Faith Practices – Living Our Baptism

We are living in unprecedented times—a health pandemic with economic uncertainty and unresolved racism. There is much that we cannot control, but we can control our choices of behavior. Now is the time to intentionally choose healthy patterns to offset the grief and lament related to these times as we shift to a new normal.

Healthy choices includes faith practices. The Affirmation of Baptism (see box on right) provides five faith practices to integrate into our daily life. Receive each as a gift from God.

Resiliency
Grief upon grief. Uncertainty upon uncertainty. Use these new resiliency resources for your personal reflection or with a small group as you explore the role of others, hope, and meaning.

Five Gifts of Discipleship
The Five Gifts of Discipleship are faith practices-five gifts to be unwrapped, discovered, and re-discovered. The Holy Spirit uses these gifts to teach discipleship, stir the embers of faith, create bold leaders, and transform congregations to be communities of Jesus where there are life-changing relationships with God, one another and the world. See more.

A Personal Inventory: Inward, Outward Gifts of Discipleship
Faith practices are both inward and outward. We receive God's grace and are sent to the world joyfully to share the love of God made known in Christ. Take time for a personal inventory as you reflect on how God is calling you to put your faith into practice.

Bible Studies
As a Book of Faith Church, we recognize the importance of hearing the word of God. Free online lectionary-based bible studies are available for classes, preaching or personal use:

• Daily Discipleship: Focuses on Sunday's gospel reading
• Daily Faith Practices: Connects the second lesson with one of the five gifts of discipleship

Race Relations
The Journey to Right Relationship is a four-part conversation which begins with "We do not know what we do not know." Isn't that true? And so, we listen and enter into the lament. Why? We are all God's children and some of our family is hurting.

Spiritual Renewal
Communities of Jesus are intended to be life-changing. Vitality comes as our spirits become alive in Christ. There is a team (lay and clergy) in the ELCA who is passionate about stirring the ELCA through prayer, renewal events, prayer services, workshops, and Lutheran revivals. See more.

Story Matters
The Story Matters Initiative helps congregations articulate their unique missional Identity using the bible as the framework for naming this identity. A congregation choses a biblical passage or story that is representative of their missional identity, developing discipleship and mission strategies based on their selection. See more.

Proclaim: Evangelism Tips
We are sent to proclaim the good news of God in Christ through word and deed. E-tips is a series of articles on evangelism available for download and distribution in full-page or bulletin insert format. Use E-Tips to spark a conversation with committees, council meetings, or the whole congregation. See more.