July 6, 2021
God Has Prepared All Of Us
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Heartland District Co-Lay Leader Lori Bruens has developed a mantra over the years: At the beginning of the year, she anticipates that she will be different by the end of the year than on January 1. Over the last few years, she started writing down significant changes, since sometimes she forgets where or how she learned something new. These changes come from all sorts of avenues: a book, a podcast, devotion, a small group study and a conversation.
Lori challenges you to ponder how you've changed. We're just over halfway through 2021 - a year that isn't the same is 2020 yet is still isn't quite normal.
Read Lori's entire reflection on the Lay Leader blog →
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Upcoming Events
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PML Introduction Course
Part-Time Ministerial Leaders, or PML, is an educational multi-tool that is designed to be both a program (like a degree) and individual courses (freestanding course opportunities). Its dual purpose fulfills four educational needs in our Conference. If you’re a lay person seeking to learn more about the Methodist tradition or are pursuing Certified Lay Minister status, PML has options for you. Learn more at www.moumethodist.org/pml
Other Upcoming Events
While we'll have fall events to announce soon, we invite you to recharge and reconnect this summer. See our full event calendar — including district office hours and save-the-dates for fall events — at www.moumethodist.org/events
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Featured Resource
Workshop: Radical Kinship with Father Boyle
View the video recording of and accompanying conversation guide for the Radical Kinship workshop led by Father Gregory Boyle as a part of MOAC20 KINDOM. Rev. Gregory J. Boyle, S.J. is the Founder and Executive Director of Homeboy Industries. Father Boyle entered the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1972 and was ordained a priest in 1984. He was appointed pastor of Dolores Mission Church in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles in 1986 where he served through 1992. Homeboy Industries was born in 1988 and is now the largest gang intervention, rehab and re-entry program in the United States.
View the Recording →
More Resources
GCORR's Expanding the Table Podcast
"Expanding the Table" is GCORR's new podcast on practicing anti-racism.
Currently two episodes are available: Episode one centers on racism, police reform and faith. In episode 2, three Asian-American Christian theologians examine the history and current realities of anti-Asian racism in the United States and what every Christian should know and do.
School-Church Partnership Profile
The purpose of the profile is to assist church leaders in establishing deep, meaningful, ongoing partnerships with local schools. These partnerships go beyond providing supplies and resources by developing interpersonal relationships between church members and students, especially those with poor literacy skills.
New Places Grants
Congregational Excellence is accepting grant applications from now until September 15 from churches that are establishing new places for new people. The first step is to fill out a worksheet and submit it to your District Superintendent.
See the full resource library at www.moumethodist.org/resourcelibrary
