Pray Your Sermon Into Being with Backstory Preaching

April 6, 2017

Backstory Preaching has generously allowed SFF to share their guide for how to make your sermon prep a spiritual respite through the daily practice of Lectio Divina. Download this PDF to organize your sermon prep and pray your sermon into being. Lisa at Backstory also says:  “[I]f you haven’t already, I encourage you to make appointments … More Pray Your Sermon Into Being with Backstory Preaching

5 free courses on Racial Reconciliation, taught by nationally recognized leaders

April 3, 2017

Click here to browse the courses! This Easter season, the School for Formation invites you to dive into 5 free self-paced online short courses aimed at helping you go deeper into this year’s mission opportunity of Racial Reconciliation. These courses are led by nationally recognized teachers, professors and priests. Each course consists of short readings, … More 5 free courses on Racial Reconciliation, taught by nationally recognized leaders

Living your faith at home

February 16, 2017

Recommendation: Faith at Home: A Handbook for Cautiously Christian Parents by Wendy Claire Barrie I came face-to-face with the problem at Christmas. My son, almost 18 months, was rounding the corner into toddlerhood. Since we were traveling to see family at Christmas, we didn’t put up a tree — just a nightly Advent wreath and … More Living your faith at home

Are we worth our salt?

February 8, 2017

“I think we sometimes forget how our presence, our words, and our actions flavor our lives and the lives of those around us. At a time when almost every day we are bombarded by aggressive and mean-spirited words – like that lump of pure sodium dropped into a bucket of water that explodes with enough … More Are we worth our salt?

Your work matters.

January 30, 2017

Perhaps you’ve seen, in the chaos of this past week, mentions of the ‘resilience of American institutions.’ It strikes me as a change of tone in the midst of a culture that is moving away from church membership and attendance. If American institutions require resilience now, our faith communities can help point the way: we … More Your work matters.

Ready for Lent? Here are a few ideas to get started.

January 25, 2017

How will you be observing Lent this year? Here are a few spiritual practices, books, and online, interactive programs that deserve your consideration! Spiritual practices A practice of prayer you haven’t tried before. Curious? Consider taking Michael Sirany’s Christian Spirituality  course to find out more, or try this resource for inspiration. Sanctify a part of your daily … More Ready for Lent? Here are a few ideas to get started.

Transform your faith community with Missional Management: Online course starts January 16, register for $40

January 5, 2017

Missional Management is the work of providing support to those who follow the way of Jesus. That’s the primary work of a vestry/bishop’s committee: to make sure that the financial, human, and property resources are oriented first toward following the way of Jesus. The Rev. Michael Pipkin spends a lot of time talking with vestries … More Transform your faith community with Missional Management: Online course starts January 16, register for $40

Three ways to connect with God and neighbor at the SFF this February

January 5, 2017

Here are three ways you can hear God’s voice in your life, work, and neighborhood through hybrid courses at the School for Formation. These three courses start on February 20! Dive into ancient and contemporary practices of prayer in our Christian Spirituality course Find yourself in God’s story as you learn about the yearly cycle … More Three ways to connect with God and neighbor at the SFF this February

How do ministry teams get engaged with the School for Formation?

December 19, 2016

With so many approaches to ‘team ministry’ in Minnesota, the School for Formation is a great resource for forming and supporting leaders. Here are a few ways your team can take advantage of the SFF: Learn together, build relationship across the faith community: Some members of the team and of the vestry/Bishop’s Committee take a course … More How do ministry teams get engaged with the School for Formation?

Preaching Through Uncertain Times

November 15, 2016

Here’s a resource the School for Formation is proud to share: a self-led online course at Backstory Preaching called Preaching Through Uncertain Times.  Lisa Cressman and her colleagues at Backstory Preaching led the SFF’s Homiletics course last fall, earning high praise and respect from their students. Adam Estrem took the class and wrote afterward, “The homiletics course … More Preaching Through Uncertain Times

Book Recommendation: An Other Kingdom

November 11, 2016

An Other Kingdom: Departing the Consumer Culture by Peter Block, Walter Brueggeman, and John McKnight. If ‘departing the consumer culture’ makes you think of communes, victory gardens, and churning your own butter, think again. This book is about a different kind of departure: not from technology or citizenship, but from passive acceptance of the values of consumerism: … More Book Recommendation: An Other Kingdom

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.

October 13, 2016

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. That’s how Eugene Peterson’s The Message paraphrases John 1:14. The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood, and yet many faith communities are profoundly disconnected from their neighbors. A multitude of social and historical factors created this reality: American individualism, white flight, and the … More The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.

The New Cohort Retreat

October 6, 2016

From Friday night, September 9, through Sunday morning, September 11, 2016, members of the new cohorts gathered in Collegeville to meet with the Bishop and those already in formation for holy orders, take part in a course, have a meet-and-greet with members of the Standing Committee and Commission on Ministry, and more. Check out the … More The New Cohort Retreat

Preaching in Year A: Isaiah, Matthew, and our own political realities

October 6, 2016

Heads up, clergy folk in Minnesota: it can be hard to get perspective on the news these days. The international refugee crisis, the presidential election, mass incarceration, gun violence: all these things are happening in front of our eyes with record news bytes all the time, every day. What we might miss in our struggle … More Preaching in Year A: Isaiah, Matthew, and our own political realities

For Preachers: Get back to basics in the Preaching Lab

September 28, 2016

It’s not too late to sign up for the upcoming Preaching Lab with veteran writer and speaker Barbara Mraz! Online: October 1 – December 3, 2016 Meets in person: December 3, 2016 at the ECMN Retreat Center in Faribault, MN Designed for folks who have some preaching experience already, this is a hands-on, practical course … More For Preachers: Get back to basics in the Preaching Lab