Pricey Constructing Religion Neighborhood,
I want you God’s peace on this season after Epiphany. The previous couple of months have been tumultuous in some ways and in lots of locations within the U.S. and past. It has not been a straightforward time to be in ministry or to be the church. Wherever you’re, no matter your ministry seems like proper now, I hope you and your communities are protected and properly.
The work of Christian formation is not any small factor proper now. On this Epiphany season the place we as Christians bear witness to a God who has chosen solidarity with all individuals, we’re additionally witnessing an increasing number of individuals hurting, frightened, and discovering themselves in precarious positions within the wake of latest political occasions. Amid so many wants and uncertainties, it may be arduous to know what to hope, the place to show in scripture, and easy methods to go forth from the eucharistic desk—not to mention easy methods to educate others to do the identical.
What I discover stunning and empowering about formation is that it’s not about having all of the solutions, eradicating all questions, or abandoning all the issues and struggles affecting our lives. The weather of our religion which have fashioned us don’t whisk us out of ourselves, our humanity, {our relationships}, or our neighborhoods. They invite us to be extra totally ourselves, extra totally human, and extra totally current with our neighbors. Our feasts and seasons, prayers and songs, scriptures and sacraments all supply invites to be flesh-and-blood individuals and search an enfleshed God who’s in all issues, who’s on this second with us too.
So I wish to start this letter by expressing my because of you for being a part of this group of people that care about Christian formation, who’re asking questions and getting artistic, who’re displaying up on your communities as greatest as you’ll be able to, and sharing each your successes and learnings with fellow formation leaders to complement everybody’s ministries. The work you’re doing issues, and we at Constructing Religion rely it a privilege to accompany and help you nonetheless we will.
Because of Our 2024 Authors
I additionally wish to categorical my gratitude for all the authors who contributed to Constructing Religion in 2024. Their voices, knowledge, and creativity have offered a deep properly of assets and insights to assist encourage formation ministries throughout ages and contexts. I’m so grateful for the chance to work with every of those authors, and I thank all of them for contributing their work to Constructing Religion’s ministry.
In the event you haven’t had an opportunity to take a look at all of our 2024 authors and their articles, here’s a full checklist in chronological order:
Extra Phrases of Thanks
I additionally wish to carry up the individuals who labored behind the scenes to help Constructing Religion in 2024. Many thanks go to:
- Sarah Bentley Allred, who introduced a wealth of knowledge to our crew as an editor and enabled fruitful collaborations between Constructing Religion and Forma in her former position as Coordinator of Forma Evangelism
- Wallace Benton, who offered invaluable help to the Constructing Religion crew in his position as Affiliate Director of Lifelong Studying in planning, brainstorming, modifying, and extra
- Josh Brown, who contributed in quite a few methods behind the scenes in his position as Operations Supervisor for Lifelong Studying to maintain logistical particulars and assist Constructing Religion attain extra individuals and be as efficient as potential
- Casey Jones, who served as an editor throughout the first half of 2024 and whose time, vitality, and talent helped make Constructing Religion articles shine
- Lorenzo Lebrija, who collaborated with our crew in his position as Govt Director of TryTank Analysis Institute to facilitate focus teams within the fall to discover how Constructing Religion en español can higher serve the formation ministries of Spanish-speaking and bilingual congregations
- Krizia Vargas-García, who introduced experience and talent as an editor for an article in Spanish, which enabled the creator’s work to be printed on Constructing Religion in English and Spanish and attain audiences in each languages
I’m profoundly grateful for the prospect to get to know every of those colleagues and for all they’ve completed to make it potential for Constructing Religion to minister to Christian communities throughout contexts and denominations all through the U.S. and past.
Wanting Forward
Whereas none of us is aware of what this yr holds, my deep hope is that Constructing Religion could supply the type of help and assets that matter most on your formation ministries all through 2025.
We’ll proceed to comb curriculum choices, spotlight new assets, assemble toolkits for church seasons, and have actions and educating ideas that leaders like you’re growing on your formation contexts. We’ll maintain in search of tales, assets, and sensible knowledge that equip and encourage Christian communities to attempt for justice, take care of creation, and minister with probably the most susceptible individuals in our native and world communities. We will even maintain in search of methods to make Constructing Religion extra enriching, inclusive, and accessible on your ministries and communities.
To those ends, we wish to hear from you!
- What are your ministry wants and challenges?
- What matters would you like Constructing Religion articles to deal with?
- What can Constructing Religion do higher to help your ministry and context in 2025?
I hope you’re going to get in contact and share your tales, successes, and desires. You attain our crew by email or by leaving a remark under. Constructing Religion is what it’s due to this group of readers, subscribers, and authors. Your presence and voice matter to us so please attain out!
I want you and your communities a life-giving Epiphany season!
Jodi
Featured picture is by an unknown creator on Pixabay
