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Worship resources

Needing Christmas resources? LCA Music Resources Volume 4: Songs of the Church for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany contains 100 hymns and songs, in a spiral-bound hard copy or individual digital downloads. Available at www.shopacr.com.au

  • The LCANZ Worship Planning Page (lca.org.au/wpp) includes resources to help with worship preparations this time of year.
  • The Commission on Worship is calling for songwriters and composers to contribute new songs and liturgical settings. For more details: simpfy3@gmail.com
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Launch of Year B for Grow Kids

by Jodi Brook

Grow Kids from Grow Ministries now has another year’s resource available, with the launch of its Lectionary Year B content.

Designed as a teaching curriculum, Grow Kids has many components from which to choose. A thoughtful choice of menu items will help to provide the best experience for your group. Users can tailor sessions to suit their audience. For example, the creative response is a suggestion; if you have a better idea, make whatever tweaks and changes you need to meet the needs of the children in your group.

FROM SUNDAY SCHOOL TO CLASS DEVOTIONS …

If you are looking for a Sunday school curriculum. Grow Kids can help with that, too. And should you need a school classroom devotion, you can use the story of the week, the prayer and the blessing for your students. There are excellent background notes about the Bible story to help understand its context. The delivery of these stories ranges from a simple re-telling to a creative drama.

CATECHISM FOCUS OR MESSY CHURCH

Perhaps you would like to focus on Luther’s Small Catechism. With Grow Kids, children can be introduced gradually to the basic teachings of the Christian faith. Each session has a Catechism Spotlight. In this menu item, a specific portion of Christian teaching, which relates to the story and the focus of the week, is covered.

Grow Kids provides a catalyst for creativity and joy in learning about Jesus. It can be used, too, for Messy Church – it has the Bible story, a craft and everything in between.

For more information or to order Grow Kids – Year B, go to www.growministries.org.au/product-category/childrens-ministry/

 Jodi Brook is the director of Grow Ministries. 

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Make a date with hope

by Tania Nelson

The Lutheran Media 2024 calendar is full of stunning images from competition-winning photographers from Australia and New Zealand. Thank you to all who entered the competition. Your photos have produced an inspiring and hope-filled calendar.

Apart from spectacular photography, each day features a Scripture text based on the lectionary readings. Significant days for New Zealand and Australia are also listed.

HOW TO BLESS OTHERS (AND YOURSELF)

  • Gift a Lutheran Media calendar to a friend, neighbour or family member. When they use the calendar, they will find a Bible verse that complements the image each month. Pray that the messages touch their heart.
  • Read the daily Scripture verses in your devotional time. Reflect on the reading and turn your thoughts into prayer and action.
  • Read the gospel reading (listed each Sunday) before weekly worship.
  • Find out about the significant days listed. For example, 24 August is the Feast Day of St Bartholomew. Find out about St Bartholomew (and the other significant people and days listed in the calendar).
  • Each month includes a suggestion related to Lutheran Media and its work. Pray for open ears and hearts so that Messages of hope brings Christ to those seeking hope.

The 2024 calendar has proven extremely popular but limited copies may still be available to order. Call Lutheran Media on 1800 353 350 to inquire.

Tania Nelson is the manager of Lutheran Media.

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Is God calling you?

Study at ALC in 2024

Embark on a transformative theological journey in 2024.

Scholarships are now available to help unlock your ministry potential.

Enrolments are now open!

Enquire today: enquiries@alc.edu.au

www.alc.edu.au  phone 08 7120 8200

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Be on song for Advent and Christmas

by Libby Krahling

Getting ready for Advent and Christmas? Then a copy of LCA Music Resources Volume 4: Songs of the Church for Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, may help. Presenting 100 hymns and songs, the collection can be purchased as a spiral-bound hard copy or as individual digital downloads. Chords and three-part settings make the songs accessible for musicians of varying experience. You can buy it through Australian Christian Resources at www.shopacr.com.au

MORE SEASONAL RESOURCES

As well as providing service orders for Christmas, the LCANZ’s Worship Planning Page includes other Advent and Christmas resources to help with congregational preparations for this special time of year. These include a guide to Christmas carol copyright and a wide range of Christmas Eve orders and Christmas plays.

NEW MUSIC PROJECT

The Commission on Worship is calling for songwriters and composers to contribute new songs and liturgical settings for use in worship. These could include lyrics added to existing tunes, new songs or musical settings for parts of the liturgy. For details and submission criteria, contact David Simpfendorfer at simpfy3@gmail.com

Libby Krahling is Commission on Worship Administration Coordinator.

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Order your 2024 calendars now

by Joanne Chamberlain

Thank you to all who entered our Lutheran Media 2024 Calendar Competition. We were blown away by the calibre of entries. Choosing our favourites was a tough call!

Our 2024 calendar is now available to order. Full of inspiring images, it’s a great gift. Featuring Bible verses to reflect on each day and space to enter upcoming events, you may want more than one! Order your 2024 calendar/s at www.lutheranmedia.org.au, email us at luthmedia@lca.org.au or call us in the office on 1800 353 350.

Joanne Chamberlain is Lutheran Media Communications Coordinator.

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Battling to find peace?

In today’s busy world, many of us are experiencing stress and anxiety from the pressures of having to keep up with demands, finances and relationships. Is there a path to peace and a way to cope? Jesus says, ‘Come to me … and you will find rest for your soul’ (Matthew 11:28–30). For a free booklet on finding peace, go to www.messagesofhope.org.au/finding-peace

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What is the way forward?

Learn more about this important LCANZ project by reading stories and accessing resources – including a Q & A – on the Way Forward website at www.lca.org.au/wayforward

Listen to a podcast explaining the background of the project, and how you can be involved at www.lca.org.au/podcasts

Take part in the churchwide day of prayer for unity on 8 October. See the story ‘Bishops call for day of prayer, church unity’ for more details.

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Knowing signs of violence

We hear about domestic and family violence in the news and when politicians are pledging support. But do we see it when it is close by, with people we know, including in our congregations and neighbourhoods? Would you like to learn more about how to recognise the signs of domestic and family violence, so that you can respond appropriately?

You can do so through an online module on the LCANZ Learning Hub, developed for the church as part of its Hidden Hurts Healing Hearts Campaign. The training is designed as a self-paced learning module for pastors, church workers and leaders to help raise awareness of the impact of domestic and family violence and to strengthen the support you may be already giving to people experiencing it. This training is recognised for professional development purposes for LCANZ employees.

Recently updated with links to many relevant resources, module topics include:

  • What is Domestic Violence? Signs and Impact of Domestic Violence
  • Faith and Domestic Violence
  • Responding to those experiencing Domestic Violence
  • Responding to a person who is violent and abusive
  • Self-Care
  • The Church and Healing

HOW TO ACCESS THE TRAINING HUB

Those with LCA email addresses can access the hub using the LCANZ Learning Hub button on the LCA Portal. People who have previously accessed training via ALC iLearn can use those credentials via the ALC iLearn page: https://ilearn.alc.edu.au/

Others will need to contact the LCANZ’s Church Worker Support Department (churchworkersupport@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7300) for a single-use enrolment key. This will enable them to enrol and log in via the ALC iLearn page using an email and password that they will then set up.

16 DAYS OF ADVOCACY

From November 25 to December 10 is recognised internationally as 16 days of advocacy and activism to eliminate violence against women and girls.

Churches around the world use this time as one of prayer and commitment to action – actions that promote healthy relationships and bring transformative change to those caught in the cycle of violence. You and your congregation may like to pray and think about how to advocate for or support someone experiencing violence.

We pray for:

  • willingness to learn about domestic and family violence and acknowledge the damage it does within our church family
  • emergency service workers responding to crisis calls
  • doctors, nurses, social workers and counsellors attending to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual wounds of those who have been abused
  • our churches, that they may be safe places for the vulnerable
  • eyes and ears that notice when someone is disclosing abuse
  • courage to speak up against disrespectful behaviour
  • children, young people and elderly people, vulnerable to being abused
  • all women, men and children to find lives free from violence
  • pastors, teachers and pastoral leaders, teaching and modelling loving and healthy relationships.

DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE HELP

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic and family violence, visit www.anrows.org.au/get-support or call 1800 RESPECT (24-hour National Sexual Assault Family Domestic Violence Counselling Service), or Lifeline Counselling (24 hours) 131 114. In an emergency, call 000.

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Support in tough times

by Anne Hansen

There is a tree in California’s White Mountains that has been found to be 4,852 years old. Named Methuselah after the oldest man in the Bible, this ancient bristlecone pine was dated by scientists when a hole was bored into its trunk, and they counted the rings in the core sample.

Scientists were also able to determine what years there were droughts, as well as when insects caused damage. Methuselah has been through quite a bit, but it has endured and continued to grow through difficult circumstances and harsh weather.

As James the apostle reminds us in his letter to his fellow Christians, times of trouble can lead to growth: ‘Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow’ James 1:2–4 (NLT).

When your faith is tested, you will find out where your strength lies. Jesus supplies all the strength we will ever need and learning this produces Christian maturity. So, look at the times of drought, abundant rain and pestilence as a chance to learn and grow deeper in your walk with Jesus.

Lutheran Tract Mission (LTM) shares many wide-ranging resources to strengthen and encourage you in times of difficulty. Find a tract to give a friend or family member who may be struggling. Look at our website to find what you need for your personal growth and ministry: www.ltm.org.au

NEW WAYS TO SHARE THE GOSPEL

Lutheran Tract Mission (LTM) has many new resources available to view and order. As well as text cards, leaflets, activity books, postcards, bookmarks and stickers with Advent and Christmas themes, LTM has produced Mission-Edge Tracts designed for 20 to 40-year-olds and others exploring Christianity.
www.ltm.org.au/resources/new-resources 

Anne Hansen is Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer.

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