A church to explore: St Andrews Lutheran Church Eden Priarie

By exlporing other church's we can often gain ideas, tools and ideas that can help us in ministry and mission
This month's church to explore is St Andrews Lutheran Church, Eden Priarie
St Andrews is an ELCA church at http://standrewlu.org/

What you will discover!!
Information about:

• Generally about the congregation
• Their approach to Worship and Music
• Their approach to Children and Youth
• Their approach to Small Groups and the variety of small groups they have
• Their approach to giving
• Their approach to service:  in the congregation, in the community, nationally and abroad
• Their events

Online Lutheran Video Courses from Institute of Lutheran Theology

Institute of Lutheran Theology has developed video courses for congregations to use free of charge.  The courses include:

• The only thing necessary - listening to Jesus
• Communications and relationships
• Ten Commandments
• New Testament Survey
• Learning to follow

To view these courses visit http://www.ilt.org/#!courses-for-congregations/c1s8b

Church to visit: Crosspoint Community Church

Crosspoint is a Lutheran sacramental church that understands it is ministering in a Post Christian world (if you want to know what this means visit here)

They have 2 locations Houston and Katy

This is their vision
We want to make everyday followers of Jesus who transform their communities.
Somewhere there is a guy who is planning on mowing his lawn on Sunday morning, or playing golf, or sleeping in. Our hope is that somehow God would use CrossPoint to get his attention and inspire him to get up next Sunday morning and take his family to church, to start following Jesus and be the change his family desperately needing. Everything about our worship services, sports ministries, serving opportunities, teaching, and reason for existing is geared toward creating occasions to get that guy's (or gal's) attention. From the youngest to the oldest, we want to see people rescued by Jesus Christ and help believers grow as disciples. We believe that no one should live life alone, that saved people serve people, that we can't outgive God, and that found people find people.

On their web you will discover:
Information for new comers
Steps you can take in being part of the Crosspoint Community Church
Ministries 
Events
Ways to Give
Online Sermon videos
Leadership training
An online community resource called The City

Visit Crosspoint at https://www.crosspt.org/

Church to visit: ichurch (Immanuel Buderim Lutheran Church)

Immanuel Lutheran Church Buderim

Mission
To be a growing community of Christ in response to God’s love.

Vision Of The Future
Uniting generations and cultures,
Pursuing fully alive relationships,
Free in fearless faith,
Reaching out, walking with, and serving,
As Christ serves us!

Five Core Values
Jesus is Lord. -“He is the image of the invisible God.” (Col 1:15)
Everyone is Welcome  - “Because God has no favourites!” (Acts 10:34b)
Love Changes People - “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.” (1 John 4:16)
Everyone Has Something to Offer - “We all have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” (Rom 12:6)
Everyone Needs Jesus - “God so loved the world…” (Jn 3:16)

On their web site you will find:

• Information about Baptism
• Information about Marriage
• Details of upcoming events
• Information to hep children connect and grow in faith
• Bible available in mp3
• Planning your funeral
• Bible Study tools
• Life transforming groups
• Team covenants
• How to serve Holy Communion
• How to lead prayer
• Information about Groups
• plus more

Visit their web site here

Also visit their pastor's site:  http://www.gracespace.info/ for sermons, confessions and bible studies

Church to visit: St Lydia's a dinner church

St Lydia's calls itself a dinner church...tied to the Lutheran and Episcopalian traditions

Who they say they are?

Our congregation is looking for an experience of the Holy that is strong enough to lean on, deep enough to question, and challenging enough to change us.

Our life together is founded on three pillars:

• Sharing the Meal: Our worship takes place at the table around a big, delicious meal that we cook together. Communion is made as we share food and ourselves by exploring scripture, singing, and praying together.
• Telling Our Story: Jesus told a lot of stories, and so do we. We tell the story of Christ's dying and rising, and through it, uncover the daily dyings and risings that comprise our lives.
• Working Together: When you arrive at St. Lydia's, you'll be put straight to work preparing dinner or setting the table. Working together unites us as a community and brings us closer
  to God.

Visit their site to discover:

More about St Lydia's

How you can get involved in building the church community

Frequently Asked Questions

a guided tour

weekly blog

Visit St Lydias at http://www.stlydias.org/

Church to visit: St Marks Epping

St Marks Lutheran Church Epping has recently upgraded their web site.
Features include:

• Information about the congregation
• Worship information including times, kids church, baptisms, weddings and funerals
• Details relaing to their ministries including pathways to discipleship
• Whats on
• Current worship series, weekly bulletin, weekly devotions, grow courses...
• Living out loud weekly family that relate to the sermon series

Take a visit to their web site at http://stmarksepping.org.au

Church to visit: Lutheran Church of the Cross West Fargo

The Lutheran Church of the Cross - West Fargo is a vibrant community of faith with strong worship and wonderful opportunities for education, service, and fellowship.

It has grown in worship attendance from 200 in 2004 to 650 in 2011. 

Visit their site to discover information about their worship, education, service and fellowship opportunities.   

May you will pick an idea or two to share with your congregation.

Visit their site at http://www.lcc-wf.com/

Generation Church: A network of micro churches

Generation Church is part of the Church of the Lutheran Church which has developed a network of micro churches as the way the congregation ministers to people around Phoenix
to discover more visit http://www.azgeneration.com/main/

A congregtion to visit: Family of Christ Lutheran Church

The Family of Christ Lutheran Church in Ham Lake has an emphasis on families that flows through all aspects of the congregation.
They are members of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
You can explore their various worship times, listen to sermons, explore how they provide child care, adult education, small groups, mission partners, women's ministry, men's ministry, opportunities for children and youth, resources for parents, and more

A congregation to visit: Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Bronx

This month visit Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Bronx and discover their approach to mission and ministry...

A congregation to visit: Bethlehem Lutheran Church Lakewood

Bethlehem Lutheran Church and School Lakewood is a diverse congregation that understands its calling to be a regional center for Missouri Synod Lutheran Christianity, to be an equipping place that helps as many people as possible experience the fullness of life in Jesus:

• Cultivating remarkable worship, that people would receive and respond to God’s gifts,
• Intentionally discipling, that people would become more like Jesus,
• Nurturing significant relationships, that people would grow spiritually by sharing together their life in Jesus.

They offer a broad range of opportunities for people to engage with God and with each other.

Their features include:

Two worship sites running simultaneously on the same campus
Saturday – Contemporary worship, Sunday - Traditional and Contemporary worship
MIDI technology (computer controlled instruments) integrated into contemporary worship
Dynamic leadership training for ministry team leaders
Thriving and well-organized LifeLight Bible study program for 300+ adults
Day school ranked consistently in Denver’s top 25 private schools.
370 in the Day school, Preschool through 8th grade
Expanding rotational Children’s Ministry
Youth Coffee Shop/Ministry Center
Fall musicals drawing crowds of 2,000 on a weekend
Mission field is the 100 foot circle around each member
A staff that works and plays well together
Emphasis on staff health/wellness and healthy boundaries
Team-based governance
Ownership of a medical complex divided between church use and medical tenants
Willingness to try new things
Identity as a “sending place” with several internship programs including a vicar
Family Ministry Resource Center to strengthen family life

There are even some resources available which you may be able to adapt and use, including devotional DVDs

Go to http://bethluth.net/index.html

A web site worth visiting: North West District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

This District web site has a wealth of material to support congregations, pastors, lay workers and members of the church in their call to be disciples....

This District takes seriously some of the following:
Prayer: take a look at their many prayer resources
Equipping pastors and congregations with computer resources and information
Expanding ministries, which include bible studies, devotions, resources, outreach ideas,
Leadership Advancement Process
Healthy congregations
Educational Services
Stewardship
And many missionary stories

Please visit them at http://www.nowlcms.org/default.aspx

A Congregation to explore: Ringwood and Knox Lutheran Parish

Based in the Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne this parish is committed to the mission of passing on the faith to our children. They aim to assist parents with the joy and responsibility of teaching their children about Jesus and what he has done for them.

Their web site offers a lot of information about the two congregations, which highlight some of the possibilities in parish ministry, particularly in the areas of worship and church life.

They also have a significant resources page where you can find resources including sermons, Ideas for Kids, Bible resources, devotions, dramas, faith at home resources, journeying together resources and education resources...

You can begin exploring their web site at: http://www.ringwoodknoxparish.org.au

A congregation to visit: Living Grace Community Lutheran Church Toowoomba

Living Grace Lutheran Community Church
Vision includes:
Looking towards our amazing God who is at work around us and among us. He loves us.
Staying close to Jesus and be faithful in your everyday walk with him.
Developing the discipline of a daily quiet time with God (cf. Life Journal).
Committing to studying the course Experiencing God and while you learn Biblical principles commit to knowing and doing the will of God.
God may not yet reveal to us where he wants us to be in twenty years time but every new day we want to recognize where he wants us to be in mission as individuals and also as a congregation. THINK BIG. EACH ONE TEACH ONE. IT WILL COST US.

Dr Edgar Mayer, the senior Pastor of the newest Lutheran congregation in Toowoomba (a place with a large number of Lutheran congregations), has developed a range of resources for his congregation and the wider church...

On theire web site you will find the following:

Papers including:
Allowing The LCA To Repent by Edgar Mayer
Prophecy In Today's Church
Experiencing God

Sermon Series:
But Wait There Is More
How To Get Ready For The Infilling With The Holy Spirit.
Unlocking your life
Baptism
Holy Communion
Healing
Prayer
Sex and Marriage
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Answers to Agony
Justifying Grace
Law and Gospel

Small Group Material:
40 Days Of Unity Small Group Transcripts
Studies in Luke and Acts

Creative Worship Resources

Scripts

Sermons

To discover these and more resources visit http://www.livinggracetoowoomba.org/

A congregation worth visiting: St Lukes Lutheran Church Oviedo Florida

St. Luke's Is . . .
Bible-based.We believe that the entire Bible is the Word of God. It is the only source of all we teach.
Gospel-motivated.We proclaim the Good News that God has reconciled the world to Himself through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Nurturing.Helping people grow in their faith through a K-8 grade school Sunday School, and Youth and Adult Bible Study.
Sacramental.Baptism and the Lord's Supper are central to our life together.
Balanced Worship.We blend newer worship forms with the time-honored liturgy of the Church.
Active and Caring.We seek to motivate and equip all people for service in Jesus' name.
Outreach Oriented.We seek to make Christ known throughout our community and the world.

There web site http://www.stlukes-oviedo.org/ offers an insight into a wide range of ministries, outreach approaches and resources with a Lutheran emphasis. If you are looking for ideas it may well get you started.

A congregation to visit: Immanuel Lutheran Church Lake Geneva

As a follow up to our comeback churches information.

In 1995 this congregation had 62 members and guess what their average age was 72. By 2001 there were 100 children attending this congregation....read about it at http://www.wfn.org/2001/11/msg00284.html and http://www.joyonline.org/church_coach/ccn/project_leadership/immanuel.html

Now this didn't happen without some people hearing God's voice...and responding to it....

Go visit them at http://www.immanuellakegeneva.org/ and discover this community

Congregations to visit:Lutheran Ministries of South West Oklahoma

Smaller congregations working for the purpose of mission and not just to save money can come up with effective ways to brings God's love amongst their communities.

The Lutheran Ministries of South West Oklahoma is Lutheran congregation in Altus, Elk City and Lone Wolf.
We're a Christian ministry offering a broad menu of opportunities for families and individuals to take part in a celebrating spiritual community. Human care, Christian education, children & family, music and community service are particularly important values in our ministry. Our mission is to care for people in such a way that they experience the presence of Jesus.
Our ministry takes an approach of partnership, networking churches and linking people to ministry throughout southwestern Oklahoma. You'll always see lots of people all over our web pages because people like you are the focus of our ministry.
http://www.lutheranok.com/about.htm and http://www.lutheranok.org/nextgen/

On their web site you will find some information about:
A Christian Martial Arts ministry
A link to Seccutus, their praise and worship band
Scripture scrapbooking
ONLine Sermons
Links to each of their congregations
50 days in the bible journey
Links to learning about Islam
An article on holding up under pressure

As you read through their web site you see they value people and partnerships...maybe something there to help you

A congregation to visit: St Pauls Townsville

A congregation web site well worth visiting is St Pauls Townsville Australia at http://www.gracespace.info/

There is an abundant range of resources relating to many different aspects of mission and being part of bringing God's presence into people's lives

Following are some of the resources they offer (free of charge):
40 days of real life faith: how to live faith practically
Welcoming new comers
Ministering during times of suicide
Grief
Confirmation
First Communion
How to be a role model for young people
Marriage resources
Understanding Grace
Youth and family ministry: Child in our hands

Congregation: Lutheran Church of Hope Iowa

This church has a broad range of ministries, and many of these have some clear biblical values based to them

Have a look at the information concerning baptism, there is some helpful information

You can find the Lutheran Church of Hope at http://www.hopewdm.org/

A congregation to explore: Concordia Lutheran Church San Antonio Texas

Visit Concordia Lutheran Church San Antonio Texas at http://www.concordialutheranchurch.com/

They have a considerable number of ministries, including teaching resources. Well worth exploring