LISLE, ILL. (ELCA) -- "Legacy: That Your Faith May Live," a new stewardship resource and educational series, is now available to congregations and stewardship leaders through Augsburg Fortress Publishers, the publishing house of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).
The CD-ROM (compact disc) materials were presented for the first time at a conference of 190 ELCA stewardship staff and volunteer leaders that met here Feb. 3-6. The conference, "Stewardship at the Heart of the Church," was sponsored by the ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries (DCM). DCM staff worked with Augsburg Fortress staff to create Legacy.
Legacy's biblical basis is in 2 Timothy 1:3-14, said Andrea Lee Schieber, senior editor for congregational resources, ELCA Group, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis. In the story, Paul the apostle gives thanks for the faith of Timothy, the legacy Timothy received from his grandmother and mother. Paul urges Timothy to let his faith live using the love, wisdom and power that are his in the Spirit. This faith is Timothy's legacy and is passed on to others.
The "Legacy Basic" kit focuses on a stewardship emphasis that culminates in a congregational meal, Schieber said. The kit includes samples of theme resources, a video, a user guide with suggestions for a stewardship meal and a set of reproducible bulletin inserts, she said. All of the materials in the basic kit are available in print or on CD.
Legacy materials support a two-year program. The first year focuses on individual legacies. The second year emphasizes congregational legacies.
Additional stewardship education with the legacy theme can be done with upgrades, Schieber said. "Legacy Education" and "Legacy Year-Round" resources are options available beyond Legacy Basic.
Legacy Education includes weekly communication tools such as copy for bulletin inserts, letters, postcards, and educational offerings such as a take-home Legacy course and Bible studies.
Legacy Year-Round includes resources to discuss stewardship throughout the year, including ideas for specific stewardship sessions, short courses and copy for monthly newsletter articles.
Legacy Education and Legacy Year-Round are available only on CD, said Susan R. Niemi, editor-in-chief, ELCA Group, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis.
"It is new for us to have such a complete kit delivered to congregations this way," she said.
"Having the programmatic material on CD makes it easy for congregations to customize it," Niemi said. Many Legacy printed materials are also available separate from the kit and in quantity, she added.
"Legacy: That Your Faith May Live" became available Feb. 1, Niemi added.
Editors: Information about "Legacy: That Your Faith May Live, " including costs and ordering instructions, is available through Augsburg Fortress Publishers, Minneapolis. Call 1-800-328-4648, fax 1-800-722-7766, or check the company's Web site at www.augsburgfortress.org.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
