Augsburg Fortress

Preparing the Assembly's Worship: A Handbook for Worship Planning

Preparing the Assembly's Worship aids worship leaders in the short- and long-term preparation of worship in their congregation.

9798889833680

See Me, Believe Me: A Guide to Deepen Allyship with Congregational Leaders of Color

In See Me, Believe Me, Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers offers an honest and unflinching look at the challenges faced by leaders of color in the predominantly white ELCA. Her insights and concrete suggestions for action illustrate how seeing and believing leaders of color are essential steps in the journey of allyship.  

9781506499963

Ashes to Action: Finding Myself at the Intersection of the Minneapolis Uprising

In Ashes to Action, Shari Seifert provides her riveting first-person account of the events following May 25, 2020. Shari joined others in the Calvary Lutheran Church community to show up, listen, and ask what was needed in the moment. 

9781506496788

ReEngaging ELCA Social Teaching on The Church in Society

Childs contextualizes this foundational statement, helping us think creatively about how we are called to be the church today. Grounded in scripture and Lutheran theology, he charts the history of Lutheran public witness, deftly connecting it with our present. How are we guided to speak today? Exploring this book will spark generative conversation.

Call to Allyship: Preparing Your Congregation for Leaders of Color

How can churches do the work of becoming allies for the leaders they call? Call to Allyship is a must-read for call committees, church councils, social justice teams, and anyone prepared to do the work of understanding, welcoming, and celebrating these leaders.

9781506497761

ReEngaging ELCA Social Teaching on Abortion

Riswold calls us to think together about the ELCA’s 1991 social statement on abortion. Our social, political, and legal context has changed drastically since this statement was written, but one thing remains the same: we as Lutherans are called to compassionate community. Riswold’s engaging prose invites readers into thoughtful conversation.

Scripture Out Loud!: Dramatic Readings for Lent and Easter

Looking for new ways to open up the readings for your congregation? Try this collection of twelve dramatic readings of Revised Common Lectionary texts that fall between Ash Wednesday...

9780806639642

Language for God: A Lutheran Perspective

Language for God explores the ways language and images influence who we are and how we live. It declares the necessity of language and images for God that are expansive and inclusive of all genders. Lutheran perspectives are used as a compass to offer scriptural, theological, and historical insights to advance the reformation of Christian language.

9781506473963

The Assembly: A Spirituality

Gathering with others constitutes the essential symbol of Christianity. Assembly is the biblical name for this local community. The book calls the church to think anew about gathering and to refresh its practice, articulating a spirituality that engages the assembly's gathering into the triune God and turns it toward the needs of our neighbors.

9781506478814

Called by God to Serve: Reflections for Church Leaders

Church councils and leadership groups will discover ten helpful devotional reflections and discussion starters for a three-year cycle, focusing on the task of...

9780806651729

The Gospel People Don't Want to Hear: Preaching Challenging Messages

Lisa Cressman, founder of Backstory Preaching, provides tools to craft difficult sermon messages that can be heard. Part 1 focuses on the preacher's preparation, the building of mutual trust with listeners, and the authority needed to proclaim the gospel with empathy, compassion, and skill. Part 2 focuses on the sermon itself with practical suggestions on what to say and how to say it.

9781506456393

Jesus the Harmony: Gospel Sonnets for 366 Days

Author and poet Gracia Grindal has written 366 sonnets based on the life and ministry of Jesus to inspire meditation and reflection. Each poem entry is based on a specific biblical connection and relates to a holy day or season. The book's introduction provides historic background on Gospel harmonies, tells the story of how the author created the sonnets, and offers suggestions for using this unique devotional volume.

9781506464558

Death by Baptism: Sacramental Liberation in a Culture of Fear

Gifted storyteller Frank G. Honeycutt calls on his many years of pastoral experience to examine one of the most stunning (and overlooked) theological claims of the New Testament: how baptism radically unites followers of Christ in his death and resurrection. In baptism, we have already died (Romans 6). Disciples commence life in the kingdom on this side of the grave.

9781506470047

Where God Meets Man, 50th Anniversary Edition: Luther's Down-to-Earth Approach to the Gospel

The fundamental theme of this book is the "down-to-earth" character of Luther's theology in the hope that it will help individual Christians today to be both faithful to God and true to their human and social responsibilities. This 50th Anniversary Edition includes a preface by Marianna Forde and a new study guide by Bradley C. Jenson, created to encourage new readings and conversations about Forde's influential take on Luther, theology, and the church.

9781506468655

Preaching at the Crossroads: How the World—and Our Preaching—Is Changing

David Lose takes preachers on a tour of the major cultural influences of the last century, exploring how they offer opportunities to cultivate a more relevant faith in the twenty-first century.

9780800699734

Made, Known, Loved: Developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Youth Ministry

Made, Known, Loved: Developing LGBTQ-Inclusive Youth Ministry builds on experience and wisdom developed through The Naming Project, a ministry created at the intersection of youth, faith, and LGBTQ identity. Ministry cofounder Ross Murray shows congregations how to examine their values and create a program that affirms LGBTQ youth in their faith and their identity, accepts and welcomes diverse sexual orientations and gender identities, and equips future leaders for the church and the LGBTQ community.

9781506468006

A Spirituality for Doing Justice: Reflections for Congregation-based Organizers

Dennis Jacobsen brings his many years of experience doing congregation-based organizing for justice into conversation with unique spiritual reflections. Jacobsen turns to his work creating and meditating on icons to connect biblical themes and Christian personalities to guide those who are preparing for congregation-organizing and faith-based social action. His unique perspectives help anyone engaged in such work go deeper in prayer and devotion before diving into the messy work of organizing.

9781506464367

Faith in Action: A Handbook for Activists, Advocates, and Allies

You want to make the world better. This book can help. Faith in Action offers quick dives into a range of topics, from racial justice...

9781506432564

Ask, Thank, Tell: Improving Stewardship Ministry in Your Congregation

The goal of this book, says author Charles Lane, is to perform a dramatic rescue of stewardship, freeing it from any connection whatsoever to "paying the...

9780806652634

They Are Us, Second Edition: Lutherans and Immigration

By virtue of Lutheranism's identity in America as an immigrant church, Lutherans are specially placed to help lead conversations about immigration in the United States today. They Are Us explores the biblical, historical, theological, and cultural foundations for Lutheran participation in an issue with important implications for this nation. Based on professional experience and grounded in Christian faith, the authors make the case for immigration reform and call the church to a mission of evangelical hospitality.

9781506464213