New resources for Lent are available from the PC(USA) and its partners

Several offices and partners of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have released new Lenten devotionals and resources to help followers of Jesus draw closer to the Word of God from March 5 to April 20. Learn more

A Lenten Devotional from A Sanctified Art

Everything [in] between Meeting God in the midst of extremes

‘Coldest Night of the Year’ 3K walk to raise funds, awareness for Wisconsin warming shelter

Manitowoc Cooperative Ministry’s the Rev. Dr. Matthew L. Sauer says God ‘spoke a dream on our hearts’ to purchase and renovate a shelter

John C. Williams for the Presbyterian Foundation | Special to Presbyterian News Service

Cold weather kills.

When mid-January brought days of near and below-zero temperatures and wind chills approaching minus-40 to Manitowoc, Wisconsin, the local Warming Shelter had to turn away people because of limited space.

Manitowoc Cooperative Ministry is partnering with others to bring warmth and hope to those in need.

On Feb. 22, a “winterrific” family-friendly fundraising Coldest Night of the Year 3K Walk will help raise money to expand the shelter’s services, install clothes washers and dryers so that no one must wear dirty clothes, and provide showers for guests. The first-year goal is $20,000.

The Rev. Dr. Matthew L. Sauer is pastor at Manitowoc Cooperative Ministry, an innovative partnership of the historic Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and United Church of Christ congregations serving the community for more than 170 years. The city is located on Lake Michigan, south of Green Bay and north of Milwaukee.

The church’s long-term goal is to raise $1.2 million to purchase and remodel a building for a shelter that will serve 24 people daily, Sauer said.

“Never give up on God! We are a small congregation, 40 in worship,” he said. “But we listened, and God spoke a dream on our hearts and now we are leading a community to live out the Matthew 25 gospel. We are frightened, we don’t know how we can fund this, but our faith is stronger than our fear.” Read more

The Rev. Dr. Matthew L. Sauer of Manitowoc Cooperative Ministry is pictured with his dog, Gus. (contributed photo)

Christian Education Resources Survey

The 226th General Assembly (2024) directed the national office of Christian Formation and Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, in collaboration with Research Services, to determine the current Christian education practices and resource needs in order to respond to those needs. They are to return to the next General Assembly with a proposal. The following survey is one way we are gathering information. Your response is important, and your time is much appreciated as you answer these questions before the end of March. Please pass the word to leaders in all congregations and worshipping communities and even consider setting aside a few minutes for these to be completed at a meeting.

https://surveys.pcusa.org/s3/PCUSA-CESurvey

‘Celebrate!’ with SDOP’s new resource and yearbook

Darla Carter, Presbyterian News Service

LOUISVILLE — The Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People has released the latest edition of its annual resource and yearbook for sharing with churches, presbyteries, mid councils and others interested in anti-poverty work.

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The “Celebrate!” publication, which can be viewed or downloaded here, highlights the work of SDOP and its partners as the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) prepares to observe SDOP Sunday on March 16. Read more

Regarding Ruling Elders launches new series on the foundations of Presbyterian polity

An accompanying podcast features the Rev. Dr. Barry Ensign-George and Ruling Elder Martha Miller

After celebrating its 10th anniversary last year, “Regarding Ruling Elders: A Monthly Series for Serving Faithfully” has launched a new year-long series for 2025 focused on the foundations of Presbyterian polity. The entire series is being written by the Rev. Dr. Barry Ensign-George, and the first two columns for January and February have already been published. Ensign-George has served for many years in the PC(USA)’s Office of Theology & Worship.

The monthly Regarding Ruling Elders column was established in 2014 by the former Office of the General Assembly to address the particular needs and experiences of those serving as ruling elders in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). While the column initially focused on specific responsibilities of ruling elders, it eventually shifted to the more theme-based format that is still in use today. It is now a part of the ministries of Leader Formation: Investing in Ruling Elders and Deacons.

Daylight Saving Time begins on Sunday, March 9

Set your clocks forward one hour on Saturday.

Mr. Rogers Day

On March 20, the PC(USA) celebrates Mr. Rogers Day as one of our special emphasis days with resources for congregational worship, education, mission, and fellowship. Make plans now for when your congregation will take extra time to be neighborly just as Presbyterian Pastor Fred Rogers did on and off screen. Here is a complete list of resources.

Beyond the Tweet: Building Online Church Community Without Meta or X

Let’s say, and believe me, this is purely hypothetical, that you’re feeling a bit bewildered by the behavior of certain tech billionaires—the moguls who own social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) or Meta (formerly Facebook). Or, if you’re blissfully unaware of the antics of such moguls, let’s say you’re looking to innovate the way you build and engage with online church communities. Perhaps you’ve grown fatigued with the usual platforms or your efforts on them have struggled to gain traction. Or, if you’re content with the typical tech channels, you’re simply looking for emerging digital trends. Whatever the case, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’re going to redefine online church community—beyond the tweet. We’ll present alternatives to the typical social media playbook and explore what else is possible for digital ministry in 2025.

But first, we need to recognize a hidden yet significant trend that has nothing to do with politics or billionaire antics. Social media platforms are stacking the deck against your church, ministry, camp, or non-profit. Read the article from Church Anew.

Photo by NordWood Themes on Unsplash

The LeaderWise Learning Hour

Each quarter in 2025, join LeaderWise at no-cost to learn from an expert about a topic, to share conversation with peers, and to download helpful resources for your files. We know that ministry leadership is more difficult now than ever and that many leaders feel they are alone.

Learn more

Year-in-Review 2024 & Open Invitation to Conversation

Thank you - from The Ministry Lab.

2024 was a full year of resource creation, collaboration, and consulting. Thank you, subscription member congregations and judicatory members. Your support makes a lot of ministry possible.

Please read and share our Year-in-Review (https://docs.google.com/document/d/158s1wX8IKBSoGnRoB_6acjU4Doilg5p8U8PfHKt4tK0/edit?usp=sharing) with your counsels, committees, and leaders and laity of all kinds. We exist to serve you and are grateful for the work we are able to do together.

We also invite you into conversation in these challenging days. Please find a full invitation to individuals or congregational groups here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vR-sw-Z_qTx_6gPdfFNnE59ShWUi1KQ1f5akhqekpyu-2I07elDthtY2zXgRqVjdFxStGvg8dZkY5_Z/pub).

(All congregations within the Synod of Lakes and Prairies are members of The Ministry Lab.)

2025 Synod Gathering

Registration Open

The PW Synod Gathering will be held June 12-15 in Watertown, SD. All women are invited to learn about, rejoice in, and embody what is means to “Let your Light Shine” as guided by Matthew 5:14-16. Registration information can be found in the February edition of The Sower.