Superintendent's Letter to Churches Gathered in Annual Meeting
Download a copy of the superintendent's letter to Midwest Conference churches gathered together for their annual meetings. Also, if you need a copy of the Covenant President's letter, click here.
Letter-to-Churches-gathered-in-annual-meeting-2009-2010.pdf
New week of prayer resource!
NEW BIRTH - LIVING A LIFE OF PRAYER
…a guide for deepening our relationship with God through prayer
Developed
for the 2010 week of prayer, this resource is a seven-session guide for
individual, family, or small group study, reflection, and interaction.
From an initial understanding of our relationship with God to our
intercession on behalf of others, we are dependent on the Holy Spirit's
work. This resource reminds us that life with Jesus is new every
morning because of God's faithfulness.
Go to: prayer-week-2010
New Resources Designed to Encourage the Unemployed
CHICAGO, IL (November 10, 2009) – A new biblically based resource
designed for those who have become unemployed has been
unveiled by
Biblica, a faith-based organization operating in 46 countries...
Are you drowning?
There are 1,000 things on your mind...
Are you one of them?
- Can you think of any relationships in your very public life where you can
share personal failure and know that it is totally safe?
- If you are in personal financial, moral or relational crises, where do you go to find needed supp
ort and resources?
- Are you reconsidering your 'call to ministry' or, perhaps just needing to hear a fresh word from God?
SANCTUARY MINISTRY
Sanctuary is a non-reporting ministry of care and support for pastors and their (spouses) families. Sanctuary ministers offer a confidential ear, are available to meet by phone or in person, provide a sounding board in the midst of crises
or challenging life circumstances, and are prepared to direct you to confidential resources for retreats, counseling, spiritual direction and personal study.
- Have you been so absorbed in the spiritual growth of others that your own spiritual life is bogged down and stagnant?
- Have you come to the place in life where you are unable to distinguish between 'who you are' and 'what you do'?
- What would it be like to have a spiritual companion along on your faith/ministry journey, Or...to have someone with a deep desire to listen prayerfully with you for the presence of God?
SPIRITUAL DIRECTION
Spiritual Direction is also an available resource for pastors/staff who have a desire to grow closer to God by recognizing God's presence and voice in every area of life. Spiritual Directors offer the gift of "holy listening" in a setting of prayer and confidentiality. Trained spiritual directors are available to pastors in the Midwest Conference at no cost.
- Do you ever feel alone in ministry?
- Do you wonder if ministry colleagues
experience the same ministry challenges? or have similar doubts about personal competency?
- Have you ever wished for a spiritual/ministry friend with whom you could share ideas and resources?
- When was the last time anyone offered to sit quietly to listen and then pray for you?
CLUSTER GROUPS
Local Peer Cluster Groups are being established in each region of the conference to provide a consistent listening
environment of discernment and prayer. Groups will meet on a regular basis to provide opportunities to know colleagues at a personal and professional level. Cluster groups are dynamic and may change from time to time depending on size, number and location of area pastors.
For information on these free resources, call:
Jim Persson 303-463-2401 or Tom Glossi 970-215-2451.
Sanctuary-Ministry-Brochure-6-08.pdf
Christian Ministry of Listening, Discernment and Prayer
Midwest Conference pastors graduating from the Center for Spiritual Direction at North Park Theological Seminary are: David Dillon, Tom Glossi, Katie Martinez, Dana Mattson (lay leader), Tim Musselwhite, Rick Mylander, Monty Newton, Sue Radosti and Carol Roth. They have completed the two-year training program to become spiritual directors. The program was created as a component of the sustaining Pastoral Excellence initiative, seeking to enlarge the pool of spiritual directors that are available to Covenant pastors and their congregations.
Spiritual direction is a Christian ministry of listening, discernment, and prayer. Rather than literally "directing," spiritual directors welcome a person's stories of life and faith, helping to notice where God is present and how His will may be revealed. All of life's emotions and experiences -- spiritual highs and lows, affirmations and doubts -- are rich sources of dialogue and prayer in spiritual direction.
Contact the Midwest Conference Office at 1-888-871-3020 or e-mail: midcovcon@qwestoffice.net if interested in seeking a spiritual director located in your region.
Regular "Routine" Tasks for Midwest Conference Churches
The Midwest Conference Office has created a "partial" list of responsibilities required by our churches on a yearly basis. It is our hope that this list will assist church office staff and pastors as they submit reports etc. to both the Covenant denomination and conference offices. The list is attached below. Contact our office if you have suggestions or comments about this list
midcovcon@qwestoffice.net
Local-Church-Responsibility-List.pdf
AVA (Advocacy for Victims of Abuse)
Partnering Ministries
Blowing the lid off
TDV (Teen Dating Violence)
Midwest Conference Women Ministries would like to extend an invitation to youth ministries in Covenant churches to partner with them in addressing teen dating violence. AVA (Advocacy for Victims of Abuse) began addressing domestic violence and teen dating violence in conference churches three years ago. Now they are asking Midwest Conference churches to partner with them in this vital ministry through prayer support and assisting with the financial aspects of providing information, materials and support to those in youth ministry. Read more by clicking on the document below.
AVA.pdf
Midwest Conference Covenanters in World Mission
Covenant World Mission currently has over 140 missionaries in 25 countries. Our missionaries serve in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and in other locations working in Chinese ministries. You can go to www.covchurch.org and visit Covenant World Mission/Regions to read more on these ministries.
Of the 140 missionaries, the Midwest Conference is proud to have the following people currently serving in mission work--click on the document below:
Midwest-Conference-Covenanters-in-World-Mission.pdf
Pastoral Leadership Coaching
Pastoral Leadership Coaching Now Available through Covenant
www.covchurch.org/blogs/vitality/coaching-resources
Covenant Trust Company
Covenant Trust Company provides trustee and management services for most revocable living trusts and various types of irrevocable trusts arranged by Covenant Estate Planning Services. Covenant Trust Company also assists individuals, local churches, conferences, camps, etc. with additional management and investment services.
Go to the Covenant Trust Company website here.
http://www.covenanttrust.com
Tips for Churches to Minimize Chance of Burglary, Arson
MINNEAPOLIS, MN -- The office manager for Crosstown Covenant Church is
thankful that only money was stolen from the church offices during a
recent break-in. "They walked...(
learn more on how to keep your church safer)
