Want to avoid dead air and awkward pauses in worship services? Planning for flow can help. Bill and I share how we plan for a smooth flow in worship services, plus the small steps we take that make a big difference.
Pre-planning funerals give you a chance to talk (and live) the Gospel. Here’s how to help church members pre-plan, plus a bunch of advice on funerals and burial in general.
How can you lead a great committee or staff meeting? And how can you influence a meeting for the good when you’re not running it? Bill and I talk about purpose, organization, and most importantly, energy – with a side of fried chicken and social connection. (Plus the important question: should you forward this episode …
Great Church Meetings (Yes, They’re Possible!), on Called Ep. 9 Read More »
Spoiler alert: it’s flexibility! Why you need it, how to develop it, and how to encourage your congregation toward it – plus an ear toward the Holy Spirit’s leading. Click on the player to listen to the conversation, or scroll down to read the transcript.
What should we DO with patriotic holidays in the church? Celebrate them? Mention the occasion in a pastoral prayer? Run for the hills? Bill and I talk about the challenges of patriotic holidays and offer healthy ways to approach them. Transcript of our conversation below!
It’s hot outside, and the church has left the building. How can we learn from the downsides of summer, and lean into the positives? Bill and I share how we make summer a productive season of the church year, starting with the big one: enjoy the breathing room.
Change is one of the great constants of the world – right up there with death, taxes, and the love of God. But even though it’s inevitable, we’re often reluctant to change, and get anxious when change happens. On this episode, Bill and I share strategies for how we’ve cultivated our own openness to change …
Where should you start when you move to a new ministry? Here are six strategies to help you settle in: People are #1. Get to know the landscape. Literally. Find out what’s normative. Seek out the sacred cows. Figure out what to do now – and what to postpone. Give yourself some grace.
Weekends can be really tricky for church workers. They’re busy for us, but often, that’s when our families and friends have time to spend together. Bill and I share how we’ve navigated the challenges—and opportunities—of working on the weekends.
It’s that time of the year! On this episode of the Called podcast, Bill and I talk all things wrapping up the program year. Celebrating the good things, learning from what didn’t work so well, and thinking about where to go next. (Plus the important question, “When should the next program year begin?”)