ideas! For Church Leaders?
Download these articles for FREE and use them to enrich and deepen your ministry.
Feasting Together during Lent
While traditional Lenten disciplines rarely include feasting and indulgence, this article encourages the whole congregation, young and old, to gather and feast on God’s Word together.
Helping Disciples through Engage
This Eastertide, inspire a journey of prayer and faith-sharing with Engage, a new curriculum that makes sharing the good news of Jesus Christ easier.
Remembering What Is Holy About Holidays
Following Thanksgiving, we hear the annual news reports of people pushing and shoving their way into stores for Christmas shopping specials, and reports on how much our society goes into debt each year for the holiday season.
A feast for the King!
Epiphany, January 6, 2011, is the perfect time for a celebration—to gather the faith community for rejoicing and remembering the manifestation of the incarnation. It is time for fellowship and worship, enhanced by the coming of royalty to our midst, bringing gifts for the Christ child. Epiphany reminds us to plan a feast for the King!
Commissioning of Church School Teachers and Leaders
Use this liturgy in Sunday morning worship to mark the beginning of the church school year. Plan the commissioning of church school teachers and leaders as a response to the Word proclaimed and before the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
Sacred Space: An Experience of God
Imagine creating a sacred space in your church for all ages to pray, think, and experience God. Read how one church did just that, by engaging the minds, hearts, and senses of the people in the congregation through various activities.
Presbyterians and Politics: Disturbers of Governments
With the upcoming presidential election in mind, this article examines how the Reformed tradition is linked to the role of government. Written by Gradye Parsons, stated clerk of the PC(USA).
Gathered under a tent
This summer, think outside the church building and gather under a tent! This article offers a new way to engage your whole congregation for worship in an informal setting.
175 years of mission and ministry
2012 marks 175 years of Presbyterian mission and ministry for the GAMC. This article invites you to look at your own mission and ministry in the church, and suggests ideas for building disciples in your congregation.
A Great Easter Vigil Experience
Written in first person, a pastor shares his experience of an Easter vigil that allowed him to experience the resurrection of Christ in a meaningful way. Discover ideas to tell the story of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.
The Passion of Christ on Easter Sunday
Incorporating the events of Holy Week — from Palm Sunday to Good Friday — this article offers an order for worship that reviews the stories of Easter for members and visitors.
Lenten practices 101
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent and people in the pews may be asking questions. This basic guide to Lenten practices may be helpful in interpreting the traditions of this holy time
Midweek during Lent
The season of Lent is an important time in the congregation, and midweek activities, such as a meal with evening prayer or participating in a Lenten study, can encourage new members and seasoned believers to worship in new ways.
For All the Saints
Near the end of Ordinary Time, there comes a remarkable day: All Saints’ Day. This article includes ideas for remembering those who have gone before us, as well as ways to praise God through singing.
Eight Practices for Home and Family during Advent and Christmas
A list of practices, such as decorating cookies and using an Advent calendar, that can become part of family life and assist in keeping the focus of the season on the birth of the holy baby.
Epiphany Service of Lessons and Carols
Continue seasonal celebrations into the new year with a special worship on Epiphany, January 6. Article includes hymn suggestions.
Accept the Challenge — The Year of the Bible
Challenge your congregation to read the whole Bible over the course of one year. That’s the premise for The Year of the Bible, a congregation-wide study, designed to help churches with their commitment to read the Bible in its entirety.
Observe Christian Education Week, 9/11/2011
Sunday, September 11 marks the beginning of Christian education week this year, as well as the tenth anniversary of 9/11. This article offers suggestions for ways your congregation can honor the memory the fallen on what is sure to be an emotionally charged Lord’s Day.
A Season of Strengthening Disciples
Prepare to strengthen disciples in your church by using the free online resource Opening Doors to Discipleship, Course D: Discipleship. This article guides you through all the steps needed to navigate and register on the website as well as begin a course on discipleship.
hope for Haiti
Members of the Presbyterian Haiti Response Team share their stories about continuing relief efforts in Haiti. This article takes you through the rebuilding of Port-au-Prince and Léogâne, and offers ways for you and your congregation to help restore these earthquake-ravaged cities.
What is Christian Education?
An article for Christian educators beginning conversations about their churches’ curriculum needs for fall. It offers suggestions for evaluating and choosing curriculum, as well as inviting teachers back for another church school year.
Making a case for summer education
Many churches struggle with the decision of whether or not to offer Christian education in the summer. This article reminds us of the importance of summer education, while offering new and unconventional ideas for getting the whole congregation involved.
Be a partner in mission through the Pentecost Offering
The story of Robert Morrison, a Young Adult Volunteer, whose year-long commitment to serve the homeless and care for needy youth was funded by the Pentecost Offering. Also included: about the Pentecost Offering and how your church can give.
Easter Is a Season
Easter isn’t over the week after Easter Sunday. In fact, Easter is a season that lasts 50 whole days — until Pentecost. In this article, you’ll learn ways for your congregation to continue the Easter celebration in worship and at home.
Continue reading
Talking with children about Lent and Easter
This article provides ways to teach the children in your life to understand crucial events of our Christian faith.
Take part in sacramental practices during the Lent/Easter cycle
This article offers an invitation for congregations to participate in five shared practices over the Lenten season.
Continue reading
Find spiritual practices for Lent
This article describes ways to give special attention to the work of self-examination and repentance during the Lenten season.
Continue reading
New Every Morning
Spring is often associated with new life — blossoming trees, blooming flowers, and sprouting gardens. This article takes a look at new ideas for seeing God’s work in nature and rejoicing in God’s love and mercy, which are new each day.
Send us your ideas!
We want the ideas! For Church Leaders to write itself. For every good idea you get from them, please pay it forward by sending us one of your own to share with others. Learn more.
