Newsletter Articles by Topic
Search among the following major topic areas
that constitute the Centre's Congregational Transformation process or among
a number of specialty areas. Each hot link will take you to articles from our
Newsletters:
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- Maintenance or Growth
- It's easy to fall into the maintenance mode. Church growth takes intentional action. October 2008
- A Crisis of Purpose
- Christopher White offers a remedy for the United Church denomination that equally applies to individual congregations. May 2008
- The Power of Story
- What sharing stories can do for your congregation. March 2008
- Sticking to Business
- These stories of congregations that have been through a transformation process says there are results,
even if they sometimes come as a surprise. Jan. 2008
- The Ponoka Story
- In Ponoka a simple transformation process results in an theatrical explosion. Jan. 2008
- Turning Decline into Growth
- Welcome people warmly. Find out why they have come. Then help them to find what
they have come for. It is not easy, but it is simple. Feb. 2007
- A Letter to my Congregation
- A letter sent by a university student to her home congregation. Nov. 2006
- The Committee Conundrum: Reader Response
- Three responses note when committees are good, and when not so helpful. Apr. 2006
- Steps in Transformation
- The basic steps in transforming your congregation. By Clair Woodbury. Aug. 2005
- Where Your deep Gladness Meets the World's Deep Need
- Joyce Madsen shares her passion for meeting people's need to use their gifts in service.
- Altona United Church - A Growing Story
- Rev. Lesley Calder shares her experience how to grow a congregation in small
town Manitoba.
- Amalgamation: Growth or Decline
- Research into Edmonton Presbytery amalgamations raises serious questions.Apr.
2003
- From our Mailbox
- Joel DenHaan responds to the article on congregational amalgamations.
Aug 2003
- Congregational Transformation in Regina
- Results of a year-long process with a cluster of five congregations.
- Leadership and Transformation
- Congregation transformation requires excellent leadership.
- Letter from Regina
- A letter from Barry Suddom on the transformation process at Rosemont United.
- Restless Gods
- John Ambrose reviews the current state of the church with the help of cross-Canada
focus groups.
- Rosemont: Our Story of Transformation
- Barry Sudom tells the fascinating story of Rosemont United Church's transformation
process.
- The Church: Called to a New Way of
Being
- Lori Megley-Best of Crescent United Church in Surrey, B.C., gives her presecription
for a church where gifts are honoured and the emphasis is on creating disciples.Aug.
2003
- There are Answers ... if you have
the right questions
- Centre staff outline the current roles of a congregation and clergy. Jan.
2004.
- Transformation at St. Thomas Anglican
Church
- St. Thomas church in Sherwood Park has been in a transformation process,
and that process is continuing.
- What I would do differently
... Knowing What I Know Now
- After 40 years in ministry, Clair Woodbury looks back to offer five keys
to congregational transformation.
Identity ..........Discovering who we
are.The generation gap.
- Doing Church Mathematics...In a New Way
- The way we count people in our churches has a lot to do with where our energy goes. May 2009
- Building Bridges
- by Clair Woodbury. Creating bridges between generations.
- In Memory of George
- by Margery D. Monsma. Creating bridges between
generations.
- Naomi's Daughters
- by Alyson Huntly. The generation gap between Martha's
Circle & young women of the Sophia group.
Context ...........Surveying the Community and the Congregation
- Change
- What does it take to share Jesus' vision with our neighbour today? Aug. 2005
- Marketing
- Marketing is sharing the good news. By Joyce Madsen. Aug. 2005
- A Downtown Church that's Going Places
- Interview with Jeeva Sam, St. Paul Street United Church, St. Catharines
- From Decline to Dynamic
Growth
- by Don Campbell. Gaetz United in Red Deer opens its Men's
Club and grows.
- Marketing the Good News
- by Joyce Madsen. Marketing is the secret to unlocking
church growth.
Leadership .........Building
an Effective Leadership Team
- Leadership for Today
- The Introduction to our new book on becoming a church leader. May 2009
- The Team's the Thing
- Working in an effective team is a very satisfying experience. Feb. 2009
- Polishing a Presentation
- Five guidelines to consider when preparing a presentation. Feb. 2009
- Two Words That Have To Go
- A positive vocabulary is one key to moving ahead. August 2008
- Boards, Vestries and Councils: What's the Ideal?
- A good Board/Vestry starts with getting the right people on the bus. An important task is to set goals.
Meetings have to be meaningful. Feb. 2008
- Question & Answer Time
- What is the ideal ratio of staff for different numbers of people in a congregation? Feb. 2008
- Multiplying Congregational Leaders
- Traditional leaders add followers to a congregation. Empowering leaders
multiply leaders in a congregation. Feb. 2007
- It's Time to Act!
- There is no substitute for acting. Feb. 2007
- Gifts of Shared Ministry
- Dawn Rolke's congregation shares space with two other denominations, and it's good. Apr. 2006
- Congregational Transformatlion
- Elizabeth Short share insights from her experience at All Saint's Anglican. Apr. 2006
- Catching the Bethel Beat
- An article from the Edmonton Journal on Bethel Lutheran Church, Sherwood Park.
- No young People, So We Changed
- Marv Ziprick's leadership style has resulted in true congregational growth.
- Called to Share in Ministry
- Reflections by Marj Kent of Rosemont United in Regina.
- Bonhoeffer Bytes
- Some advice from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German martyr and church leader.
- Leadership and Transformation
- Congregation transformation requires excellent leadership.
- Leadership: Today's
Challenge
- Clair Woodbury outlines the current leadership problem in the church and
suggests Jesus' model of mentoring leadership offers an answer. Aug. 2003
- Making a Difference
- by Linda Levine. Runnymede United Church.
- Naming the Challenges
- by Centre Staff. The challenges to ministry today.
- New Style Leadership
- by Clair Woodbury & Joyce Madsen. Making the transition to new style
leadership.
- The Joy of Rural Ministy
- by Cheri DiNovo. The secret to transforming a rural congregation.
Spirituality .......... Staying in Contact
- Dandelions
- James Strachan believes dandelions may well be a symbol for the Christian Church. Aug. 2008
- Presence
- James Strachan shares what it means to just be present to someone in need. May 2008
- Singing in the Shower with Jesus
- James Strachan's column ponders the Jesus Way and what that means for our daily practice
of Christianity. Feb. 2008
- Abundance
- Terry Harrison's meditation on the blessing of abundance.
- A New Survey
- Information about Canadian Church attendance.
- A Walk in the Woods
- by Barbara Meyer. I walk alone, and I walk with God.
- God Is
- By Laura Fouhse. A spiritual gift.
- I Believe
- By Barbara Meyer. A spiritual moment.
- Making a Difference
- by Linda Levine. Runnymede United Church.
- Reclaiming Spirituality
- Book Review
- Book by Diarmuid O Murchu. Review by Clair Woodbury.
- What Feeds Me Spiritually
- Research by Centre Staff.
- The Main Task of Clergy
- More and more, lay people are calling for spiritual support.
- Light the Fire Within
- Joyce Madsen's talk on sources of spiritual support.
- Three Mandalas
- Carolyn Cournoyea's mandalas and her spiritual interpretation.
- Moving the Mountain
- Geoff Wilfong-Pritchard, we can find God even in times of difficulty.
- In Search of Wisdom
- Book Review
- This book by Jan Richardson is a gold mine of spiritual insight and inspiration.
- Autumn - Spiritual Corner
- A spiritual meditation.
Vision ........ Knowing
Where We're Going
- Planning Time
- Early fall is a time for a Board/Vestry/Counil planning retreat. Here's
how and why. Aug. 2008
- Serving Others: Key to a
Thriving Congregation
- by Bob Gilmore. Edmonton Journal review of our book Wings
Like Eagles.
- Worship Beyond the Box
- Get rid of the box. Leave it and all the baggage that comes with it, behind. Nov. 2006
- How To Start a New Service
- Reviewof the book by Charles Arn.
- Changing with Our Youth
- Mervin Gallant reflects on his youth ministry that is making a difference in Lacombe.
- A Church School Model that Works Today - Book Review
- Book Review of Workshop Rotation by Armstrong-Hansche & MacQueen.
- A Fresh Approach to Children's Ministry
- by Pat Richards-Herrel. Holy Cross Anglican Church's theme-based approach.
- Children's Ministry
- by Joyce Madsen. Let's call it "children's ministry," not Sunday School.
- St. Andrew's Lacombe - Sonlight City
- The workshop rotation method is alive and well at St. Andrew's United in Lacombe, Alberta.
- Taking Children's Ministry Seriously
- A card to put in your pews.
- Teaching Church School and Enjoying It
- by Clair Woodbury. Report of a great experience with great kids.
- The Computer Comes to Sunday School
- by Cheryl Kirk. Setting up a computer centre in your church.
- Celebrating Small Group Ministry
- Tro members of the Dublin Street congregation and Joyce Madsen share their experiences in a small group. May 2008
- Small Groups at Dublin Street
- Gary Partlow shares what has been happening with their launch of small groups
at Dublin Street United Church in Guelph. March 2008
- Putting SGM Techniques to Work
- Stephen Hallford reports from St. Peter's Anglican, Sandy Godel from Cold Lake United. May 2007
- Willow Creek & Small Group Ministry
- You don't have to know everybody, but everybody has to know someone. Feb. 2007
- Small Group Ministry on the Job
- Responses from last summer's SGM participants, telling of being energized, excited and blessed. Nov. 2006
- Healthy Groups - Healthy Parish
- Elizabeth Short shares her experience of promoting small groups in her Cochrane
Alberta congregation. Feb. 2006
- Small Groups - Circles of Friends
- Why small groups are important today, what makes a circle special, focus areas. CW& JM. Feb. 2006
- Small Group Ministry
- Article by Nancy Chegus, staff member at St. Albert United Church. Nov. 2004.
- Small Group Ministry II
- Nancy Chegus reports on what has happened since Nov. 2004. May 2005
- Small is Better
- Article by Don Retson, Edmonton Journal Staff Writer. Reprinted from the
Edmonton Journal. March 2004
- Small is Better .. in Calgary
- Report on the two-day Presbytery sponsored training event facilitated by
Joyce Madsen and Clair Woodbury. March 2004.
- Making a Difference
- by Linda Levine. Small groups have made a difference at Runnymede.
- The Answer My Friends
- A visit to Centre Street Church in Calgary reveals small group ministry
is key to a thriving congregation.
- A Big Church Sets Its Sights on
Small
- St.Paul's United Church in Edmonton's small group ministry is making a difference.
- Leading Life-Changing Small Groups
- Book Review
- Book Review of Bill Donahue's book based on his Willow Creek experience.
March 2004.
- Small Group Ministry
- Athabasca Woods, August 2003, four days of preparation for launching a small
group ministry in a congregation. Lots of pictures. Aug. 2003
- It's Time to Turn Insight into
Action
- A staff editorial that urges "Let's do it!"
- Aging Energetically -- In the Church
- Ralph Milton shares how seniors have a key role to play in welcoming the next generation. Sept. 2007
- Putting a Blog to Work for You
- Getting to be friendswith the blog, and creating your own blog. Nov. 2006
- Our Age of Transparency and Accountability
- Joyce Madsen looks at two of the values of the newer generations.
- The Inviting Church
- Joyce Madsen asks what it means to be inviting today - and suggests some
answers.
- Banff and Men
- The place of men in the church is in transition. Banff can help.
- Building Bridges
- by Clair Woodbury. Creating bridges between generations.
- In Memory of George
- by Margery D. Monsma. Creating bridges between generations.
- Naomi's Daughters
- by Alyson Huntly. The generation gap between Martha's Circle & young
women of the Sophia group.
- Creating a Welcoming Facility
- A feeling of peace and tranquility says welcome to busy lives in Saskatoon.
October 2008
- Newcomers Feel Really Welcome
- St. Paul's United Church in Saskatoon has developed new ways of welcoming and integrating newcomers. Sept. 2007
- How to Start a New Service
- Book review. A new service is a good way to attract newcomers.
- Reaching the Unchurched in Today's World
- Neall Stevens describes ways to reach out, based on his experience at Gaetz United Church, Red Deer.
- The Emerging Church
- Bruce Sanguin's book offers advice on becoming a thriving congregation. May 2009
- The Audacity of Hope
- Barack Obama's book, another must-read, has insightful chapters on values and faith. Feb. 2009
- 5 Keys For Church Leaders
- A "must read" for congregations that prefer growth to decline. October 2008
- Starting Small Groups and Keeping them Going
- This workbook has everything you need to understand small groups and train SGM facilitators. May 2008
- Storycatcher: Making Sense of Our Lives through the Power and Practice of Story
- Christina Baldwin's book shares stories that have both power and a deep humanity. March 2008
- Behold I do a New Thing
- C. Kirk Hadaway's book recomments the church stick to its core business, transforming lives. Jan. 2008
- Holy Converesations
- There are three questions: Who are we? What has God called us to do? Who is our neighbour? Feb. 2007
- Beyond the Box
- Creating innovative churches the work. Nov. 2006
- Common Sense for Board Members
- The former chair of Habitat for Humanity International has some wisdom. Apr. 2006
- Can We Do That?
- Two pastors share insights that can help any church to grow and prosper.
Feb. 2006
- Bro. Cadfael's Book of Days
- Quotes from the Brother Cadfael series for every day of the year. Aug. 2005
- First Impressions
- How to make a WOW impression on first time attenders. Aujg. 2005
- High-Tech Worship?
- How to use, and when not to use, high-tech in worship. Book by Quenten Schultze. May 2005
- Good to Great
- An exciting look, thanks to Jim Collins, at how a good church could become great.
- Leading Life-Changing Small Groups
- Book Review
- Book Review of Bill Donahue's book based on his Willow Creek experience.
March 2004.
- Size Transitions in Congregations
- Book Review
- Book Review of this excellent Alban Institute resource. .
- A Church School Model that Works
Today - Book Review
- Book Review of Workshop Rotation by Armstrong-Hansche & MacQueen.
- Empowerment Takes More Than A Minute
- Book Review
- Ken Blanchard's new book offers three secrets to empowering every leader
in your church.
- In Search of Wisdom - Book Review
- This book by Jan Richardson is a gold mine of spiritual insight and inspiration.
- Life at the Edge of Chaos
- Book Review
- Book by Mark D. Youngblood. Congregations are living systems.
- Reclaiming Spirituality
- Book Review
- Book by Diarmuid O Murchu. Review by Clair Woodbury.
- The Battle for God: Fundamentalism vs.
Liberalisms
- Review of Karen Armstrong's incredibly perceptive book.
- Prisms
- A new resource from the Centre is coming in the fall 2003.
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- What's New at the Centre
- An update on what is happening at the Congregational Life Centre. Apr. 2006
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Please send us an e-mail
telling us what you think about any of our articles or how we might improve
our Newsletter. Thanks.
Please feel free to copy any of these articles for use in
your congregation.
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