Things We Are Available to Consult About

  • Individualized Solutions for Local Churches
  • Methodism 101: Holiness of Heart and Life
  • Hiring and Firing - Never Hire Anyone Just to Help Them!
  • Starting New Worship Services/Experiences
  • Reaching Young Adults
  • Capital Campaigns
  • Starting New Sunday School Classes (Thank You Margaret Ann and Susan)
  • Secret Worshipper - Seeing Your Church through Fresh Eyes
  • Hospitality
  • Administration for Excellent Pastoral Care
  • Leadership
  • Evangelism
  • Children's Sermons
  • Preaching without Notes
  • Preaching Planning
  • Worship Planning
  • Long Range Planning
  • Five F's - Faith, Family, Finances, Fidelity and Fitness
  • Natural Church Development
  • Existing Church Development
  • Faith and Film
  • STORM - An Acronym for Reaching New Folks
  • CRIME - Another Acronym for thinking through Ministry
  • DISCIPLE Bible Study
  • Stewardship - Learn about the perforated pledge card

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

What Shapes You??

People take on the shapes of the story and songs that surround them. Especially when they do not have their own songs.

Anansi Boys
Neil Gaiman

Friday, August 22, 2008

From My Friend Janet - Accepting Leadership

Tillich’s sermon, I am accepted, (I believe that is how it is titled) is an excellent piece for leadership.  Because a leader need to accepts where we are not where we could go or be forced to fit.  It is like at times when a leader tries and force square pegs in round holes.  A leader must first accept himself for all that means and lead others to the greatness of their self acceptance.  It may mean ultimately that people move on from jobs into passion and those passions solve the problem we were trying force the square peg to shave it corners.

If these walls could speak . . .

I still hear the echo of that Amy Grant Song from 1998 -

If these old walls could speak
Of things that they remember well,
Stories and faces dearly held,
A couple in love
Livin' week to week,
Rooms full of laughter,
If these walls could speak.

I wonder what the walls of our offices, houses and sanctuaries might say about us? Or even to us?

How many of us are living week to weak - without plans, goals, getting weaker by the week. Mis-spending our efforts and energies?

I recently read (in Faye Kellerman's "The Burnt House" of all paces) of the Hebrew tradition that walls are harbingers of messages. From the literal writing on the wall in Daniel to the Tzarat, a spiritual leprosy. One contracts Tzarat when one does "lashan harat," or wrongs another by their words. We have all done it and we have all felt the pain from words we have inflicted or words others have inflicted upon us whether the words are about us or another. Tzarat is manifested by sores all over the body. First the walls of the home contract the disease as a visible sign to its inhabitants to change their ways. If these writings on the wall are ignored, the disease progresses until Tzarat is contracted by the inhabitants. I wonder what the Great Wall of China might be saying during these olympics? Are our facebook wall-to-wall comments edifying? I listened to Ken Blanchard yesterday morning and he talked about praising people, helping them to get an A in life, rather than pointing out the places where they have missed the mark. I guess the handwriting really is on the wall for some of us.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Friday, August 1, 2008

Shared Sorrow is Lessened, Shared Joy Increased

After a month of visiting other churches, I continue to struggle with “Joys and Concerns.” Anybody else find it difficult to shift gears between a celebration like the birth of a baby and a painful concern like learning of a friend who was just diagnosed with cancer? The emotional shift feels like whiplash of the heart. Terry Tippens at Winder First UMC named that dissonance for me several years ago so he separates the celebration from the struggle. Terry suggested putting the Concerns before the Pastoral Prayer and making Joys the precursor to the offering so that our giving continues in the spirit of celebration. One church I visited had everyone begin their celebrations with the phrase "I thank God for . . ." which made it feel like worship rather than just an announcement.
Any other thoughts? Suggestions? Share your favorite worship ideas with other's on my blog at www.e-quipping.blogspot.com which also includes a list of topics on which I am available to consult in your local church free of charge (your apportionments at work.) Contact me at pschroeder@ngumc.org or 678-533-1444 to talk about ways the Office of Connectional Ministries can help you in your ministry. I look forward to working and worshipping with you in the days ahead.
Phil Schroeder

Please post your worship ideas!!

With Friends Like These!!

Phil Schroeder for President

Have you heard about the phenomenon sweeping the nation? And I didn't even know I was running for president!

Sting Ray City

Sting Ray City
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The Meeting of the Rivers

The Meeting of the Rivers
The Confluence of the Old and New - The Amazon Begins