But for now, be encouraged!  Know that the Lord is with you, and turn your heart to God in prayer.  Even if you are uncertain that this process “will work”, even if you don’t think that you pray well, even if you don’t know what to say, pray.  Just be still, know that God is God, and give a few minutes of your life over to the Creator of all that is good.

Read more at http://serendipitysoiree.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/fully-relying-on-god-some-thoughts-on-hillsides-40-days-of-prayer/

Rev. Michael Davison and Rev. Dr. Lisa Davison write the lectionary-based children’s sermon guides each week.

From the SSCSJ site:

Your Children Deserve Your Best

Children’s sermons share just as much theology and biblical teaching as adult’s sermons. These guides give a kick-start for the ministers and gracious volunteers who deliver the children’s sermon.  ”Sacred Steps” takes the week’s lectionary readings and delivers thorough background, interpretation, and solid prompting questions that will spark your children to use the week’s lessons as they go from the sacred steps.

Start a monthly or yearly affordable subscription to the Sacred Steps Children’s Sermon Journal at http://www.sscsj.org/

(The book’s description taken from Chalice Press website)

Today’s 20- and 30-somethings aren’t just watching a world around them crying out in great need—they’re mobilizing to answer that cry. With lattes in hand, laptops at the ready, updating their Facebook status, and announcing to the Twitterverse “this is important,” they are looking into the face of soaring injustice, raising awareness, seeking opportunity, and being hope in a struggling world.

It’s Not All About You is written by a diverse team of writers: Some grew up in church, others have never set foot in a sanctuary. Some have a decade of international professional experience while others are just starting their undergrad degree. They have voluntarily served in the military, in a food co-op, in an inner city clinic.

Motivated by deep faith or just simple concern, and living and breathing against the stereotypes of their generation, the young adults who are part of this book— this conversation—are well aware that it’s not all about them. It’s about all of us, and what we do—already do, can do, should do, must do—to make it a better world. Be inspired to create change.

Great for a solo read or with a small reading group, with discussion questions at the end of each essay.

Chapters and Contributors:

Part 1: Send/Receive

Call (Marc Istook)

Reflections from East Africa (Shelvis & Nancy Smith-Mather)

A War on Two Fronts (Joshua Dobbs)

Legacy, Responsibility, and Faith (Kendra Dunbar)

Part 2: Let Me Get Back to You

Difference Makes a Difference (Erika Roman Saint-Pierre)

Camp Bani (Joe Geoghegan and Chloe Grammer)

Current City: ____________ (Michael Wagner)

And Let’s Be Honest… (Joshua E. Perry)

The Day We Didn’t Go to Church (Amy Jonason)

Part 3: Static Disconnect

Frontera (Dan Millis)

Coffee Can Change (Jennifer Fischer)

Stealing Back the Future (Kristen Walling)

The Slow Examples of Lifetimes (Katherine Bell and Jill Delaney)

Conclusion (or, “Now What?”) (Courtney Richards)

If your congregation needs a basic website that does basic sermon, newsletter and event posting for your congregation, send Adam a note!

Warren Lynn (Director of Search and Call … and friend of nPartnership and DYMN) recently posted a “making of” video of the labyrinth at our last DYMN Retreat in Oracle, Arizona. Thanks for sharing, Warren!

The DYMN Retreat will be there again next year:

• Youth Ministers
• Historic C.O.D. Ranch in Oracle, Arizona (between Phoenix and Tucson)
• April 2nd – 5th, 2013
• Lesleigh Carmichael of Youth Ministry Architects leading

To read follow the retreat’s food diary, go to Adam’s site here.

Expect great things whenever new friends gather together for rest and renewal.

COD Ranch

Expect great things!

Warren Lynn playing for the morning with this flute

Read her article at:  http://www.youngclergywomen.org/the_young_clergy_women_pr/2012/03/blessed.html

Don’t laugh!  Lara taught a course called Getting the Giggles Out: Preparing Yourself (and your Congregation’s Parents) for Sexuality Education in the Church  Seriously, don’t laugh.  It’s an important conversation, and Lara, having co-edited a popular book from Chalice Press, is leading the church towards a healthier conversation.

Lara was not only an excellent host, but she even stumped for nPartnership at our booth:

Thanks Lara!