“This all sounds great, but I have to ask: how much were you working each week to make this happen?” This honest question, asked in the workshop I was co-leading on intergenerational ministry, was one that I wasn’t quite ready for.
https://next.myworshiptimes31.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2019/05/featured-2019-ng-audience.jpg200398Linda Kurtz/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2016/01/NEXT-Logo-FINAL-Horizontal_lato-1030x229.pngLinda Kurtz2019-05-14 13:42:502019-05-14 13:42:50The Energy to Keep Going
I would encourage the planners of future NEXT Church National Gatherings to make this “Holy Time” for People of Color to gather together separately a new tradition. I would also suggest that during this time the group consider adopting the norm of “carefronting.”
Church conferences can be, lets face it, weird. Long exhausting days can overwhelm me with an even worse sense of imposters syndrome than my first few weeks of seminary. But this year, at the NEXT Church National Gathering, I had a uniquely different experience, and I’m not the only one.
https://next.myworshiptimes31.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2019/05/featured-2019-ng-workshop.jpg200398Linda Kurtz/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2016/01/NEXT-Logo-FINAL-Horizontal_lato-1030x229.pngLinda Kurtz2019-05-07 17:32:432019-05-07 18:25:32Sources of New Life
In the closing worship service of the 2018 National Gathering in Baltimore, Rev. Kathryn Johnston invites us to consider the holy way through her engaging sermon. Consider using this resource for any group looking to consider doing things a new way.
https://next.myworshiptimes31.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2018/05/featured-kathryn-2018.jpg200398Linda Kurtz/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2016/01/NEXT-Logo-FINAL-Horizontal_lato-1030x229.pngLinda Kurtz2019-04-29 22:14:582019-04-29 22:14:58On the Holy Way
Tali Hairston gave a keynote at the 2019 NEXT Church National Gathering in which he used the story of Naomi and Ruth to talk about belonging, equity, story, interrogating whiteness, and the power of transformational relationships. After watching the keynote, consider these questions.
As we start Eastertide, this testimony offered by Ken Evers-Hood at the 2019 NEXT Church National Gathering is a beautiful reflection for the Easter season. It would be appropriate as a personal devotion, for a a group of church professionals or clergy, or for a staff team to watch and reflect on together.
https://next.myworshiptimes31.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2019/04/featured-ken-testimony.jpg200398Linda Kurtz/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2016/01/NEXT-Logo-FINAL-Horizontal_lato-1030x229.pngLinda Kurtz2019-04-22 13:38:192019-04-22 13:38:19Resurrection is Not an Argument
In his keynote at the 2017 National Gathering in Kansas City, Dr. Soong-Chan Rah discusses the changing landscape of our culture, how that affects our churches, and how the dominant gaze of white culture continues to divide and disconnect us from our neighbors.
https://next.myworshiptimes31.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2019/04/featured-soong-chan-rah.jpg200398Linda Kurtz/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2016/01/NEXT-Logo-FINAL-Horizontal_lato-1030x229.pngLinda Kurtz2019-04-17 14:08:072019-04-17 14:08:07Confronting the Dominant Gaze of White Culture
In her sermon at the 2019 National Gathering in Seattle, Rev. Dr. Kelle Brown preaches on the subject “Bitter,” referring to the name Naomi claims for herself in the book of Ruth. Attending to the truth told in this sermon might be a practice to consider this Holy Week as an individual practice of devotion, or with a small group.
In their testimony at the 2019 National Gathering in Seattle, Heidi Husted Armstrong and Scott Lumsden talk about the story of First Seattle Presbyterian Church. This 30-minute video is a resource for any church group – the session, committees, or teams – to dig into what it takes to transform into the new thing in which God is calling them.
https://next.myworshiptimes31.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2019/04/featured-heidi-testimony.jpg200398Linda Kurtz/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2016/01/NEXT-Logo-FINAL-Horizontal_lato-1030x229.pngLinda Kurtz2019-04-11 18:43:352019-04-11 18:43:35What it Takes to Transform
In her testimony during the 2016 National Gathering, Jessica Vazquez Torres offers a strong challenge to the church to get serious about addressing the evil that is racism in meaningful ways. This 30 minute video is a resource for leaders and congregations who are already talking about race, racism, and white supremacy and want to lean into that tension.
https://next.myworshiptimes31.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2019/04/featured-jessica-jvt-testimony.jpg200398Linda Kurtz/wp-content/uploads/sites/55/2016/01/NEXT-Logo-FINAL-Horizontal_lato-1030x229.pngLinda Kurtz2019-04-09 15:58:232019-04-09 15:58:23Addressing the Evil That is Racism
The Energy to Keep Going
/0 Comments/in National Gathering /by Linda Kurtz“This all sounds great, but I have to ask: how much were you working each week to make this happen?” This honest question, asked in the workshop I was co-leading on intergenerational ministry, was one that I wasn’t quite ready for.
Carefronting as True Allyship
/0 Comments/in National Gathering /by Linda KurtzI would encourage the planners of future NEXT Church National Gatherings to make this “Holy Time” for People of Color to gather together separately a new tradition. I would also suggest that during this time the group consider adopting the norm of “carefronting.”
Sources of New Life
/0 Comments/in National Gathering /by Linda KurtzChurch conferences can be, lets face it, weird. Long exhausting days can overwhelm me with an even worse sense of imposters syndrome than my first few weeks of seminary. But this year, at the NEXT Church National Gathering, I had a uniquely different experience, and I’m not the only one.
On the Holy Way
/0 Comments/in Leadership, Mission Engagement, National Gathering /by Linda KurtzIn the closing worship service of the 2018 National Gathering in Baltimore, Rev. Kathryn Johnston invites us to consider the holy way through her engaging sermon. Consider using this resource for any group looking to consider doing things a new way.
What Does Belonging Look Like?
/0 Comments/in Contemporary Culture, Leadership, Mission Engagement /by Linda KurtzTali Hairston gave a keynote at the 2019 NEXT Church National Gathering in which he used the story of Naomi and Ruth to talk about belonging, equity, story, interrogating whiteness, and the power of transformational relationships. After watching the keynote, consider these questions.
Resurrection is Not an Argument
/1 Comment/in Contemporary Culture, Leadership, National Gathering /by Linda KurtzAs we start Eastertide, this testimony offered by Ken Evers-Hood at the 2019 NEXT Church National Gathering is a beautiful reflection for the Easter season. It would be appropriate as a personal devotion, for a a group of church professionals or clergy, or for a staff team to watch and reflect on together.
Confronting the Dominant Gaze of White Culture
/in Leadership, National Gathering /by Linda KurtzIn his keynote at the 2017 National Gathering in Kansas City, Dr. Soong-Chan Rah discusses the changing landscape of our culture, how that affects our churches, and how the dominant gaze of white culture continues to divide and disconnect us from our neighbors.
Embracing Mara
/in Contemporary Culture, National Gathering /by Linda KurtzIn her sermon at the 2019 National Gathering in Seattle, Rev. Dr. Kelle Brown preaches on the subject “Bitter,” referring to the name Naomi claims for herself in the book of Ruth. Attending to the truth told in this sermon might be a practice to consider this Holy Week as an individual practice of devotion, or with a small group.
What it Takes to Transform
/in Church Leadership, Leadership, Mission Engagement, National Gathering, Resources /by Linda KurtzIn their testimony at the 2019 National Gathering in Seattle, Heidi Husted Armstrong and Scott Lumsden talk about the story of First Seattle Presbyterian Church. This 30-minute video is a resource for any church group – the session, committees, or teams – to dig into what it takes to transform into the new thing in which God is calling them.
Addressing the Evil That is Racism
/in Church Leadership, Contemporary Culture, Mission Engagement, National Gathering, Resources, Theological Reflections /by Linda KurtzIn her testimony during the 2016 National Gathering, Jessica Vazquez Torres offers a strong challenge to the church to get serious about addressing the evil that is racism in meaningful ways. This 30 minute video is a resource for leaders and congregations who are already talking about race, racism, and white supremacy and want to lean into that tension.