Many churches offer “come & go events” in spring. Lots of them! Easter breakfast. Mother’s Day teas and Father’s Day donut gatherings after services. Graduation and Confirmation receptions. Sunday school staff meet & greets.
Honoring members in this way is a good idea. But how could you step the value up from merely good to great, [...]
Posted in Encouragement, Encouraging Volunteers, Graduation, Lent/Preparing for Easter, Ministry, Visitors
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Tagged assimilation, Encouragement, Father's Day gift, Graduation, Mother's Day, Sunday School, Volunteers|
February 25, 2010 – 8:24 am
Here are 10 commandments for planning a retreat with panache!
Women go to retreats be fed and nourished spiritually, as well as for the fellowship. Women love to be in the Bible, so enlist a speaker who is willing to help you lead your group into Scripture. (Can’t find a speaker like that? Then consider using [...]
Posted in Ministry, Women's Ministry
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Tagged bible, devotion book, God, lesson, planning guide, prayer, prayer partner, Scripture, teacher, Women's Ministry, women's retreat|
February 11, 2010 – 10:58 am
C. S. Lewis may have been the first to tell about the little boy who was asked what God is like. The boy responds in words like these: “God’s the sort of fellow who goes around looking for someone who’s having fun—and tries to stop ’em.”
This picture of God, mistaken though it is, nonetheless captures [...]
Posted in Devotions, Easter, Free Resources, Lent/Preparing for Easter, Ministry, Sermon Ideas
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Tagged Care and Comfort, devotion, Easter, Encouragement, Fat Tuesday, Lent, Pastor, Pastoral Ministry, Sermon Ideas|
February 3, 2010 – 11:31 am
It’s a truism in marketing. Customers must see an ad 5–7 times before it has any potential for changing their behavior. That’s why Nike puts its “swoosh” everywhere, positioning it prominently in televised sports and other athletic venues.
It’s also why more and more churches have begun to look for ways to “theme” major celebrations—like the [...]
Posted in Devotions, Easter, Free Resources, Lent/Preparing for Easter, Ministry, Pastor, Sermon Ideas
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Tagged children's Easter ideas, Easter, Easter preparation, Lent, Lent theme, Lenten theme, Pastor, sermon helps, Sermon Ideas|
January 20, 2010 – 12:53 am
As editor of CTA’s monthly Grab & Go newsletter, I just put the February issue to bed. If you’re subscribed, you’ll be receiving your copy in your E-mail box the first Tuesday in February.
While it’s on my mind, I wanted to alert you to the fact that Tim Wesemann wrote the cover article for the February issue, focusing [...]
January 13, 2010 – 9:26 am
Did you know that February 14 falls on Sunday in 2010? Have you considered ways you might “seize the day” for the children’s ministries in your church? Maybe you’ve been thinking about it, but aren’t quite sure what to do. Or perhaps you find yourself knee-deep in the planning process.
In either case, you may want to consider the [...]
January 6, 2010 – 2:25 pm
January 17-24 has been designated “Sanctity of Human Life Week.” In light of that, we offer a few devotional thoughts church leaders may want to share or adapt, based on Psalm 139:13.
Recently, a popular cable television channel began airing a series based on what happens to animals in utero. Week by week we watch as baby [...]
December 19, 2009 – 8:58 am
The Gift Is for You
Introduction
In just a few days we will celebrate Christmas. For most of us, Christmas is more than just one day; it is an entire season filled with so many different sights and sounds and memories. Just about everyone seems to have favorite foods, activities, and family traditions. For most of us, [...]
December 7, 2009 – 8:51 am
Celebrate the Gift of Jesus!
This time of year, many of us give gifts. In fact, most of us probably give more gifts at Christmastime than at any other time of the year. Gift giving has its own protocol. If we fail to follow it, that failure can lead to some uncomfortable moments—for us, for our [...]
November 19, 2009 – 8:11 am
“Black Friday” is upon us. If you plan to wander the mall, looking for a gift you can give to your elementary-age students this year–one you can afford that’s also appropriate for both boys and girls–here’s hope for a more relaxing day. This year CTA offers a great alternative for Sunday school teachers, Awana leaders, CCD teachers, [...]
Posted in Children's ministry, Christmas, Sunday School, Teachers
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Tagged children's Christmas gifts, children's gifts, children's ministry, Christian, CID gifts, Sunday School, Sunday school teachers, teacher|
