With so much attention focused on securing networks and preventing phishing and avoiding ransomware attacks, the physical side of security sometimes goes overlooked. Even in the modern-day work environment where seemingly everything has an internet connection, we still must remain vigilant against physical threats to our security!
Parks are at the center of so many experiences and memories. Whether you’ve explored local parks in your community or visited some of the monumental national parks elsewhere in the United States, these beautiful spaces are often where we learn about nature, gather with family and friends, exercise and be active, escape from stress, and so much more! In celebration of these special places, July is designated as National Park and Recreation Month. The tips below will help you maximize your enjoyment of local and national parks.
In a typical UCC congregation, the pastor has at least three or four days a week when they’re not working for that church. That’s because 45 percent of United Church of Christ (UCC) congregations have part-time clergy, up from 35 percent in 2017.
A Conversation with Brian Williams, Lilly Endowment Inc.
Church dynamics are changing, lay leadership is evolving, ministry models are taking new forms, and at the center of it all is clergy wellness. To get a denomination-wide view of the church and ministry today, the Pension Boards interviewed Brian Williams, Program Director of Religion for the Lilly Endowment Inc., on his witness to this changing landscape.
Last summer, I took the first sabbatical in my 15-year ministry career. (Sabbatical tip #1: Pray that the Holy Spirit will not call you away from your congregation at year seven!) Although I’m no expert on the subject, my sabbatical was full of fun and adventure, and my return to ministry has brought renewal for both me and for my congregations. Think of this list below not as advice on what you should do, but as things I tried and would do again. Not tips for you, but tips from my experiences. I hope they help you to plan, inspire you to dream, and lead you to renewal.