New from the Faith Practices Project

This month we released resources for the practice of prayer as part of the Faith Practices Project—a year-long dive into twelve life-giving spiritual disciplines. Find highlighted posts and resources below, or explore our webpage for more ideas for practicing prayer individually, with a group, or at home. We’ll release new resource sets on other practices monthly, so check back often on the project landing page.

Putting Prayer into Practice

by Chris Schoon, director of Faith Formation Ministries

One day, after listening to Jesus pray, his disciples asked him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples” (Luke 11:1). It was a simple and heartfelt request, but the significance of it becomes evident when we take a step back.

This account is the only recorded occurrence in which the disciples directly ask Jesus to teach them something. They seem to have no hesitation about healing the sick or casting out demons (Mark 6:13). A few chapters earlier, Luke tells how two of the disciples even offered to call down fire from heaven on a village that did not receive Jesus (Luke 9:54)—a pretty bold offer, for which they get a firm rebuke from Jesus. But somehow, in all they were invited to do as they followed Jesus, the disciples recognized that they needed Jesus to teach them how to pray.

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5 Intergenerational Ideas for Marking a Return to Worship after the Pandemic

Each Sunday after online worship during the first four months of the pandemic, I placed the story prop I’d just used for the children’s message in a large, leather-bound box. That box started filling with things like an origami boat for the wind and the waves, paper butterflies for Easter, a walking stick for the road to Emmaus, and so on. My plan was to open the box when we returned to in-person worship in a few weeks, holding up each prop as a way to remember the stories we’d shared and how God was faithful.  

My props outgrew the box by September. I stopped saving them in November. But I kept the butterfly. I’m still hanging onto the hope that one day, when it’s safe for everyone to return to worship in our sanctuary, I’ll bring those crayon-coloured paper wings as something to unfold and to hold as together we share our stories and we celebrate God’s faithfulness. Perhaps you’ve been longing for the same thing and wondering what that might look like in your context.

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Roadmap to Post-Pandemic Recovery,
Part 2: Coming in for a Safe Landing

Here are three important things for ministry leaders to consider when planning post-pandemic ministry.

Read about post-pandemic planning »

What a Word Cloud Can Tell You about Your Church

FFM Regional Catalyzer Laura Keeley shares a simple way to identify strengths and challenges in your church culture.

Try using this common tool to assess your church culture »

4 Steps for Launching a New Ministry Initiative

Getting ready to launch a new ministry initiative? Here are some helpful steps toward success.

Prepare for launch »

10 Ways to Cultivate Youth Leadership

One of the “milestones” of Our Journey 2025 for the CRCNA is to “listen to the voices of every generation.” One way to do that is to welcome young and emerging adults into leadership. Ten Ways to Cultivate Youth Leadership offers tips for identifying, encouraging, and making space for young leaders within your congregation.

Download 10 Ways to Cultivate Youth Leadership for free »