03Jan 2017 by Marcia Shetler No Comments
ESC NEWS January 2017

ESC NEWS January 2017

General
ESC NEWS January 2017 Winter Online Courses: Stewardship & Culture, Stewardship & Financial Health There's still time to register for the Stewardship and Culture: Building Contagious Generosity online course. The Rev. Dr. Betsy Schwarzentraub is the instructor. Late registration closes January 9. The Stewardship and Culture: Building Contagious Generosity course explores how our culture influences faithful stewardship and generous giving. In this course, you will learn how to frame insightful critical questions about consumerism, embrace God's vision of sufficiency, recognize the additional impact of technology on consumerism, and begin to create a Generosity Plan for your congregation. The Stewardship & Financial Health online course begins February 13. Rev. Bruce Barkhauer is the instructor. In this course, you will learn ten economic principles to guide you in building the capacity for…
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03Jan 2017 by Marcia Shetler No Comments
Tell Your Faith Story

Tell Your Faith Story

General
Consider how a first and perhaps negative impression of another person changes when you learn more about that person and his or her circumstances. Consider how hearing your faith story modifies a person’s impression of you as well. Stories help us become acquainted with others and then to deepen our relationships with them. When people withhold their stories from each other, their relationships remain formal and relatively cold. Imagine growing together as a congregation when faith stories are shared. Think about your answers to the following questions: When were you first aware of Jesus Christ as something more than a historical person? How did you come to embrace Jesus Christ as your Savior? What helps you live a Christian (Christ-like) life? What is most challenging or difficult about your life…
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