bogs and blessings...

today's rev gals blog has us baring our souls on ministry bogs and blessings.  for an insider peek, stay tuned :)

This week, despite substantial planning, the staff here has been reeling a bit from the wave of fall start-up programming combined with conversations looking towards Advent and Christmas. There is a lot to be excited about (Children's Choir sounded great!), but there are also some things that we just have to suck it up and get through (didn't we just do Officer Training last year?). 

So for today's Friday 5 I thought we'd hit on the things that give us energy in ministry and the things that take it away:

1) What are a few of the tasks that you find tedious/energy sucking in your ministry position? Please note I said 'tasks' not people :)

cute - would have to be the admin involved and when tech equipment that's supposed to add to the service doesn't work!

2) Is there anything you could do to make one of them better?
having back up equipment ?  but then there isn't time to set it up when the other unexpectedly crashes.. hmmm.  scheduling for the admin time might be possible..
3) What are a few of the tasks that you find energizing in ministry?
designing the worship
4) If given a quarterly spiritual day, how would you want to spend it?
time out with God
5) If given a quarterly spiritual day, how would you actually spend it?
very tough!  if i'd scheduled it in, it would be as above.  if i didn't?  probably whatever was intruding as urgent !!  yikes!  this has been self revelatory hasn't it?  good work kathryn :)
BONUS: What would your Dream Ministry job include?
i am doing my Dream Ministry job!  and grateful to God am i !  as a worship curator, my job includes freedom, worship design, creative choices, innovation, flexibility, hospitality,  mission, ministry to people who desire & appreciate ministry and want to learn, doing a 'new thing', fresh wind of Spirit, prophetic voice, art, music, implementation of technology in worship, pray-ers, depth, JoY!!
and thanks for asking !  great play today Kathryn!

thoughts from Henri Nouwen ...

 reflections of Henri Nouwen on God honouring leadership ...
from his book 'In the Name of Jesus'.
The Faith Communities Project.org is a missional project

reframing hope ...

a brief heads up about thursday's online webinar with Carol Howard Merritt discussing her newest book, *Reframing Hope: Vital Ministry in a New Generation*.  the Alban Institute is about to publish the book, offering the first chapter free online.  great advance opp to prepare for thursday's online discussion.  registration is free and painless.
here's a bit from Alban on the book ~
*Hope may look different to a 25-year-old web designer than it does to a 60-year-old deacon. But it is hope nonetheless.
In Reframing Hope, Carol Howard Merritt takes a look at what ministry in, with, and by a new generation might look like. She understands that we are not creating from nothing the vital ministry of the next generation. Instead, we are working through what we have, sorting out the best parts, acknowledging and healing from the worst, and reframing it all.

1   Get the First Chapter of Reframing Hope FREE. Read it, and we know you'll have to buy the book.		2   Register for a free webinar on August 26th. Pick her brain, read the first chapter and share your thoughts.
3   Want to know what Carol thinks? Watch her talk about it and who it’s meant to help in this short video.*

thanks to Martha Hoverson over at rev gals for her post today.  looking forward to our online visit thursday!