Association of Lutheran Resource Centers

by Sharon Ely Pearson  spearson@cpg.org

(Sharon has been serving as the Christian Formation Specialist for Church Publishing Incorporated /Morehouse Education Resources since November 2007. Prior to that, she was the  Resource Center Director at Yale Divinity School’s Ministry Resource Center as well as the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut. She is also an author and has a blog, Rows of Sharon).

The last two decades have seen dramatic political, economic, social and cultural changes affecting virtually every dimension of American Christianity. This new environment has definitely had its impact on Resource Centers and will demand new thinking and new models, practices and technologies in order to support and address the needs of the congregations and judicatories we serve. Addressing the spiritual needs of all generations will continue to be a challenge as we have also been impacted by lower budgets, increase of the cost of goods and more dependence on digital technology.

Many of us have seen fewer visitors to our Resource Centers. We are called upon to be out and about with those we serve, bringing resources (and our expertise) to the local congregation. We are learning how to put our collections online, develop more comprehensive websites, and engage in social media. And more of the resources, especially curricula and faith formation materials are available digitally – either downloadable or totally online.

In September 2009, CNN published a story, “The Future of Libraries: With or Without Books”:“Books are being pushed aside for digital learning centers and gaming areas. ‘Loud rooms’ that promote public discourse and group projects are taking over the bookish quiet. Hipster staffers who blog, chat on Twitter and care little about the Dewey Decimal System are edging out old-school librarians.”

The Digital World

The relevant Resource Center of the future will be a marketplace for ideas. Forward-looking directors (and their judicatories) will create a conversational loop with its clientele. Being active on Facebook, Digg and Twitter they will

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by Cindi Eckert

A new year always brings a sense of adventure, newness, and a change of pace to the soul. Isn’t it exciting to think that as we step into a fresh new year, we enter a season of renewal? We have hope for the year, and pray for a good one! We have just celebrated our Savior’s birth.

Now we take down our lights and pack our beloved Christmas treasures carefully and lovingly into boxes, to store for next year. The time has come for us to huddle down and experience some introspection: Where do I see myself in the next New Year?

A wonderful blank canvas has been laid out before us- just waiting to be filled. This year I challenge you to walk closer to Jesus, for Christ’s birth dramatically changed the world as we know it.

When Christ entered the world, the Gospel was proclaimed to the ends of the earth. Celebrating Christmas therefore, is celebrating the wonder of Incarnation, something that Christians cherish and hold close to their hearts. Jesus Christ and his life on earth was dedicated to expressing the fullest possible way humans could unite with God.

Christmas changed everything. God is reachable, through the power of Christ when Jesus took on flesh. So ask yourself, is there room in your hearts for Christ today? This year? To the end of time?

May his love shine bright for you and upon this world as we begin anew.

(Cindi has been the Director for the Sierra Pacific Synod for three years. Cindi sees Resource Centers as valuable and important assets for congregations. She believes Resource Centers serve as a nexus between the technology of today and the timelessness of our faith.)

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A colleague of mine shared the following list of ten reasons why you should join LACE. I would like to extend my thanks to the anonymous author AND I would encourage those of you who are reading this blog to point Christian educators to this blog entry and to the Lutheran Association of Christian Educators (LACE) website!

Why join LACE? Here are ten excellent reasons:

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There’s something about summer that seems ripe with promise and possibilities. I usually have several projects related to resource work: previewing and ordering new resources, writing, catching up with periodicals and reading the books I’ve not had time for during the busy school year. Then there are the other passions in my life: planting and tending what I hope will become a beautiful garden, hiking Glacier National Park with my family, and this year I look forward to savoring time with my grand-daughter and newborn grand-son.

Among the resources I plan to review or revisit are the following:

• from DeWitt Jones: Everyday Creativity, Celebrate What’s Right with the World, and Focus Your Vision

• from StarThrower: Differences, Red Cars, We are the Ones, and Second Chance

If you’re familiar with these videos, you’ll know them to be timely sources for helping us see God’s presence in many different ways. Whether planning for the future, helping a congregation think creatively about mission and identity, or simply looking for ways to stimulate thoughtful conversations, each of these resources is extraordinary.

How will you re-create this summer? What promises and possibilities are you hoping to enjoy?

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I read a blog (Loving Poland) yesterday in which the author was inspired by another blog to list some “awesome things.” I’ve been inspired similarly…here’s my list from the last few days.

*a beloved pastor’s beautiful spirit clearly evident despite the disease that is taking his body

*the excitement and willingness of a volunteer whose task will be organization of a super-unorganized office closet

*the blessing of learning and community found in conferences (ie. Book of Faith Jubilee at Luther Seminary; Annual Recreation Conference at Montreat)

*the sharing of ideas across churches, synods, denominations, countries, and the worldwide web (for instance, I just learned about www.volunteerspot.com)

*a pastor’s contientiousness to return a DVD to the resource center that involved a detour for the church bus and senior citizens’ field trip

*the fragrance of honeysuckle that will just about knock you over

*a sacred meal shared with family in the form of grilled hotdogs in pretzel buns (it can happen…I was there!)

*a blog celebrating the Global Mission of our church, the ministry of young adults, and the work of the spirit in Poland

These are just a few of the simple things for which I’ve been especially grateful today. Thanks be to God!

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 As curators of resources, John Roberto says resource ministry and resource centers are more needed and more important than ever before.

With resources and resource information exploding exponentially, resource centers have a critical role to play as curators (custodians) of an overwhelming amount of resource information.
Roberto is editor of Lifelong Faith, a journal about the theory and practice of faith formation (www.lifelongfaith.com) and an articulate voice for lifelong learning. His presentations at the Book of Faith Jubilee, April 29-May 1 (www.luthersem.edu/jubilee) stimulated a lot of conversation about resource ministry. His work on the Future of Faith Formation and the Bible included an introduction to what he calls Faith Formation 2020: Vision and Strategy (www.lifelongfaith.com/presentations).

Resource ministry from the beginning has been about shared resources, best practices, and making informed choices. The collaborative work of curating resources, serving as custodians and stewards, is right on the mark!

Check out the following to share with your congregations and faith formation leaders:

• www.lifelongfaith.com

• www.faithandleadership.com

• http://www.e100challenge.com

• http://bibleresources.americanbible.org/bible-resources/bible-resource-center

• http://www.sadlierreligion.com/webelieve/

• http://lifekids.lifechurch.tv/

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During a monthly conference call with resource center directors (mostly women, ages 40 – 60) and Augsburg Fortress, we were told about a new resource, “The Greatest Story – Bible Introduction.”   This Bible study covers the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation as it introduces key people, places, and events in an easy-to-understand story.  Each session is divided four sections; 1. Telling the Story, 2. Picturing The Story, 3. Singing and Praying the Story, 4. Looking Ahead.

During this call we had the opportunity to take an in-depth look at one of the segments in the study, Picturing the Story.  After hearing the story, participants have the unique opportunity of seeing sand artist Joe Castillo tell the story through his free-flowing sand art.  This is an incredible and moving way to actually see the story unfold before your eyes. 

Everyone on the call was very impressed by the sand art presentation, but a little voice in my head wondered if another audience would be as drawn to these videos as we were.  So, I showed the YouTube clip to a 42-year-old male… he loved it!  Then I wondered, would these videos appeal to an even younger age group?  I waited until one of our center users came in with her 2 1/2-year-old son to find out…

We watched the sand art video on my computer, the little boy was absolutely silent, then all of a sudden he started to jump up and down, tugging on his mom’s pant leg, excitedly shouting, “Mommy!  I see God’s hands!”  Later I found out that this young man shared what he had seen with his dad.  After waiting all afternoon for dad to come home from work, the excitement of ‘seeing God’s hands’ still hadn’t worn off!

Here is a link to the YouTube clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSxyny3m9rQ.  I hope you will feel like you are seeing God’s hands and will be excited to seek out this study at your local resource center!

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Four Recommendations for SMALL GROUP Conversation

 Reading last week’s blog by Karen Matthias-Long prompted me to think again about the many meanings of bread, of being fed, of feeding one another.  The following resources provide excellent fodder for small group discussion.  Perhaps you’d be willing to add to the list?

 Breaking Bread: The Spiritual Significance of Food by Sara Covin Juengst (Westminster John Knox, 1992) Food and feasting are major biblical themes.  Juengst has taken these Eucharistic themes to create a resource that will enrich readers’ understandings of the spiritual significance of meals, Holy Communion, and rituals of sharing, celebrating, learning, and more.  Each chapter focuses on biblical customs related to food and feasting and concludes with brief “recipes” for action.  From Walter Brueggemann:  “…the book lets us retaste, renotice, and reswallow our life from God.”  

 Daily Bread, Holy Meal: Opening the Gifts of Holy Communion by Samuel Torvend  (Augsburg Fortress, 2004)  From the Worship Matters series, this rich treasure offers an ideal format and fertile content for adult study.  Beginning and ending with his grandmother’s gift of golden molasses bread, Torvend brilliantly unwraps the gifts of the Lord’s Supper.  He invites conversation and reflection that will enrich and deepen every readers’ experience of the Eucharist.   This book is a banquet for all who long for a deeper understanding of the generosity of God.

Gathering at the Table by Elizabeth Hoffman Reed  (Liturgy Training Publications)  This small booklet is sure to stimulate conversation about the sacredness of meals and the ways in which the communion table is about all the other tables in our lives.  Brief reflections in praise of dining, meals, manners, and sharing are interspersed with poignant quotations. 

 Let Us Break Bread Together: A Passover Haggadah for Christians by Michael Smith and Rami Shapiro  (Paraclete Press, 2005)  This lovely guide for planning and hosting a meaningful seder meal brings together the great themes of the Exodus story as a lens for understanding the Last Supper.  In providing a helpful guide to an authentic Jewish Passover meal, Christians will experience a deeper knowledge of the themes of slavery, freedom, and community.  Let Us Break Bread Together is an extraordinary learning opportunity for adults and youth.

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(I posted this on my Lenten devotional blog, but thought it was worth posting here, too – as a way to share a wonderful book,  to share a way to feed the hungry that will make your mouth drop and to share a worship idea.)

“It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4

It suddenly occurred to me today that the same part of the body I use for eating is the same part of the body from which I speak. My mouth is a tool used for both things. Not just eating. Not just speaking. Here are a few thoughts that came to mind when I read this passage:

• One does not live by bread ALONE. God’s word is also food….words that come from a mouth. This picture of the bird and chicks is how I imagine God when I read this passage. God is like a mother bird that feeds her scrawny hatch-lings – their mouths eager for this food that the mother bird offers. I need both earthly food and God’s word to truly live.

• Eating is spiritual – or at least, should be. How many

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