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Continuing our series about milestones, learn ways you can celebrate some of the milestones high school students experience.  Plus shots for September 2021 and check out the conference Nevertheless She Preached September 19-21.

Continuing our series about celebrating milestones we look at those awkward tween years focusing on some of the things that happen around 4th through 8th grade. Remember the joy of acnes and braces!  And go get Elle Dowd's new book "Baptized in Tera Gas: From White Moderate to Abolitionist" wherever books are sold (but really buy it from someone who likes books and isn't just going to space with your money).

Kids hit all sorts of milestones. Here are some ways you can celebrate them in the congregation both in worship and at homes. Also check out the amazingness that is our chaser: Digivangelism at digivangelism.org

How can we meet parishioner's expectations of Mother's Day and Father's Day while still upholding all the many emotions these holidays have.  Our chasers are three blog posts with liturgies for Mother's Day that can easily be adapted for Father's Day.  “A Prayer for Mothers Day for All of Us” “An Open Letter to Pastors: a Non-Mom Speaks about Mother’s Day""A Litany for Mother's Day"

A year into remote worship we are looking at having another round having Holy Week with pandemic protocols. Here are some ideas on how to do Holy Week from a distance. And check out our great chasers. Barn Geese Worship: barngeeseworship.com and ConseCrate Subscription Box: consecrate.cratejoy.com

Many pastors or staff members are leaving changing calls, including Lydia recently, or congregations are starting to explore consolidation or mergers, including Becca's, so Lydia and Becca talk about ways to make these changes in the era of covid when we cannot rely on in-person gatherings as we once did.  For our Chaser check out the Nerds at Church podcast for some great fandom and biblical crossovers. 

Are you ready to celebrate Christmas in a pandemic. No, none of us are. But here are some ideas for in person, drive through, digital and at home options for Christmas Eve and some Blue Christmas ideas. Plus shots for the seasons of Advent and Christmas.   For our Chasers check out Worship Design Studios for some covid carols and a Blue Christmas liturgy and another Blue Christmas service from Young Clergy Women

Lydia and Becca talk about what to do as we face Advent in the time of Corona.  Some links to check out:  buildfaith.org/advent-in-a-box/ www.traci-smith.com/faithfulfamilieschristmas www.vts.edu/lifelong-learning/lifelong-learning

How can you do confirmation and youth ministry in the midst of a pandemic? Lydia and Becca discuss some options along with shots for October. For our chaser, check out Youth Ministry Consultants and their recent webinar on Zoomed Out Youth. 

As the calendar keeps moving along closer to the start of the fall program year, we are still in Covid-related social distancing mandates. Therefore Becca and Lydia talk about things to do for Sunday School and other fall programs that allow you to stay at least 6 feet away from anyone. 

We are all feeling "pandemic drain," therefore Becca and Lydia talk about some creative ministry ideas during the pandemic, on-line and off. 

In the wake of George Floyd's death and Covid, this time the Black Lives Matter protest feel different. Becca and Lydia give you a whole bunch of different resources for how to think about race in your congregation.  Some of those resources include this wonderful google doc, a list of books for kids, The Next Question, White Homework and so much more. 

Day 4 recap: reviews of sermons by Raphael Warnock and Robert Wright, a workshop/lecture by Raquel Lettsome and an interview with Neichelle Guidry.

Day 4 recap: reviews of sermons by Cynthia Hale, Lenny Duncan, and William Barber III, lecture by Katie Hays and an interview with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Day 3 recap: reviews of sermons by Olu Brown and Anna Carter Florence, and lectures by Karoline Lewis and Stacey Abrams 

Day 2 recap: a review of sermons by Otis Moss III and Joy Moore, a lecture by Ellen Davis and an interview between Karoline Lewis and Leah Schade

Lydia and Becca share there thoughts on the first day of Festival of Homiletics with lectures, sermons or interviews by Traci Blackmon, Katharine Hayhoe, Bill McKibben and Will Willimon.  Register for the rest of the week at www.festivalofhomiletics.com

As we are reformatting worship to be on line, we are having to deal with our word choices to reflect our worship situation. And as long as you are thinking about language choices, it is also the prefect time to think about other words choices we make and how our language can be more inclusive to our LGBTQIA+ siblings in Christ.  For our chaser: check out The Holy Other by The Hymn Society for a collection of LGBTQIA+ inclusive songs. thehymnsociety.org/resources/songs-for-the-holy-other/

Lydia and Becca share some ideas on how not to be the only person leading virtual worship. They also share ideas from the upcoming Holiday Trifecta of Ascension, Pentecost and Holy Trinity. 

Becca and Lydia re-discuss Holy Week in the light of social distancing. How to do Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday when you can gather together is discussed.