Easter is not just a day but rather a whole season: Eastertide. Throughout the year, and in the season of Eastertide, our call as followers on the way of Jesus is to practice resurrection. To celebrate life and new birth. To rest as resistance. And to acknowledge grief and embrace renewal.
There are so many ways to lean into these practices of resurrection. And right now communities of faith, churches, and faith-based organizations really need the spiritual work or practicing resurrection. The last three years changed so much. We need God’s gift of resurrection.
If leader one of these groups, however, the first thing you need on this first day after Easter Sunday… is rest. Here is my prayer for you on this first Monday of Eastertide.
When you’ve taken that deep breath… When you are rested and renewed in your spirit after all the labors of Lent, Holy Week, and Easter… We have something for you to consider. An invitation to resurrection practice through conversation.
A new Study Guide for the #PandemicPastoring Report
In late March, I took the new #PandemicPastoring Study Guide out for a test drive. I’m excited to tell you that it did exactly what we hoped! It got lay leaders and clergy talking together about what happened in the last three years, how they are recovering from the losses. And most importantly, it got them thinking together about how they are living into this new era of ministry.
Thousands of leaders have downloaded and read the #PandemicPastoring Report and news stories about its findings. We think it is so important, that we wanted to create a way for you to share the ideas and questions from the #PPR research. To jumpstart those conversations in your congregation or faith-based organization, the #PandemicPastoring Study Guide is now available for pre-order. For just $15 (+S&H) we laid out everything you need to lead three sessions with your faith group. The price increases April 18.
So, take a look today . . .
In this new era of ministry, we need to talk with each other about how to live into a new season with creativity, grace, and pastoral imagination. It’s not just dwelling on some past we’d rather forget. It is good grief work that leads to reframing and re-envisioning our future.
What’s included in the PPR Study Guide?
We created the PPR Study Guide as a three-session study to help you lead these conversations. Author, minister and 3MMM Team member, Erin Robinson Hall wrote the Study Guides. She did so with your Sunday School class, weekly prayer or study group, or congregational leadership retreats in mind. Any place you gather your people is a good setting for the study.
The PPR Study Guide offers guidance for face-to-face meetings and also digital (i.e. Zoom) and hybrid gatherings. The Study Guide includes:
- Three full lessons
- Links to short video clips for teaching
- A presentation slide deck
- 10 Permission Cards delivered to you by mail, for use in a Session 3 activity (more cards are available in packs of 10)
- Session: FINDING OUR WAY
- Session: BEARING WITNESS
- Session: REVEALING HOPE
How will the PPR Study Guide help?
How can your group use the #PandemicPastoring Report and Study Guide to help you in this present moment? We believe this Study Guide will support you in these ways:
- to open conversations about how the last three years impacted lay leaders and ministers in different ways;
- to acknowledge your community’s accumulated losses, changes, and grief;
- to offer clear ways to hear each other so you don’t get stuck and can actually move forward with renewed vision;
- to gives yourselves permission to do the small and large things you are called by God to do;
- to dream together and tell future stories for a new era of shared ministry.
If you act by April 18 to place your order, then we will email two BONUS downloads to you! These printable downloads are great for sharing! “Take 5 Minutes to Appreciate Your Minister” builds on one of the findings in the #PPReport. Looking back, lay leaders told me that they wished they thanked their pastors more often. Now, this handout gives you five immediate ideas for how to do that. And “5 Ways to Give Yourself Permission” will help all church members and leaders give thoughtful attention to self-care and spiritual well-being. The two free bonus handouts are only available, if you act this week.
We think you are going to really appreciate the PPR Study Guide! Please give it a try this Eastertide.
