Böcker utgivna av CSS Publishing Company

Joseph McBee's well-crafted scripts reflect three loves: a love for the gift of communication, a love for the art of drama, and a love for the things of God. This union of communicator, artist, and believer makes McBee a formidable writer and his scripts a valuable resource and tool.Dennis LewallenArtistic Director, Samford StudioAvondale Estates, GeorgiaTruth and reality coming at you from everyday life -- that's what Joseph McBee gives you in this collection. Stories touch the heart like nothing else, and the ones in this book will definitely tug the chain of the soul.Bradley WhiteSenior Pastor, City Harvest Worship CenterLilburn, GeorgiaCreate living illustrations of the Christian life that will make audiences laugh, cry, and even occasionally wince in truthful recognition with this superb collection of comic, dramatic, and seasonal material. Appropriate for any denomination and audience, these brief sketches and monologues examine topics ranging from faith to gossip, from conviction to children's work, in a humorous and poignant style. The easy-to-stage pieces utilize small casts and can be performed in any setting with minimal costumes and a few simple props, making them accessible to church drama groups of all sizes. Scenes From The Life is a great source for attention-getting sermon introductions, worship enhancers, or just entertaining fun with a message.Some of the insightful pieces include:• All Quiet on the Front Pew• The Great Church Trade-In• The Nursery Zone• The Faith Bridge• A Sparrow Falls• Joey The Wise Guy... and several more!Joseph McBee lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where he works as a regional trainer for Oce Business Services. He is a member of the creative team of Art Within, a group of Christian theatre artists in Atlanta, and he also directs his congregation's arts ministry.

Create stimulating, family-oriented Lenten worship that captivates the imagination with this engaging ""dramily"" series. Six humorous sketches, interwoven with brief homilies highlighting key points, update the familiar Old Testament story of Joseph and his brothers for contemporary audiences ? providing an instructive and entertaining resource for midweek programs. Additional messages and dramas for Holy Week and Easter Sunday shift the focus to Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection.By touching on such universal experiences as family squabbles, sibling rivalry, parental favoritism, jealousy, hatred, false accusations, reconciliation, trust, and healing, Hey Joseph! is certain to resonate with the people in the pews. It offers pastors, worship leaders, and drama groups a thematically unified total package that's flexible and easy to adapt for any size church. A complete list of simple props is included, along with helpful illustrations for constructing ""Joseph's Granary,"" which may be stocked with food donations for local pantries.Even as the congregation chuckled at Joseph in disguise and related to the siblings' rivalry, they were already looking forward to the next week's drama. Arley Fadness's characters give life to Old Testament stories through humor and innovation ? and always with a message of helping those who are in need.Jeff TengesdalPastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran ChurchBismarck, North DakotaHey Joseph! is an excellent resource for the worship life of your parish ministry. We used it and the congregation loved it and learned from it. The involvement of laypeople of every age made it even more delightful. Our Lenten services were filled every Wednesday, with more coming every week.Howard A. SkulstadPastor, Long Lake Lutheran ChurchIsanti, MinnesotaHey Joseph! brings new energy to an Old Testament character, making the experiences of his life relevant for today. The series created an enthusiasm that continued to build throughout the Lenten season as our church body united around its central theme. Active participation on the part of youth and children made Hey Joseph! a fun and exciting intergenerational event.Nedra PatenaudeFormer Youth Director, Messiah Lutheran ChurchNorth Mankato, MinnesotaArley K. Fadness is a retired ELCA pastor who has served numerous Lutheran parishes in South Dakota and Minnesota. He is currently an associate pastor at Custer Lutheran Fellowship in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, and is also a congregational consultant coaching churches in visioning processes. A graduate of Augustana College, Luther Theological Seminary, and McCormick Theological Seminary, Fadness is the author of several CSS Publishing Company titles, including Where's Noah? and Six Spiritual Needs In America Today.

Whether we are conscious of it or not, we fear difference. That often unwarranted fear leads us to create enemies in our hearts and minds, and fear was no stranger to Oakhurst Presbyterian Church, as confessed by Pastor Nibs Stroupe: "We have listened to one another's stories here, and we have discovered that the people we feared, those monsters we thought would destroy us -- because of different skin colors, different genders, different sexual orientations, different economic categories -- they are really our sisters and brothers, the folks for whom our hearts long."In the 1960s the Oakhurst congregation was 900 members strong, but by the time Nibs Stroupe arrived in 1983, "white flight" had left less than 100 on the church's dwindling membership rolls. Since then, Oakhurst has undergone an extraordinary transformation, re-inventing itself as a growing community that welcomes everyone. The congregation has attracted national attention for its radically inclusive and egalitarian diversity, which extends beyond racial integration to class, gender, sexual orientation, and theological perspective. How have people from such dissimilar backgrounds come together to create a harmonious and thriving whole? In what biblical vision is it rooted and shaped? By what theological resources is it fed and sustained? The heart of the answer to these questions lies in the exceptional sermons of Nibs Stroupe.Growing out of the experience of a multicultural congregation in which diversity is both valued and feared, these messages offer an uncompromising prophetic vision of the American church's identity and mission. Stroupe firmly grounds a liberal social viewpoint within the biblical and theological traditions of the church, and he calls us to hear God's claim on us in our place and in our time. Underlying his powerful sermons is the fundamental conviction that the barriers that separate us from our neighbors have been brought down in Jesus Christ. Where Once We Feared Enemies will be an indispensable addition to any pastor's library. It is also inspiring and enlightening reading for anyone interested in the future of the American church, as well as its role in the continuing stories of race relations, civil rights, and peace and justice issues.These sermons are not your typical "social action" homilies. Rather Nibs Stroupe cuts to the quick of the biblical message of Jesus as it impacts the minds and hearts of thinking people of every race, class, and political stripe. This is theologically rich fare that will satisfy and energize Christians and non-Christians alike. These are the kind of no-nonsense sermons that have made Oakhurst one of the most faithful and consistent witnesses to the love and justice-making of the gospel that I have seen in more than half a century of ministry.Gayraud S. WilmoreEmeritus Professor of African-American Church HistoryInterdenominational Theological CenterGibson "Nibs" Stroupe and his wife, Caroline Leach, have been the pastors of Oakhurst Presbyterian Church in Decatur, Georgia, since 1983. They are the co-authors of O Lord, Hold Our Hands, a book detailing Oakhurst's unique multicultural ministry. Stroupe is also the author of While We Run This Race, which won the 1996 Gustavus Myers Award for outstanding book on human rights. Stroupe and his Oakhurst ministry have been featured in Time, the Wall Street Journal, and the Christian Science Monitor, on NBC Nightly News, CNN, and National Public Radio, and in several books.Chris Boesel (editor) is an assistant professor of Christian theology at Drew University Theological School.

Something is wrong. People are going missing, right in front of your eyes! One minute they are staring back at you from their favorite pew, the next Sunday you are looking at an empty spot in that pew. Is there a way to determine ahead of time which members are the likely "religious dropouts"? Often the clues are clearly visible -- but can you recognize them? What's more, do you know what you can do now to keep your "missing members" from drifting away? The secret lies in knowing and understanding the attitudes and belief systems that people hold, because certain sets of attitudes are linked to inactivity.A detailed examination of this distressingly common experience, Solving The Missing Member Puzzle can help you spot potential dropouts in advance, learn the reasons why they become inactive, and counteract the process with a proactive strategy for reaching them while they are still within your grasp. Based on "blind" interviews with individuals from ten different congregations, it reveals the underlying attitudes and belief systems that encourage or discourage dropping out of church.Solving The Missing Member Puzzle is a valuable tool for leaders of any church or organization -- it shows how you can develop more faithful members, and assists in their growth, participation, and retention. Don't wait until people drop out before you take action. Learn ways to anticipate which members of your congregation might become inactive and the preventive measures that you can take to help keep them in the pews.Arlon K. Stubbe is the pastor of Christ Lutheran Church in Sharon, Pennsylvania. He previously served parishes in Michigan. He is also the author of Shaping the Word (LPTC Publishing). He is a graduate of Carthage College and the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Stimulate your creativity with 112 imaginative "sermon starters" in this companion volume to Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees... Each idea consists of a clever title that's sure to pique the interest of the people in the pews, along with a purpose statement and a brief discussion of the subject (including outline points and scripture references). Full of striking imagery, Lions And Cows Dining Together provides plenty of seeds for developing riveting, thought-provoking messages on a wide variety of critical topics. This homiletic "do-it-yourself" kit will be a treasured addition to any pastor's library -- combined with the material in its companion volume, there are over five years' worth of pump-priming ideas for weekly sermons that apply Jesus' teachings to contemporary living. But Lions And Cows Dining Together isn't just for preachers -- it's also an excellent source of meditations for men's, women's, or youth groups as well as inspiring devotional reading.Here's a sample of some of the inventive entries:• God Always Wins At Hide And Seek• Worship Is More Than Just Staying Awake• Can Pagan Objects Be Sanitized?• You Can Learn To Like Spinach, Liver, And Theology• Hell: But It's A Dry Heat• Will Reverend Tortoise Ever Catch Doctor Hare?• Pearly Gates Entrance Exam• Pilgrim Or Tourist?Terry Cain is a retired pastor who served United Methodist congregations in eastern Nebraska. In addition to Shaking Wolves Out Of Cherry Trees, he is also the author of What Your Minister Is Afraid To Tell You About The Bible and Frankenstein and Miss America: Who's Who and Who's Not. Cain is a graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University (B.A.), St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City (M.Div.), and San Francisco Theological Seminary (D.Min.).

Do you wonder what the stories in the Bible would look like from the viewpoint of those who were there? If so, then this collection of thirteen first-person narratives and readers' theater presentations spotlighting a variety of New Testament characters -- both familiar and not so well-known -- will give you a new perspective on the scriptural witness. After all, while the experience of these people is rooted in the distant past, we still relate to the same fears, joys, and motivations as they did. By listening in on these characters as they converse with themselves, these creative pieces provide an intimate look at their humanity and experience of the Good News, which in turn enables us to better understand our lives and our faith.This volume provides material for a variety of seasons and settings -- they're perfect for church drama groups, homiletical source material, and for inspiring devotional reading. And an introductory chapter addresses performance issues (including whether or not to use costumes) as well as how to use this format to develop your own material.Some of the intriguing presentations include:• Herod -- The First Christmas Grinch (Matthew 2:1-12)• Leaving Egypt For Home (Matthew 2:19-23)• My Name Is Levi (Mark 2:13-17)• Kneeling Before Him (Luke 10:38-42)• Just A Jar Of Water (Luke 22:7-13)• Rock The Boat! (John 21)Pamela J. Tinnin is the pastor of Partridge Community Church (United Church of Christ), the only church in Partridge, Kansas (population 250). Prior to her 1996 graduation from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California, Tinnin was an editor for ten years with the University of California-Berkeley. In her past lives she has been the editor of a small-town newspaper, a freelance writer, a sheep rancher, a paralegal working with prison inmates, a small-town city clerk, and a migrant worker in the fields of Oregon.Peter K. Perry has been the senior pastor of First United Methodist Church in Phoenix, Arizona, since July 2001, and has previously served churches in Prescott, Sedona, and Mesa, Arizona. He is a graduate of California State University, Fullerton (B.A. in history) and Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, California.Bass M. Mitchell serves as a United Methodist minister in the beautiful mountain area of Hot Springs, Virginia. He is a prolific writer who has contributed several hundred articles to various publications, including Homiletics and Circuit Rider. Mitchell regularly writes devotions for The Upper Room and Upper Room Disciplines, as well as Bible studies and other curriculum for the United Methodist Publishing House. He is the author of God Sightings: Discovering God in Everyday Life and In Every Blade of Rustling Grass (Abingdon Press).

This anthology provides you with a great selection of dramatic material for memorable Advent and Christmas worship. With a variety of approaches, there's ample material to choose from to fit your needs, whatever your congregation's size or worship style.Five Advent Candle Dramas (Anne W. Anderson) explores the traditional meanings of the Advent wreath candles in brief 3-5 minute sketches that incorporate the lighting of each week's candle. The Advent themes of hope, love, joy, and peace are couched in contemporary dramatic settings yet connected to the powerful reality of Christ's coming. Each scene includes concise instructions for costumes, props, and settings.The Savior Of The World (Nelson Chamberlain) is a five-scene play that tells the traditional Christmas story -- with a touch of humor and a few unexpected twists. With roles for children from preschool age through sixth grade, this fun, easy-to-produce program is perfect for that special day when the church is full and you want to highlight the young people in your congregation.Time Travelers' Tale Of The Carols (Linda Buff & Sharon Cathcart) is an entertaining and educational presentation that combines the story of Jesus' birth with the stories of several beloved Christmas carols. Through the imaginative device of a time machine, audiences will hear from some of the musicians and writers who created these familiar classics. Sets and costumes are minimal, and this simple play can be produced by churches of any size -- while there are parts for many children, the script can be easily adapted for any age or number of participants. Performance time is approximately 35-40 minutes.Here We Come To Bethlehem (Pamela Honan Peterson) is a Christmas pageant and congregational worship service that lets audiences eavesdrop on the thoughts, stories, and questions of ancient travelers as they make their way to Bethlehem. There are roles for 18 performers ranging from age three through high school, but with this flexible program it's easy to involve as many children, youth, and adults as desired. Performance time is approximately 20-25 minutes.Choices skillfully interweaves dramatic readings and mimed characterizations with familiar carols and scripture texts to create a moving experience for the entire congregation. Perfect for either a children's program or Christmas Eve worship, this service combines contemporary drama with the charm and inspiration of a traditional Christmas pageant. It's a flexible piece that can be presented by any size group of young people, and costumes and settings may be simple or elaborate. Performance time is approximately 45-50 minutes.