Insights and Encouragement for Church Leaders

Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

The Fellowship Community at General Assembly: An Overview

The primary focus of the national Fellowship Community is on nurturing a broad network of churches and leaders called together to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ by growing in Christ’s likeness, living by God’s word, and joining in God’s mission in the world. Although our mission does not include advocacy within PCUSA, Fellowship had an official presence at the recent PCUSA General Assembly (GA).

 

We connected with and supported numerous Assembly commissioners and observers through our exhibit hall booth and in nightly debrief and prayer gatherings. We also strengthened relationships with a number of PCUSA leaders and national staff....

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

National Gathering in Review

Our time may have past at the 2018 National Gathering in Atlanta, but the lessons learned and conversations shared along the way will prayerfully motivate us to deepen our discipleship in the months and years to come. 

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

Freaky Specific

By Rev. James Cubie, Associate Pastor, Leesburg Presbyterian Church

“You see it, don’t you?” You see it every day if you have a smart phone. Most of us have smart phones, for better or worse. Really, the smart phones have us…. and our kids.

We see too much of the world in real time: Something perfectly awful happens, or something that’s just mildly irritating. Immediately the commentariats go to work, and the kingdom of the whatabouts comes to life....

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

Sustaining Conversations

Talk does not solve any problem in the church or world and, by itself, does not make for faithfulness, but it is now impossible for me to imagine how my faith deepens and ministry widens without sustained committed conversation. I will be attending the next National Gathering of The Fellowship Community. I would be very glad if you would join these conversations. It is needed. 

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

The Value of the Pastoral Rule

A Pastoral Rule reflects on practices that make for faithful ministry. It is aware of the challenges ministry brings. It is written in the knowledge that no rule is perfect, and the conviction that a guide to good practices can be a real help as we seek faithfully to serve Jesus Christ and his people.

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

Deep and Wide: Making Missional Disciples

By Alex Absalom – What is success for your church? I once asked this of an old-school church leader, who promptly spluttered and spat a mouthful of tea back into his cup and saucer.

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

Staring Down Death Itself

This one is for preachers and for those who love and pray for them. If you are like most preachers I know, you have spent significant time recently staring at the books on your shelves, the bird on the branch out your window…

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

That’s What Lent is For

This has been one of those weeks. Not really one of “those” weeks, nothing terrible, just lots and lots of gray mist through which I’ve been trying to navigate a series of challenges. One thing about moving through this kind of fog—the bright spots seem even brighter. One bright spot came at the very beginning…

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

Letting Go

My wife and I recently decided to “clean house.” It’s not like we’re hoarders (unless you count books and organ music), but we’ve lived at the same address for 15 years, experienced the invasion of “things” as our parents’ homes were closed, helped our daughter and son-in-law move in and out of multiple college dwellings…

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

One Big Idea – Thomas Daniel

From the One Big Idea Session of our 2015 National Gathering here is Thomas Daniel on “Digging Wells”. The Church in North America has become associated for what (and who) we are thought to oppose. How do we seek to shift the narrative to what we are about? We will take some time to explore…

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

Going Deeper – Scott Sunquist

From the Going Deeper Session of our 2015 National Gathering here is Scott Sunquist on “Mission: Why We Need to Understand the 20th Century.“  History is very important. Our involvement in mission needs more than zeal and conviction; we need an understanding of recent history and how mission has been accomplished with and in spite…

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

One Big Idea – Mike Breen

From the One Big Idea Session of our 2015 National Gathering here is Mike Breen on “Presbyterians Doing Mission in the 21st Century?“ Why are Presbyterians so well equipped to do mission in the 21st century? The answer is that the unique history and theology of the Presbyterian Tradition offers an unrivalled opportunity to take…

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Anna Sytsema Anna Sytsema

Join The Fellowship Community in An Advent Experience 2015

This year’s devotional, “To You Is the Song” is based around a beautiful poem by Eileen Berry. We follow the texts of the Revised Common Lectionary from the First Sunday of Advent through the Day of Epiphany, bringing together personal reflections, hymns, and prayers along with full color original art. This year’s devotional also includes…

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