in Vestry Papers and filtered by Discernment
By Anthony Rodríguez
Eran las ocho de la mañana, lo que significaba que era hora de despertar e ir a la iglesia. Mientras que me ponía mi bonita camisa de vestir y pantalones negros, le pregunté a mi mamá si ella iba a enseñar la clase de la escuela dominical. Lamentablemente, respondió que no. Inmediatamente me puse a la defensiva y le dije que no quería ir a clase si ni ella ni mi hermana estarían enseñándola.
By Anthony Rodriguez
Children’s ministry can be both incredibly rewarding and challenging at the same time. In The Route Less Traveled, Anthony Rodriguez narrates his life-changing experience of participating in and then leading children’s ministry, both through pre-pandemic and pandemic times.
By Christina Encinosa
Como hija de exiliados cubanos, crecí en un hogar que me enseñó que donde hay Dios y la familia, todo es posible. Mi madre siempre me decía: "Christina, no sé qué harás cuando seas grande, pero sé que será algo extraño y especial".
By Mildred J. Briones Reyes
Una de mis actividades favoritas cuando era niña era encontrar conchas marinas en la playa. Aunque no crecí ni viví cerca de una playa, es uno de los lugares que realmente me atrajeron. Recuerdo muchas veces en Honduras, ir a la casa de playa de mis padrinos y disfrutar de la simplicidad de lo que la playa tenía para ofrecer: arena fina, aguas turquesa, cocoteros y un esplendor virgen.
By Mildred J. Briones Reyes
Sometimes all we need is a sign to show us if we are on the right path. In Faith in a Sand Dollar, Mildred J. Briones Reyes tells the story of how her love for the beach inspired her to ask God for a sign while she was discerning whether she should work for the church or not. This sign was to find a sand dollar that was intact, and this symbol became most important to her and her discernment.
By Christina Encinosa
Art can help us figure out what our future holds and can also help us express ourselves. In Pacts with God, Christina Encinosa remembers her pacts with God that had to be revisited as she grew and matured and eventually discerned a call into the priesthood. She also shares how her art helped her cope with stress and is a bridge to God and others.
By Alissa Newton
Alissa Newton provides three ways to start thinking of vestry service as a vocation.
By Miguel Escobar
Miguel Escobar shares a tool that helps vestries and other leadership groups think through the strengths and weaknesses of an idea as a team.
By Kelsey Schuster, Susan Daughtry and Karen Olson
Kelsey Schuster, Susan Daughtry and Karen Olson bring us news about the ECMN School for Formation, which is transforming small church communities.
By Bruce A. Freeman
In Discernment in the Vestry Process, Bruce A. Freeman draws from personal experience to emphasize the importance of a careful, spiritual discernment process by and for congregational leaders to ensure the work of the church is relayed and continues without interruption.
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