Laura Terasaki

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Book Review: Help, Thanks, Wow – The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamott

July 1, 2015 by betasblogadmin Leave a Comment

ANNEIf you were thinking about picking up Eat, Pray, Love for your Summer reading list, I recommend Anne Lamott’s Help, Thanks, Wow instead. I am ashamed to say that this was the first of her many revered works that I had the chance to pick up.

Anne has a brilliant talent for selecting the most perfect and profound words to depict an authentic prayer life. If you are exploring Christianity or not, or if you feel like your prayer life is odd or wanting, you will likely find this book both refreshing and affirming. When I read this book, the author created a space where I felt like I was having a candid conversation steeped in the kind of deep honesty that one can only typically have with that rare longtime best friend who has seen you at you worst and still loves you anyway.

Below are two of my favorite quotes from the book:

“If we stay where we are, where we’re stuck, where we’re comfortable and safe, we die there. We become like mushrooms, living in the dark, with poop up to our chins. If you want to know only what you already know, you’re dying. You’re saying: Leave me alone; I don’t mind this little rathole. It’s warm and dry. Really, it’s fine.”

“…The three things I cannot change are the past, the truth, and you.”

Anyway, if you want to borrow the book from me please do. In fact, I will give it you. While it was a great read, it is not the kind I expect to go back to again and again.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: anne lamott, book review

The Millennial Question

June 5, 2015 by betasblogadmin Leave a Comment

millennials

Over the past few years, the mainline church has seen a dramatic decline in church membership and attendance. Many leaders look around their sanctuary each Sunday and see pews full of seniors yet wonder where all the young people have gone. Thankfully, many have expressed their deep concern over the continuing rise of the un-churched and de-churched and are beginning to consider how to best serve and reach millennials.

As a millenial myself, I’ve seen some really great articles and research that speaks to the very heart of our generation. In fact, one of the most beautiful truths about millenials is that they don’t just want to come to church, they want to BE the church in the world. Below I have included some of the best resources that I have found. I hope that they may be of use to anyone–lay member or clergy, who hopes to serve, nurture, and ultimately show the love of Jesus to this generation that has such a bright future.

Editorials

What Millennials Crave And How The Church Can Relate

Generational Roadblocks

Our Story And The Struggle For Cultural Diversity

Statistical Research

What Millennials Want When They Visit Church

Designing Worship Spaces With Millennials In Mind

6 Reasons Why Young Christians Leave The Church

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: millennials

Book Review: Real Good Church

February 1, 2015 by betasblogadmin Leave a Comment

I recently devoured a really good book called Real Good Church: How our church camechurch back from the dead, and yours can, too. If you care about building or revitalizing small congregations, then this is THE book for you.

The author, Rev. Molly Phinney Baskette, writes from her experience of transformation in her congregation over ten years. When she first arrived, they had about 35 attenders at a Sunday worship service and six children in Sunday School, today her congregation averages 130 at Sunday worship and 100 in their Sunday School program.

This book is filled with so many practical gems for small churches that want to grow. The author covers everything from maintaining the physical church building, to growing children’s ministries, to financial stewardship, social justice and more.

Lastly, as if this book couldn’t get any better, Rev. Molly includes an appendix rich with resources you can use in your own congregation such as a visitor card, bulletin, stewardship sermons, and more.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: church growth, molly phinney baskette, real good church

New Blog Site

July 15, 2014 by betasblogadmin 2 Comments

New blogs to come soon!

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Welcome

Thank you for stopping by and checking out my site. I am a Pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and am always open to where God’s Spirit may lead. I have experience working in the PCUSA, ELCA, and UMC and am certified for Interim/Transitional Ministry. My primary ministry interests include: community transformation, social justice, creative and vibrant worship, evangelism, discipleship, missional ministry, church-planting, and multicultural ministry.

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"He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" - Micah 6:8

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