fascinating illustrations — but they are always used to shed light on the biblical text at the heart of his message.

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Fire For The Choir
$18.68

One of the eternal challenges facing church choir directors is how to recruit new members, and then, how to keep them interested and retain them. No matter how large or small the congregation, it is the energy and commitment of a music program’s participants that ultimately determines how successful it is.

While there are plenty of books about the musical techniques of choir directing, there are precious few that deal with the organizational nuts-and-bolts and the people skills required for a smoothly functioning music program. Ellis Dillard Thompson, a veteran choir director and music educator, shares his tried and proven methods for getting choir members excited — to keep them serving and loving it! He focuses on the role of a church musician as a spiritual leader, and stresses that the road to true success involves basing a music program on spiritual values that uplift, inspire, and motivate participants. And as a bonus, Thompson includes three original choral responses that you can copy and use.

This is an excellent guide that is designed for anyone who participates in music ministry: choir directors, choir members, organists, pastors, music committee members, and worship committee members.

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Learning From The Lizard
$13.68

The Bible is filled with fascinating and intriguing references to birds, animals, and insects. This wonderfully illustrated resource discusses 25 of the most significant animals in the Bible using scriptural references and scientific research. Each message is attention-getting, inspiring, and enriching. Specific lessons for an animal are accompanied by a prayer and a detailed drawing. It’s a spiritual resource you’ll refer to again and again!

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Gospel Subplots
$18.68

If over the centuries Christians have become used to sermons being a string of assertions, explanations, or exhortations — with a sprinkling of stories as illustrations — the sermons have not been preached in a manner consistent with how the Bible communicates reality. Most of the Bible is stories. Story sermons do today what Jesus did in his stories — they sneak up on people. Listeners can ward off moral exhortations, and they become resistant to three points, a poem, and a prayer. Intellectually they can parry with information doled out in a series of reasoned arguments. But stories win us over before we understand what is going on. Stories quietly tip the scale of our minds toward agreeing with God’s graciousness. (from the Introduction)

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Golf In The Real Kingdom
$16.18

‘ve never played a round of golf in my life, but after reading Robert Kopp’s insights, I’m almost persuaded to hit the links. One thing I am persuaded to do is recommend his book.
Michael Duduit, Editor
Preaching Magazine

Good sermons are hard to come by — but Bob Kopp comes by them with uncanny regularity. Kopp understands our culture as few preachers do.
Tony Campolo, Professor of Sociology
Eastern College
St. Davids, Pennsylvania

The Gospel is presented here not only as pertinent, but accessible; a perfect tool for reaching over to the next foursome, whose names may not be Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Paul G. Watermulder
First Presbyterian Church
Burlingame, California

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Turning Griping Into Gratitude
$26.18

Ron Lavin provides an ideal resource for small groups who want to explore the Psalms, or for preachers who want to present an inspirational series of sermons. Discussion questions are provided at the end of each chapter, as well as a guide for leaders.

Says Lavin: “Griping is one of the most insidious and divisive things into which we easily fall, while gratitude is the most productive of attitudes. The Psalms are filled with the battle between griping and gratitude, a battle we all fight. The psalmists knew both attitudes, including the self-defeating nature of griping and the wonder and majesty of gratitude.”

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Backside Of God
$16.18

The fifteen sermons in this volume will provide busy pastors with a resource for several occasions:
* A mini-series for summer – The Christian Journey
* Two sermons for weddings (or the wedding season)
* Two sermons for the beginning of school or the church program year
… and more!

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Wheres Noah
$24.93

Where’s Noah? features the classic biblical story of Noah, the flood, and God’s salvation in a worship format that engages all generations. This resource features monologues, brief pithy sermons, the exchange of animal tokens, crossword puzzles, an Easter Sunrise play, and other creative worship/learning experiences.

Worship leaders, clergy, and drama players will find this a refreshing series for congregational unity and growth.

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Come Let Us Worship
$27.43

Arranged according to the seasons of the church year, this volume presents several worship aids for every Sunday: a call to worship, and invocation, a ritual of friendship, an offertory sentence and prayer, a benediction, and a pastoral prayer. Each is designed to make the Sunday morning worship experience meaningful and uplifting.

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Affirming The Ash Heap
$16.18

These seven sermons will penetrate the hearts and souls of every listener…because each one of us has been touched by the tragic side of life. Like Job, everyone sitting in a church pew has at one time or another screamed for a reason why, or even wondered (like Jesus), “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”. Including sermons for five Sundays in Lent, along with Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, Kirby’s meditations will help worshippers understand the process of coming to grips with these difficult questions

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And The Sea Lay Down
$14.93

Here are all the pastoral resources you need for a complete and integrated Lenten season of preaching and worship — Ash Wednesday through Easter, including Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Included for each Sunday or worship service are:
* Call to worship
* Suggested processional hymn
* Children’s message
* Prayers
* Scripture passages
* Sermon
* Suggested hymn
* Pastoral prayer
* Affirmation of faith
* Suggested closing hymn

Ward’s first book for CSS, Asking For Wonder: Resources For Creative Worship And Preaching, has become a favorite resource for thousands of busy pastors.

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Who They Really Were
$19.93

When the problem of what to preach next Sunday raises its frowning head, solve it by calling on one of the hundreds of biblical characters standing in line at your study door, nearly beating it down with their clamorous “Take me! Take me!”.
Preaching on biblical personalities has an irresistible appeal, because audiences are more interested in people than in anything else. Jesus himself preached mainly about people (“a certain man had two sons …”); so there’s no excuse for making the Gospel dull — and with the help of Bodo’s book, preachers can add spice to the pulpit fare they serve up week after strenuous week.

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Reconciliation
$9.93

Prepare everyone in your congregation for a meaningful Lenten season with this collection of six sermon outlines, accompanied by program suggestions, worship aids, and a dramatic reading based on Mark’s passion narrative. The resources all stress the theme of reconciliation – with ourselves, between ourselves and God, in our families, in our churches, in our churches, in our communities, and in the world.

A companion daily worship and study guide is available.

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Challenge Of Starting All Over Again
$16.18

This sermon series for Lent/Easter is fast-paced and illustrated with stories and anecdotes that keep the attention of readers and listeners. With titles such as “The Challenge To Change,” “The Challenge Of Tragedy,” “The Challenge Of No-Fault Religion,” and “The Challenge To Live Again,” Fetty offers sermons that are certain to inspire personal growth and spiritual conviction.

Not many of us have the opportunity to stand at the crossroads of history. Not many of us have the opportunity to stand at the threshold of a new era. Not many of us are able to witness the dawn of a new age. And only a few of us are destined to be a potential leader of a new advance in history. All of us have our destinies of course, but only a few of us have a destiny potentially able to change the world…. (from Chapter Two)

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Artisans Of The Crucifixion
$9.93

These dramatic monologues offer a unique perspective on Jesus’ crucifixion. Viewed through the eyes of a Blacksmith, Carpenter, Stone Mason, Tanner, and Basket Maker, the presentations introduce the congregation to those who crafted items used in the crucifixion. These monologues are flexible, and few if any props are necessary.

Use these dramatic monologues for a unique perspective on the events of Jesus’ crucifixion. Viewed through the eyes of a Blacksmith, Carpenter, Stone Mason, Tanner, and Basket Maker, the presentations introduce the congregation to those who crafted the whip, wove the crown of thorns, forged the nails, constructed the cross, and chiseled out the tomb.

Pastors can present these monologues themselves or assign them to church members. They have the flexibility of being performed very simply or quite elaborately. Few if any props are necessary.

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Onward Through The Fog
$12.43

The Sundays of Lent don’t have to be boring! Follow the lectionary and provide your congregation with exciting worship experiences by using these positive yet sensitive dialogue sermons based on Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary. Wit and scripture are combined to encourage Christian growth and prod listeners into making a personal commitment. In addition to six sermon dialogues, worship planning aids are included for each Sunday, along with an Ash Wednesday worship service.

In addition to six sermon dialogues, worship planning aids are included for each Sunday, plus an Ash Wednesday worship service with the theme-setting sermon, “Onward! Through The Fog!”

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Gifts Of Lent
$16.18

This book was written for busy pastors and lay leaders who want to provide their congregations with a biblical, informative, and motivational monologue series for the Lenten season. Each monologue features a Bible character who gave something to Jesus during Holy Week, and one who had nothing to give. A children’s sermon accompanies each monologue.

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Preaching Matthews Gospel
$28.68

Jensen’s research and insights provide a stimulating resource on Matthew’s Gospel. Jensen provides “Homiletical Directions” at the end of each chapter that will help the preacher find a focus and locate themes for preaching the text. Jensen points to the ways in which the biblical writers lock their stories together with other stories in order to give fuller meaning to their narratives. He covers material that is not included in the assigned lectionary texts and discusses the inter-relatedness of Matthew’s stories. These “narrative analogies” imply that preaching on Matthew’s Gospel may at times be a retelling of two or more Matthean stories.

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Holy Words What Do They Mean
$16.18

The meaning of some church words is often taken for granted. We assume, for example, that everyone knows what HOLY or GLORY or SIN mean. But when we explore the history of these words we uncover a new depth of understanding.

Preachers and lay leaders will find this resource helpful in their sermon preparation and Bible study.

The index lists over 130 of the most frequently used words, numbers and phrases which have special significance in the biblical and religious writings.

Some examples are: amen, benediction, clergy, Eucharist, kyrie, love, Yahweh, and numbers such as 1, 3, 4, 10, 40, and 70 X 7.

An accompanying eight-lesson guide will help the user conduct a fascinating group study.

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No Deed Greater Than A Word
$21.18

This book is written for preachers who suspect that the way they were taught to preach (and for the most part are still being taught to preach) simply does not work.
The author’s objective is to bring the Bible to life in the sermon in all of its dimensions. To do that the preacher must understand his listeners as well as his message. Those who explore Shepherd’s message will find themselves thinking about the sermon and preaching in an entirely new way.

Shepherd presents his position with a firm grounding in biblical studies, literary criticism, and theology.

The book is for those preachers who are dissatisfied with the way they were taught to preach, but are not sure why. Using practical examples from real sermons, the book uncovers many of the faults of traditional preaching styles and inspires a new approach to the sermon that unites preacher, congregation, and scripture under the powerful Word of God’s grace.

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Hoof N Mouth Disease
$20.95

Storytelling is older than the Bible, as much of the Old Testament consists of stories that arose out of an oral tradition, and Jesus was a master storyteller. So it makes sense that monologues capture the eyes, ears, and brains of the congregation. Stories captivate audiences – mention any character in the Bible and people recall a favorite story, not the theme of a moralistic three-point sermon. This book of creative monologues will help pastors connect with their listeners in a vital and vibrant way.

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Time To Plant
$17.43

This collection of 52 children’s sermons is designed to captivate and educate young children. Busy clergy are constantly searching for ready- to-use, interactive children’s sermons that will stimulate the thinking and capture the interest of both youngsters and adults in the congregation. These messages are presented to challenge, nurture, teach, and enlighten children as they take their first steps of faith. They cover a wide variety of topics. Some are object lessons while others are story lessons, but all are lessons that will leave an impression on those who hear them.

Imagine the curious anticipation of the children and the congregation as the pastor/leader reaches into a plastic garbage bag and distributes empty pizza boxes, old newspapers and soft drink cans to introduce “God, the Recycler,” the One who can make everything new. Watch them readily grasp the concept as they observe a game of tug-of-war in which all the participants are on the same team, demonstrating how in the church we all pull together for a common purpose and no one struggles to pull anyone into the mud. These brief sketches are representative of the many well-loved children’s sermons created, collected, and delivered during the years of this staff pastor’s ministry.

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Conversations Over Bread And Wine
$16.18

No occasion offers greater opportunity or a more imposing challenge for communicating the Gospel than Holy Communion. The sacrament itself takes one to the very heart of the Christian faith. What a pastor says to congregants who come to share the Eucharist ought to focus on the central realities of Christian truth. And it needs to be said succinctly!

Scripture records numerous conversations Jesus held around the dinner table: with Matthew and Zacchaeus; in Simon the Pharisee’s home; meals shared with his special friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Well known are his feeding of the multitude with the loaves and fish and his Last Supper with the disciples. For Jesus mealtime was uniquely an occasion for God’s truth to be shared and for significant decision-making to take place.

This book offers messages that provide themes, ideas, and illustrations appropriate for Holy Communion that both pastors and lay persons will find helpful.

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Let The Children Come
$16.18

The Children’s Sermon during the worship hour is one of the strongest attractions for young families in choosing a church to attend.

Robert Lantz understands how to talk to children. He brings the meaning and message of the scripture text to their level of understanding. When members of his congregation began asking for copies of his children’s sermons so they could use them as bedtime stories for their children, he decided it was time to put them into print.

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Victory Of Faith
$16.18

These sermons for Lent and Easter are based on second lesson texts from the epistles, including First and Second Corinthians, Romans, Ephesians, Hebrews and Philippians.

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Bad And The Good
$13.68

This activity-oriented series of children’s sermons deals with word opposites. The lessons are based on the example found in Jesus’ teachings that the bad is followed by the good, through trust and obedience in God.

This series of children’s messages help young people understand the suffering and death of Jesus in a positive way. Throughout the series the children are asked to participate with word opposites. The lessons are planned so that each child may take back to the pew an activity sheet. One side is a coloring page for younger children. The other side has word puzzles and games for older children.

The usefulness of this series will become evident:
They require little preparation
The coloring pages will appeal to the younger children
The activity page will keep older children interested
The series can be used for worship services, Sunday school, or other times

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Preachers Edge
$22.43

The Preacher’s Edge puts to work the basic principles of oratory and persuasive speaking with creative pulpit techniques. It is written to be used by preachers for a revival and renewal of their preaching.

From this book one can learn how to reach and hold the attention of this “channel surfing” generation of congregational members.

This book is a celebration and affirmation of the role of preaching as the church moves into the 21st century. Reading it will modify the way in which the preacher delivers his message. And it will improve the attention span of those who hear the Good News in new and exciting ways.

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Rules For Happy Living
$17.95

During 44 years as a pastor’s wife, Julia Bland was often given the task of presenting the children’s sermon. Her presentations were always well-received.
Busy pastors and worship leaders who are searching for Bible-based lessons can use these with a minimum of preparation. Each sermon has suggested visual aids and activity sheets to reinforce the lesson taught. The activity sheets are for all ages, with a coloring page for younger children on one side and puzzles and word games for older children on the opposite side. The messages are based on the love laws of Jesus found in Matthew 22:34-40.

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Cosmic Witness
$20.95

How have preachers handled questions about science and religion? Largely by ignoring them. But many people are asking questions about the significance of the Christian message in an age of technology.

Cosmic Witness will help…
Preachers by revealing those scriptural texts where faith intersects with science and technology.
Teachers who are looking for modern illustrations to help students understand the relationship between faith and science.
All who are interested in learning more about how the Bible addresses questions about technology and religion.

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Open My Eyes
$17.43

Here are 52 unique messages for relating to children. They can be used by pastors on Sunday morning, by Sunday School teachers, or by mothers and fathers in the home.

Each Lesson Includes:
A statement of the purpose
The item of material used to illustrate the story
Possible times to use the story at home or church or special occasion
The scriptural reference or background of the lesson

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Keeping In Touch
$19.93

Anyone involved in a leadership role, at one point or another, encounters the need for “prayer handles” — prayers that can be used as written, or ones users can adapt for themselves. This collection of 377 prayers will give them plenty to “grab on to” for those occasions when plenty comes to mind, but little leaves the tongue.

These prayers are not necessarily designed to take the place of one’s own heartfelt prayers. Rather, they are intended to widen prayer horizons, spark prayer imagination, expand prayer language and enrich personal encounter through prayer.

Following each prayer is ample space for personal or pastoral notes. Also included is an exhaustive subject index.

Keeping In Touch is also perfect for:
Personal devotion
Preparation for special events
A special prayer with a “care note”
Newsletters and pastoral letters

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Turning Points
$16.18

In these nine sermons preachers will find brilliant use of story to illustrate the Lenten message. Beringer focuses on different journeys throughout the New Testament and examines the “turning points” recorded there.

As is stated in the introduction, our Christian faith is a pilgrim faith. The author shows in modern parables how we are called by Christ to be a people on the move with him through time to eternity and the Kingdom of God. He shows that we are travelers on the road of faith, never quite arriving at our destination, but always growing and being transformed by each encounter with the living God.

Following each sermon is a set of discussion questions based on the preceding sermon and the scripture on which the sermon is based. These questions can be copied into the bulletin to help the congregation follow the sermon, used as small group discussion starters, distributed to worshipers as they leave church or be printed in weekly newsletters to reinforce the message given the previous Sunday.

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Counseling Families Across The Stages Of Life
$40.99

This case-study book which will be used both as a resource for clergy and other pastoral workers and for those in training in those fields. The case studies translate technical material into real-life situations while highlighting practical implications for pastors. The authors provide readers with treatment options, referral procedures within the context of the religious community and beyond, and additional national, self-help, and cross- cultural resources, emphasizing those available on the internet.

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Dying And Grieving
$20.99

SKU (ISBN): 9780281055265ISBN10: 0281055262Alan BillingsBinding: Trade PaperPublished: January 2002Publisher: SPCK Print On Demand Product

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Raising The Roof
$43.33

Pastoral-to-program size change is frequently described as the most challenging of growth transitions for congregations. Now Alban senior consultant Alice Mann, author of The In-Between Church: Navigating Size Transitions in Congregations, addresses the difficulties of that transition in this resource designed specifically for a congregational learning team.

Conceptualized and developed by Mann for an Alban on-line seminar program test event conducted with 12 congregations in transition, her newest book features a five-step process enabling the learning team to engage a wider circle of congregational leaders and members in study, discernment, and planning. Never-before published resources include discussion of a major new concept-passive barriers to growth-plus Mann’s “System Change Index” tool to help congregations measure their progress from pastoral-size to program-size ways of operating.

From preparing the congregation’s board and members, selecting the person to guide the learning process, and recruiting the learning team, to creating and celebrating a plan for congregational learning and action, Mann provides all the resources a congregation needs to address this significant size transition period.

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Ministry Of Consolation
$19.95

The death of a member of the Church provides the entire Christian community the opportunity to express care and concern toward those who mourn. Outreach at the time of death brings comfort to those in mourning, evangelizes those who have been away from the Church, and renews and revitalizes parish life for those involved in the ministry.

In A Ministry of Consolation, the Christian community is called to a new understanding of its role when one of its own dies. It explains why and how members of a parish ministry of consolation program should be involved before, during, and after each of the key liturgical moments in the Funeral Rites: the Vigil Service, the Funeral Mass, and the Rite of Committal. It also shows how the ministry of consolation program provides personal contact, warmth, and support to people at a time when it is both important and necessary.

The expression “ministry of consolation” is taken from the Order of Christian Funerals, but the concept of ministry the authors offer is shaped by the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, which recognizes the entire parish’s role in faith formation. Encouraging lay parishioners to minister to families experiencing the loss of a loved one offers the sense that the whole parish is supporting the deceased’s family.

Clergy, staffs, teams, and any parish leadership wanting to reach out to others through enhanced celebration of the Funeral Rites will find comfort and direction in this book. It is also useful as a textbook in formal diocesan and parish training programs whose goal is to train lay leadership, or in other academic programs promoting a greater depth of understanding of the richness of the Funeral Rites.

Beginning from a general discussion of the mystery of Christian death and moving to a renewed understanding of the role of the entire community in the Funeral Rites, A Ministry of Consolation gives practical, step-by-step instructions for beginning a parish ministry of consolation program centered around the Order of Christian Funerals. It provides the opportunity for the celebration of the funeral rites in all their depth and beauty, allowing the consoling power of the risen Christ to come forth through communal prayer and participation.

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Literary Companion To The Lectionary
$48.33

This beautiful book offers poems and literary pieces for Sundays and principal feasts throughout the liturgical year. Each selection relates to an aspect of the Scripture readings for the Eucharist in the Revised Common Lectionary, the Roman Catholic lectionary, and the Book of Common Prayer. Drawn from many centuries and many countries including Britain, Ireland, North America, Africa, and Australia, these readings bridging literature and liturgy can prompt private prayer or public worship through imaginative engagement. A short note before each passage connects with an idea, image, or story found in one of the biblical readings or the seasonal theme. From Robert Herrick to Brendan Kennelly, from Christina Rossetti to Emily Dickinson, from Dante to Monica Furlong, the poets, novelists, and playwrights gathered here bring an added dimension that graces the life of the church.

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Announcing The Reign Of God
$22.43

This book offers a program for Christian evangelism based on the teachings of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

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Faith Under Fire
$21.18

Daniel Simundson shows how the Bible can speak to the universal human experience of suffering. He examines various biblical responses to suffering and explains what the New Testament can add to the thought of such classic works as the books of Job, Ecclesiastes, and the prophets.

This book, written for the general reader, is full of wisdom also for caregivers, including clergy, counselors, and laypersons.

Contents:
1.The Basic Biblical View of Suffering
2.The Power of Negative Thinking
3.Suffering for Others
4.God, Job, and the Counselors
5.Is There Any Hope?
6.What Is New in the New Testament?
7.Comfort and Hope

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Step At A Time
$16.18

In his practical and easy-to-follow book Glenn Borreson offers a plan for increasing giving in a congregation through personalized stewardship letters. His example, timeline, and step-by-step procedures will provide an excellent resource for any pastor who wants to help his or her congregation grow in Christian stewardship. Borreson’s suggestions not only help to increase giving, they also do it in a non-threatening way. I recommend his program enthusiastically.

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Christmas Quartet : Poetic Reflections On The Nativity
$16.18

An outstanding writer and preacher shares with readers a different approach to the season: four verse sermons on characters from the Christmas narrative (Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, and the wise men), each accompanied by a chapter providing relevant background material on the featured character. It’s an intriguing combination that lends itself equally well to preaching or to Bible studies – for example, you can build a four-week Advent program around the poems. And there are four suggested orders of service provided that emphasize the message of the sermons. In a “lessons and carols” format, they’re perfect for Christmas Eve – but they also work well for Advent gatherings or potluck dinners. You’ll find a variety of ways to use these creative and thoughtful meditations that portray familiar characters in a fresh, new way.

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