Memo to Pastors July, 1997

Up Close and Valuing Congregational Contacts

Favorite Scripture verse: I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13.

Best kept secret about Herald Press: As small denominational publishers go, Herald Press has the one of highest levels of loyalty in congregations buying Herald Press products.

What he often does on Saturdays: Represents Mennonite Publishing House at congregation, conference, or denominational meetings.

What J. W. wishes every pastor knew: How much editors and staff value pastor and congregational contacts.

Up Close with Mennonite Publishing House

—Levi Miller, Vice President, Congregational Publishing

Ministers Book Club

Check Us Out . . . We’re Making a Difference! The Herald Press Ministers Book Club is becoming more "pastor-friendly." Membership involves no risk or obli-gation. About once a month you will receive a letter with flyers describing several new books. If you want any or all of the books offered, simply indicate your choices on the enclosed self-addressed postcard and return it by the specified due date. Or you are welcome to fax or e-mail your selections to us. Your order will be processed and sent directly to you. If you do not want the books, there is nothing you need to do. This is an easy and convenient way for you to keep up-to-date on Herald Press books for use in your ministry. For more information, please see the enclosed letter.

Surviving Church Conflict

Peacemaking is never passive. It is an aggressive movement in the church designed to produce holy character and to destroy spiritual darkness, which hurts everyone in the congregation. Many leaders seek a formula to follow for resolving conflict. In Surviving Church Conflict, Dave Peters is more concerned with the spiritual health of peacemakers in tense and chaotic situations.

Peacemakers need to be spiritually fit, with a holy lifestyle, at peace with God. Peters calls would-be peacemakers to allow themselves to be spiritually broken before God. Only then can they discover the will of God and live in it peaceably. Peacemakers use spiritual weapons to strike at sinful strongholds surrounding local ministry. Some may not understand their actions. But if peacemakers stay in God’s presence, God will lead them to spiritual victory in conflict resolution. Price: $10.99 (U.S.); $15.75 (Canada). 160 pages.

In the July Builder

Thomas H. Troeger, Denver, Colorado, writes about hospitality in worship: "A Welcoming God and a Welcoming church." Troeger, on the faculty of Iliff School of Theology, asks: "How do we extend hospitality in our churches to people outside the church whose spiritual landscapes are different from our own?

"I believe the answer lies in principles of hospitality that flow from the hospitality of God toward human beings.

"Hospitality to ourselves: If we cannot see our value as individuals and as a church, we will not be able to extend hospitality to those outside the church.

"Bringing the whole person to God: Once we see ourselves and others as bearing the same holy image, it becomes possible for us to accept more and more of who God has made us to be—creatures rich with gifts and possibilities. That has a profound consequence for our worship. If the landscapes of our hearts have been shaped by worship services that are overwhelmingly oral/aural—hymns, sermon, spoken prayers—we will find that we want to expand those landscapes, to allow for the other ways to know God by touch and movement and sight.

"Practicing the persistence of grace: Persistence is typical of God throughout the Bible. God extends that grace to us in Jesus Christ as the supreme divine act of hospitality toward us human beings. When our worship life extends that grace toward others, we are not simply helping the church to gain new members or to be "with it"; we are extending the hospitality of God to the world. Our welcoming God is known through a welcoming church." Read these additional articles on worship: "Worship: Like a Piece of Art" by Philip K. Clemens; "Keeping Worship Healthy" by Marlene Kropf; "Why I Tell Stories" by Peter J. Dyck. Builder General and Uniform editions are available from Herald Press. Contact us to order material.

Purpose

Peace Sunday (6th) is emphasized in the essay "Love Me, Love My Enemy" in which the writer lists seven principles to guide one in dealing with difficult people. In "It’s Hard to Be Good," a six-year-old helps his mother understand this basic reality when faced with doing good or evil.

In "Peculiarity, God’s Style" (13th), the author learns to appreciate her mother’s insistence that God’s people are a peculiar lot in the world of many peoples. Accepting for one’s self that one has indeed become a child of God takes a little time, but it can feel like an eternity. It may make one look and feel like a "Sheared Sheep." 

In "Ready for a Tiger" (20th), a grandchild teaches her grandmother a lesson on how to prepare to face difficult times. In "A Lesson in the Desert," the author’s hike through a field of cactus brings insight how to come to a better understanding of another person.

"The Monk Who Beat the Gladiators" (27th) is the account of the monk Telemachus who left the desert and entered the coliseum in Rome to stop a gladiator fight. Although he was killed by one of them, his death ended this gruesome practice. "The Price" describes the suffering and death that an oyster must go through in order to produce a pearl that becomes a prized possession.  

Call 1 800 245-7894 for information about our individual and group subscription plans. Enroll your congregation in a free three-month subscription to this discipleship magazine.

With

Live through a "Lethal Gamble," go to camp for that "Perfect Summer," fall into a "Love Trap," take "The Plunge," and you’ll have "A Sure Sign" that you’ve been through With’s annual sex and dating issue! Coming in this July-August issue!

Together

Together, a customized outreach newspaper, is designed to reach all households in a community, but particularly those who have very little or no connection with the Christian church. It points readers to Jesus Christ by means of stories that personally share how Jesus makes a difference in their lives. You can subscribe for about $1 per year per neighbor. Call 1 888 833-3333 for more information. When you call, ask for a FREE copy of Authentic Outreach, a checklist resource that helps you focus your outreach plan. This offer is not available in Canada because of Canadian postal rates and regulations.