Augsburg Fortress

Preparing the Assembly's Worship: A Handbook for Worship Planning

Preparing the Assembly's Worship aids worship leaders in the short- and long-term preparation of worship in their congregation.

9798889833680

See Me, Believe Me: A Guide to Deepen Allyship with Congregational Leaders of Color

In See Me, Believe Me, Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers offers an honest and unflinching look at the challenges faced by leaders of color in the predominantly white ELCA. Her insights and concrete suggestions for action illustrate how seeing and believing leaders of color are essential steps in the journey of allyship.  

9781506499963

ReEngaging ELCA Social Teaching on The Church in Society

Childs contextualizes this foundational statement, helping us think creatively about how we are called to be the church today. Grounded in scripture and Lutheran theology, he charts the history of Lutheran public witness, deftly connecting it with our present. How are we guided to speak today? Exploring this book will spark generative conversation.

Ashes to Action: Finding Myself at the Intersection of the Minneapolis Uprising

In Ashes to Action, Shari Seifert provides her riveting first-person account of the events following May 25, 2020. Shari joined others in the Calvary Lutheran Church community to show up, listen, and ask what was needed in the moment. 

9781506496788

Scripture Out Loud!: Dramatic Readings for Lent and Easter

Looking for new ways to open up the readings for your congregation? Try this collection of twelve dramatic readings of Revised Common Lectionary texts that fall between Ash Wednesday...

9780806639642

Call to Allyship: Preparing Your Congregation for Leaders of Color

How can churches do the work of becoming allies for the leaders they call? Call to Allyship is a must-read for call committees, church councils, social justice teams, and anyone prepared to do the work of understanding, welcoming, and celebrating these leaders.

9781506497761

ReEngaging ELCA Social Teaching on Abortion

Riswold calls us to think together about the ELCA’s 1991 social statement on abortion. Our social, political, and legal context has changed drastically since this statement was written, but one thing remains the same: we as Lutherans are called to compassionate community. Riswold’s engaging prose invites readers into thoughtful conversation.

The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear: Preaching Challenging Messages

Lisa Cressman, founder of Backstory Preaching, provides tools to craft difficult sermon messages that can be heard. Part 1 focuses on the preacher's preparation, the building of mutual trust with listeners, and the authority needed to proclaim the gospel with empathy, compassion, and skill. Part 2 focuses on the sermon itself with practical suggestions on what to say and how to say it.

9781506456393

Youth Ministry as Peace Education: Overcoming Silence, Transforming Violence

Youth Ministry as Peace Education offers clergy, students, and practitioners a new approach to youth ministry--to equip young people to transform violence and oppression as part of their Christian vocation. In this theologically robust and pedagogically innovative and tested resource, Elizabeth W. Corrie shows that youth, like all of us, are meant to work to establish God's shalom--peace, justice, and well-being--on earth as it is in heaven.

9781506469454

Christianity in Blue: How the Bible, History, Philosophy, and Theology Shape Progressive Identity

Christianity in Blue shows how liberal values and progressive attitudes are the fruits of taking seriously both the Bible and Christian tradition. But rather than treating these sources as the final word, Kaden argues that they are places to start exploring how to be a Christian in the world. Christianity in Blue helps both progressive and conservative Christians better understand the importance of the Bible, theology, history, and philosophy for building a loving church for everyone.

9781506471273

Jesus the Harmony: Gospel Sonnets for 366 Days

Author and poet Gracia Grindal has written 366 sonnets based on the life and ministry of Jesus to inspire meditation and reflection. Each poem entry is based on a specific biblical connection and relates to a holy day or season. The book's introduction provides historic background on Gospel harmonies, tells the story of how the author created the sonnets, and offers suggestions for using this unique devotional volume.

9781506464558

Preaching at the Crossroads: How the World—and Our Preaching—Is Changing

David Lose takes preachers on a tour of the major cultural influences of the last century, exploring how they offer opportunities to cultivate a more relevant faith in the twenty-first century.

9780800699734

Including Children in Worship: A Planning Guide for Congregations

Worship should be a place where both young and old feel welcome and know that they belong. Elizabeth Sandell gives convincing reasons for including children...

9780806625447

Where God Meets Man, 50th Anniversary Edition: Luther's Down-to-Earth Approach to the Gospel

The fundamental theme of this book is the "down-to-earth" character of Luther's theology in the hope that it will help individual Christians today to be both faithful to God and true to their human and social responsibilities. This 50th Anniversary Edition includes a preface by Marianna Forde and a new study guide by Bradley C. Jenson, created to encourage new readings and conversations about Forde's influential take on Luther, theology, and the church.

9781506468655

A Lay Preacher’s Guide: How to Craft a Faithful Sermon

In A Lay Preacher's Guide: How to Craft a Faithful Sermon, Karoline M. Lewis provides lay preachers with an essential and accessible guide to the basics of Sunday-morning preaching. In this go-to resource for lay preachers, Lewis lays out in a concise and clear format the steps to preaching a faithful sermon, a process that can be immediately applied to weekly sermon preparation.

9781506462738

Resurrecting Church: Where Justice and Diversity Meet Radical Welcome and Healing Hope

Resurrecting Church interweaves three stories, beginning with the remarkable turnaround story of Caldwell Presbyterian Church, which was on the edge of extinction when author John Cleghorn became its pastor. Cleghorn also tells the story of his own growth and liberation from the myopia of privilege. Also included are stories of several diverse congregations that have taken risks, deepening empathy and seeking justice. The book updates the conversation about church vitality in timely and surprising ways.

9781506464848

Holy Spirit: Creative Power in Our Lives

Includes Free Downloads
Who is the Holy Spirit? How does the Spirit work in our lives as individuals, families, communities, and in the world at large? What would happen if we claimed...

9780806670584

Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth

In Refugia Faith, Debra Rienstra explores nature's refugia--places where life endures in a crisis--and applies this model to faith. Drawing from theology, nature writing, and science, she examines how Christian spirituality and practice must adapt for a climate-altered planet.

9781506473796

A Primer on Pastoral Care

Based on her twenty years of teaching and on her own experience in pastoral care, Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner has written a basic pastoral-care text to assist in...

9780800637606

Joyful Defiance: Death Does Not Win the Day

Joyful Defiance encourages readers to reflect on experiences of anxiety, anger, exhaustion, and grief, emotions not always welcomed in the Christian tradition. Lament is an act of faith in God that acknowledges pain and protests death. Joy is a counterstory and a truer tale, less a feeling than a way of being for the self and for the world.

9781506472614