We understand. You're pretty busy. There were a lot of things on your plate way back on April 29th when we told you about 350 Day, the International Day of Climate Action, on October 24th. But now, the day is not far away, global warming hasn't gone away as an important topic for the faith community, and it's time to act! Here's your "Procrastinator's Guide" to taking part in just 4 1/2 weeks. You really can do it!

Week 1 (half week, thru Sept. 25):

• Read through as much of the 350 website as you can. it will inspire you, give you lots of great information and help, and connect you with others in your area who are already committed to taking action. At the very least, watch this90-second video, take a look at the 9-step organizing plan, and check out the page for people of faith.
• Find at least one group in your congregation with whom you can do your planning: a youth group, Sunday school class, small group, staff members, or just 3 or 4 friends in the congregation. Set a time to meet this weekend. We have a few ideas to get you started with your brainstorming.

God’s world is an amazing place. God’s handiwork is on display all around us. How often do we thank God for the earth and its wonders? An easy and fun way to encourage children (and youth and adults to thank God for the world we live in is to teach them about clapping prayers.

At the back of the Southern Baptist church I visited last Sunday, special business cards were available for the congregation members to take. Containing the church name, address, phone number, website address, and Sunday schedule on the front and a map on the back, these cards were intended for members to take on their way out the door to hand out to friends when the opportunity to do so presented itself. Not coincidentally, that congregation has helped to start multiple congregations locally and elsewhere, including one that is now among the largest in my town.

Evangelism is clearly in the DNA of many conservative churches, but the "E-word" is practically taboo in many mainline and progressive congregations. Yet growth is impossible in a church where the members are not invitational and don't grasp that they must "reproduce" new congregational leaders.

Last Wednesday, I encouraged you to spend time reflecting on your Vacation Bible School program. Eight years ago, I was part of a group that evaluated the VBS experience at our church. What we discovered was that although our VBS appeared to have gone very well, we were not meeting the needs of all age groups. We noticed that although VBS was open to children age 3 through 6th grade, only 8 of the 80 kids who participated were in 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th grade

A brainstorming session resulted in an idea which was implemented the following year. This is how VBS On the Road began at our church.

Okay, I know what you are probably thinking… Vacation Bible School is done for this year. It will not happen again until next summer. And right now I am busy with getting Sunday School started. I do not have time to plan next year’s VBS now!

I agree. It is too early to plan for next year’s VBS. But now, when the Vacation Bible School experience is still in your mind, is a great time to reflect on how VBS went this year. If you haven’t already, take some time to evaluate the VBS program at your church. You might want to gather a few people who were involved with this year’s VBS and have a brainstorming session. (I recommend an informal gathering rather than a formal meeting…perhaps at a coffee house.)

After Tim’s email on Monday about parenting talk points on scripture, we received a request to use the information in a church newsletter. The reader is also planning to hand the article out on the day that the church presents Bibles to third graders. Both of these are excellent ideas, and it started me thinking about ways that other information from Different Voice might be used.

A few weeks ago I told you about a first-ever community potluck idea that would be taking place in my town. We called it All Ames Eats Together, with the idea being that we wanted to have lots of people come together on one day to share a meal, donate a bit of money, and talk about food issues in our county.

SoulCollage is a unique process that involves creating cards filled with rich and personal imagery which reveal aspects of the self. Creating the cards is a lot of fun! You browse through magazines and catalogs to find images that strike you, cut them out, and paste them on small matte boards in a collage-like way. Each 5x8 card is visual representation of a completion of the sentence, "I am one who...". The process can be therapeutic, inspirational, or useful in clarifying values, and the cards become a lasting personal reminder of a deep truth, insight, or commitment. 

A SoulCollage workshop is best led by a trained facilitator, though anyone who has read the SoulCollage book will understand the process well enough to lead a workshop. While the process is very individual, it's also something that is enjoyed much more when done within the context of community.

It's no secret that times are tough in many communities across our nation. Charitable organizations, homeless and battered women's shelters, and churches are experiencing high demand for their services. Your congregation can have a huge impact on an organization--and learn a lot in the process about how our everyday skills can have a possitive effect on others--by planning an A.H.A. (All Hands Activated) Month.

Start by choosing an organization to assist. The ideal organization would be one that has a small staff but which offers many services, such as a shelter. Set up a meeting with the staff to talk about what their needs are, especially anything that never seems to get done. Get as long a list together as possible, with details about such things as specific hours or days the work needs to be done, supplies available, and specific skill requirements. Find out if they would like to have congregation members contact a specific person or phone number. 

Increasingly in many congregations, visitors do not attend a worship service, instead taking part only in Christian education classes or other mid-week groups. If your congregation is only collecting the names and addresses of those in worship, you may be missing an opportunity to provide great hospitality to those who take part only in other activities.

Provide your teachers with a simple contact card that they can give to and ask visitors to fill out. If your budget will allow it, also have teachers give small folders or envelopes available to give guests with such items as a church brochure, a business card, a Christian education guide, a notice about the church's child and youth protection policy, a guide to your church library, a map of the room locations, a magnet, an imprinted pen, and so on. I also recommend putting together a list of recommended reading and websites so that individuals who are new to progressive theology can begin to explore this topic on their own if it interests them.