Advent – Week One

Advent – Week One

You may have noticed that 2020 is not a normal year. So many things have changed as we haveadapted to the requirements of our living through a pandemic. Yet, the calendar just keeps rollingthrough the days, weeks and months. Halloween and Thanksgiving required different ways ofthinking. Advent and Christmas will be here soon and while …

Advent – Introduction

Advent – Introduction

You may have noticed that 2020 is not a normal year. So many things have changed as we haveadapted to the requirements of our living through a pandemic. Yet, the calendar just keeps rollingthrough the days, weeks and months. Halloween and Thanksgiving required different ways ofthinking. Advent and Christmas will be here soon and while …

Making Wise Decisions

Three principles to make wise decisions Making wise decisions is critical. It is unfortunate then, that churches spend so little time thinking about the process they use to make decisions.  Many churches have poor procedures and organizations, which result in making some poor decisions.  They are simply not set up to make wise decisions. Here …

The Pastor as CEO

It is a curious thing, but many pastors strongly resist being seen as the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) of their church.  It’s time to rethink that position.  Being a great CEO can be a tremendous blessing for the pastor and the church.  But you’d be surprised what it actually takes to be a great CEO.  …

Bricks and Mortar

Bricks and Mortar

By Steve Petty “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it?”  Luke 14:28 NRSV It’s not always just the cost in money.  Money is simply the way we purchase materials.  The most essential building material since the …

Summer Chores

Summer Chores

Oh, it’s warm to hot and our energy is not.  Summertime means everyone kicks back a bit and takes life easy.  Slip in a few weeks of vacation.  Get to work a bit later and sidle out just a bit early.  Most committees have fewer members as folk take vacations from church or actually go …

Connect with your Preschool

Connect with your Preschool

There is nothing more fun than seeing the sanctuary so filled on Sunday morning that preschool children must sit on their parents’ laps in order for everyone to have a space to sit.  It’s not “standing room only”; it’s “lap space only”.  It’s noisy and energetic and simply crazy, and it can happen in your …