As a child, the Rev. Dr. Lindsay Armstrong loved Mister Rogers and his neighborhood of make-believe — especially the puppets King Friday XIII and Henrietta Pussycat.
In a newly-released podcast from the New Worshiping Communities movement in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New Way host the Rev. Sara Hayden explores how creative expressions of the church are taking place around the United States and the world.
For the final edition of The Way of Spiritual Fortitude sponsored by 1001 New Worshiping Communities, host the Rev. Jeff Eddings engaged someone with intimate knowledge of faith and doubt, the subject of Wednesday’s broadcast.
In its final grant cycle for 2021, on behalf of the Presbyterian Mission Agency, the Mission Development Resources Committee awarded 18 Mission Program Grants to worshiping communities — including eight to those just getting started.
“A friend, mother, lifelong partner to her husband, pastor, co-founder of her church, writer, community advocate, student, and follower of Jesus” is how the Rev. Jeff Eddings introduced his conversation partner, Leeann Younger, in Wednesday evening’s third installment of his seminar series The Way of Spiritual Fortitude. Presented by 1001 New Worshipping Communities, the online conversations are designed to help spiritual leaders develop the inner strength to perform the tasks of ministry.
“How good it is to center down! To sit quietly and see one’s self pass by!”
With these words the Rev. Jeff Eddings opened Wednesday’s The Way of Spiritual Fortitude, quoting a mediation from theologian and mystic the Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman.
One of the most frequently asked questions about the nearly 700 new worshiping communities launched in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) since 2012 is, “How long does it take a new worshiping community to become financially sustainable?” This question is surrounded by similar ones about funding communities of new disciples, building solid financial skills and practices, budgets, salaries, giving and grants.
A recently-released 1001 New Worshiping Community 2020 Leader Report continues to show that NWC’s are more racially diverse and younger than PC(USA) congregations.
For church and worshiping community leaders, the Way of Spiritual Fortitude is apparently paved with good intentions, including intending to regularly practice self-care in the midst of long hours doing ministry that can be as demanding as it is draining.
In our time when the effects of climate change threaten to wipe out endangered species and uproot and displace communities, the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell says Presbyterians have a special responsibility to prevent such disasters and protect the most vulnerable.
