In the fascinating book, Free: The Future of a Radical Price, Chris Anderson argues persuasively that businesses need to get a lot better at giving things away for free. You undoubtedly have experienced the power of free in many places and forms before. Cell phones are given away as an incentive to get you to switch cell phone plans. iTunes offers a few free songs each week, surely because they get people to visit their store regularly to browse and to discover something new. Restaurants lure customers in with BOGO (Buy One, Get One free) offers. The technique is powerful, and it certainly can build loyalty and interest among customers...or visitors, for that matter.

Churches, of course, don't charge people for their services in ways that a business might, but the free concept still has many useful applications in ministry settings. One form of free that many churches use is the visitor gift bag, mug, folder, or envelope. In my own church visits in recent weeks, I have received such items as two small loaves of home-baked banana bread, a copy of John's gospel in The Message translation, a bottle of water, pens, brochures, candy, tracts, and even a carabiner. Each of these was no doubt chosen because it communicated something about the congregation. (The carabiner, you ask? The church hoped I wouldn't feel "disconnected.")

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

We are quickly approaching the beginning of a new year. Don’t panic! January 1, 2010 is still 71 days away. However, The Liturgical Year, which many churches follow with slight variations, begins on the first Sunday of Advent - November 29 this year. That date is only 39 days away.

The liturgical or Christian year divides the year into a cycle of seasons. These seasons determine when holidays and celebrated, and what scriptures are read throughout the year. Many churches use a lectionary to select scripture passages, prayers and music that correspond with the season.

Cold weather and even snow have arrived early here in my own state of Iowa, and when the cold and snow arrives, people begin to stay at home more frequently. If this happens where you live, that makes fall or winter the perfect time to start a film club to give people in your congregation a chance to connect!

A film club can take many forms...

I am one of those people who are frustrated by seeing Christmas decorations in the stores already. I’m not ready to celebrate Christmas yet. I begin celebrating Christmas after Thanksgiving, or when Advent begins, whichever comes first. And as challenging as it is in our commercial society, I make an effort to try to keep the Advent season holy and meaningful rather than busy and stressed.

Are you a bucket filler or a bucket dipper? If this question makes sense to you, I suspect you have read the children’s book, Have You Filled a Bucket Today? This book, written by Carol McCloud, uses a simple idea to explore the effect that expressions of kindness and love have on other people. Although this book does not mention God, it definitely promotes living the way that Jesus taught us to live. It would make a useful supplement to lessons on a variety of Bible stories and topics.

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.)