Welcome, Readers! Beth A. Lewis, President & CEO Augsburg Fortress Beth.lewis@augsburgfortress.org Gutenberg Meets Google at Augsburg Fortress ASSOCIATION OF LUTHERAN RESOURCE CENTERS In this Issue... 1&3 Letter from Beth Lewis 2 Interchange with Irene 4 Coordinator, Julie Aageson 5 Happy B day/miscellaneous 6 Announcement 7 Dialog with Darlene 8-10 Our picture album In October, I had the privilege of being invited to speak at Emory University's Reformation Day. This annual event is hosted by the Pitts Theology Library of the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. http://www.pitts.emory.edu Among their many resources, they boast an extraordinary library of woodcuts, the Richard C. Kessler Reformation Collection. As their website notes, it is "one of the most prominent collections of the Pitts Theology Library. It consists of over 2,900 volumes that relate to the Protestant Reformation in Germany down to 1570. Although its focus is on Lutheran materials, it also includes works by other Protestants and by Catholics, as they entered into conversation with Luther and his followers." I was asked to speak on a topic of my choice related to the Reformation and publishing. While I was honored to be asked, this request gave me pause. I am not a teaching theologian or an historian. But, as I did the research on publishing during the 16th century and how it influenced and impacted the Re formation, I found that much of what we are doing at Augsburg Fortress in the 21st century is quite analogous to the ways Martin Luther and others used the power of the press. They creatively used the media and distribution of the day to reach people in new and creative ways. They took advantage of technology to share the Gospel and to empower the people to live their faith. In the church of the 21st century and as the ministry of publishing within the ELCA, we must embrace and celebrate both our heritage and change. At Augsburg Fortress, we have done this within the past 6 months by introducing two web-based resources for congregations. One is our new confirmation resource, HERE WE STAND. http://www. herewestandconfirmation.org It has a "traditional" print component for students called THE LUTHERAN HANDBOOK. It is traditional in that it's a book and includes Luther's Small Catechism. But, it is quite non-traditional in that the image of Martin Luther on the front cover is "winking" and some of the content is edgy, a bit outrageous in it's humor, and dare I say it? Fun! The web-based piece is available via subscription for confirmation leaders and pastors, Christian Ed directors, mentors. And, as Martin Luther created a network of like -minded theologians who shared his perspectives and theology, the HERE WE STAND users are turning into a virtual community of teachers via our website. Another way that we have ventured into using cyberspace is with our new subscriptionbased, on-line worship planning tool, www.sundaysandseasons.com It helps pastors, worship leaders find and use worship and music content efficiently. In Martin Luther's day paraments, vestments & stained glass windows helped tell the stories of the Bible. We continue to use those tools to tell those very same stories today. In fact, partnering with Slabbinck, a family owned, 4th generation, Belgian company that custom designs and creates paraments and vestments, we offer lower cost, elegant textiles for use in a variety of styles of worship space. In particular they use new technology to produce silk-screened banners that are a superb value for congregations of all sizes with their $98 price point! http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/itemset.asp?clsid=129908 (Continued on page 3) Page 1
Interchange with Irene Vice-President Board of Directors President Irene Flynn Florida-Bahamas Synod Resource Center 3838 W Cypress St Tampa FL 33607 813-876-7660 x229 Vice-President Karen Kaufman Northeastern Ohio Synod Resource Center 1890 Bailey RD Cuyahoga Falls OH 44221 330-929-9020 Secretary/Membership Carol Hughes Chambersburg Resource Center 2700 Luther DR Chambersburg PA 17201 717-264-8178 Treasurer Rev. Dr. Craig Boehlke Region 3 Church Computer Resource Center 2481 Como Ave St. Paul MN 55108 651-649-0454 x232 Events Coordinator Noreen Stevens Eastern Minnesota Resource Center 2481 Como Avenue St Paul MN 55108 651-523-1607 Loaves & Fishes Co-Editors: Diane Kaufmann & Bonnie Weber Northwest Synod of WI 1005 Oxford Ave Eau Claire WI 54703 715-833-1153 Fax: 715-833-1156 gkaufmann @synodresourcecenter.org Newsletter e-mailed quarterly A beginning..there are so many things to say, and I m glad I ll be having an occasional time to talk to all of you-- dear friends, colleagues, sisters and brothers in the faith, peers, and mentors, teachers, encouragers. After our ALRC gathering at ELCA Churchwide, in October, here are some of my feelings: Humbled that you voted for me as your president for the next two years Grateful to all those that worked so hard to plan and carry out the gathering Enriched by the building of new relationships and the renewing of old ones Grounded through the telling of faith stories and worship and devotions Connected to AugsburgFortress and ELCA Churchwide through their efforts at giving us the newest and most up-to-date news Excited at the new faces that were present among us & the new energy they bring Amazed at the diversity of form that the Resource Centers take Wiser after hearing about our brains and Filter-Woman! Refreshed from the laughter and good humor as we gathered after hours and enjoyed a free afternoon Awed by the miracle that is the ALRC!! Despite Synod budget cut-backs, despite all the things that seem to go awry, the ALRC is 10 years old in 2006! WOW! We continue to provide a ministry of hope and help to our congregations in the ELCA. And so, for the next two years, the board and I want to invite you to CELEBRATE! Celebrate as we build on the past-- Celebrate as we rejoice in the present--and Celebrate as we look toward the future. We invite everyone to travel with us on this journey! I wanted to include a short bio for this issue to tell you all a little bit more about myself. God uniquely shaped me for Resource Center Ministry. Having graduated with a degree in Medical Technology and Chemistry, God saw to it that I was always called back to service within the congregation. Through directing choirs, planning worship, being in charge of Christian Education, beginning a volunteer and gifts directory I had to use many resources!! Since I was unhampered by prior knowledge when I took on each of these positions, I had to seek out, find, and try out RE- SOURCES!! I found good ones, old ones, new ones, excellent ones, ones that didn t work, some that helped, many that were great and many that weren t. This gave me a unique education on how a person in the parish can use resources that are available to build a ministry. And so, when I was asked to become a Director of the Resource Center in Florida- Bahamas Synod, again, I was able to depend on RESOURCES to show me the way. Some of those resources have been people and mentors and colleagues. One of those RESOURCES was Karen Eber Davis who did the study for Synod Council and led the way. Another people RESOURCE is Catherine Fink, who was my mentor in the beginning and continues to be someone who I rely on for advice and help in many ways. I can t think of a better calling.a better ministry, than Resource Center ministry. It s always evolving, always a challenge, always changing shape. It s fun to look back and see how God equips us even when we don t know it! God s blessings to each of you, Irene Page 2
Gutenburg meets Google continued Electronic projection, such as PowerPoint, provides a "new form" of telling stories through artwork within the sanctuary. Augsburg Fortress is exploring many options for development of new resources to assist congregations with finding resources for projection (both still and video) that are theologically sound from a Lutheran perspective. One of our early ventures in this arena is ICON TWO FOR PROJECTION, published earlier this year. http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/item.asp?clsid=163318&isbn=0806648147 One of the complaints that I hear as I talk with teaching theologians, pastors and others throughout academic and church circles is that we didn't publish a particular Lutheran author or composer. "Aren't you the publisher for the ELCA?" is a frequent admonition. Well, yes, we are. But, we are also an international & ecumenical publisher. We serve a much broader audience, especially through our Fortress Press book imprint and our music publishing program, than simply Lutheran. And, we, like all organizations have limited human and financial resources. To give you a sense of scale, we receive approximately 2000 book proposals each year for consideration by Fortress Press. We have the financial & human resources to publish about 100 to 125 book titles per year. So, we leave a lot of excellent books, by Lutherans and others, unpublished! But, we are thinking much more creatively these days about ways to use technology to broaden our offerings. If you had gone to the AF website 18 months ago, you would have found no books, pieces of sheet music or anything else to purchase in a downloadable format. We now have over 500 different items available as downloadable resources. http://www.augsburgfortress.org/store/searchresults.asp?1=1&searchstring=dow nloadable&x=9&y=10&searchtype=categories Another creative response is our POD program, Print on Demand. These are books, generally small market monographs or older books, that are past the peak of their demand in the marketplace. We store them electronically, then print them "just in time" upon receipt of an order. We can economically print in quantities of 1 or 2 copies or we can fill an order for a classroom filled with students. We now have about 25 titles available or soon to be available using POD technology. http://www.augsburgfortress.org/fortresspress/store/category.asp?clsid=177215 One last experiment that we are using is our blog. You can find it on our home page, www.augsburgfortress.org/blog It is my musings. My perspective. An insider's view of AF as the ministry of publishing within the ELCA and for the larger Christian community. The reason I started it was because I thought that we needed to find ways to demonstrate to our partners in ministry and customers that we are not "your father's AF." That even AF can be cool! Blogging has been called "participatory media" because of the opportunity for the primary writer and readers to share with one another with a new immediacy. While I am not seeing much of the "participatory" part of this new tool yet on our "One Mission" blog, I was astonished to learn a few weeks ago that since we launched it from the ELCA's churchwide assembly in mid-august, 4300 individuals have logged on to our blog. And, even more astonishing, over 2500 have bookmarked it! Martin Luther took advantage of the relatively new technology of the moveable type printing press in the 16th century. It allowed him and his contemporaries to reach lay people directly with pamphlets and tracts that stretched their imaginations and urged them to live their faith. It was a dynamic way to share the Gospel. Five hundred years later, we are using the Internet, PowerPoint, POD, and other technologies to do exactly the same thing. Page 3
Voice and Vision Interchange with Irene CIRCLES THAT KEEP ON EXPANDING Images of circles always evoke for me a sense of belonging and connection. I think of circles around a campfire on the beach, each of us telling stories and trying to find the best coals for roasting a hotdog or making a s more. We all know the symbolism of the ring and the circle it makes as a reminder of lifelong commitment or a deep friendship. The groups of women I gather with to study and pray nearly always form a circle. When families gather for festive meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it will be around tables where they join hands and hearts to celebrate together. And of course, there is the great Thanksgiving and the circles we make around the table of the Lord as we receive Christ s body and blood in the Eucharist. Circles signify belonging and connections. Resource center ministry continues to be about expanding circles. Working hand in hand with congregations and the leadership of this church, resource centers connect with local ministries linking more circles together. At the Association of Lutheran Resource Centers conference in Chicago last month, we celebrated different models of resource centers knowing that each reflects unique and distinctive ways of doing servant ministry. Picture an expanding collection of resource center models, all of them connected to one another. Then imagine another set of circles representing the publishing ministry of the ELCA, Augsburg Fortress. Connected to these circles is the staff at the Lutheran Center in Chicago where more partnerships are shared. Our long standing ecumenical connections also represent genuine and authentic circles of support and relationships. Resource centers model the best of what circles imply. The collegial and collaborative work we do is nearly always about circles, connecting people and resources to make Christ known! It joins our little company to the larger church and beyond. We need one another and we are better together and stronger together than we are apart! Let us continue to make the circles large, connecting the best of resource center ministry with all the other pieces that make up the Body of Christ. Thanks to all of you for the many ways you model belonging and connections! Julie K. Aageson Coordinator, ELCA Resource Centers ision Coordinator of ELCA Resource Centers Julie Aageson Sharing our faith stories... by Sr. Noreen When the ALRC gathered in Chicago recently, we had several opportunities to share our faith story. Although we are not often asked to share our story, we found our time of sharing was filled with the presence of the Spirit. We saw common threads, heard pains and joys, lifted up childhood stories, and celebrated who we are as an ALRC community! A special thanks to Carol, Karen, and Irene for sharing with all of us! Although we are not gathered together in one place, I encourage you to continue to lift up your story, celebrate God s awesome grace and love in your life, and know that the ALRC community walks with you in your faith journey! Take time to tell, pray, sing, or color your story while responding to Look beyond what you see: What part of your life is growing? What part of your life longs to be watered? Peace, Sr. Noreen Stevens Page 4
Points to Ponder... by Irene Flynn Hi all, While we are still high with memories of last month's conference (EXCELLENT on all counts - networking, keynoter, fellowship, fun, connections, food), I thought it would be a good time for all of us to brainstorm for things we'd like to see in the coming two years. 1. Already I'm thinking that the next two years can be a celebration of our 10th Anniversary. It's hard for Lutherans to celebrate for 2 years, but I think we can do it!! Hahaha... Bonnie and I have talked about archival pictures and information appearing in each Loaves and Fishes in 2006-2007. Maybe guest articles from past-presidents or founding "mothers and fathers"?? 2. I'd like to begin as soon as possible to promote to ALL ELCA resource centers the Dallas gathering. How can we do that? 3. Our theme for celebrating...should it be "Celebrate!" Or what? Something like "building on the past, rejoicing in the present, and moving into the future" or something like that? Too cumbersome? 4. I want to talk to my bishop and see if he can't talk at the Conference on Bishops about Resource Centers and importance of support. 5. How can we contact all Resource Centers? How can we include everyone? How can we encourage a bigger network? How can we encourage more to join our meeting on Ecunet? What do YOU Think?! Enough of my thoughts! I'd like to hear yours! Let's spend some time tossing ideas and possibilities around. Irene Don t forget our next Conference Call with Augsburg Fortress representatives on Tuesday, November 29 at 10am cst. Important information will be shared. There will NOT be a Conference Call in December. Happy Birthday to YOU-U-U-U From the Come & See Center in Springfield, IL - Contact, Sandy McAuley 11/10 From the Eastern MN Resource Center in St. Paul, MN - Contact, Noreen Stevens 12/04 From the W/ELCA Center in Chicago, IL - Contact, Laura Barkenquast 12/10 From the NW Synod of WI Center in Eau Claire, WI - Contact, Diane Kaufmann 12/10 From the NW Synod of WI Center in Eau Claire, WI - Contact, Greg Kaufmann 12/16 From the Chambersburg Center in Chambersburg, PA - Contact, Carol Hughes 12/23 From the Parish Center of Long Island West in Valley Stream, NY - Contact, Karla McKenzie 12/29 From the Eastern ND Resource Center in Fargo, ND - Contact, Julie Aageson 01/05 From Lutheran Ministry Center in Seguin, TX - Contact, Mary Clayton 01/07 From the South Central Synod Center in Madi son, WI - Contact, Lori Richardson 01/20 From the Region 1 Resource Center in Seattle, WA - Contact, Evie Boynton 01/31 Page 5
Breaking News Story! Greg and I (Paul Edison Swift) have followed up on the motion (made at the ALRC meeting in Chicago in October) regarding the future of www.synodresourcecenter.org and I am hoping to provide a grant to the NW Synod of WI to assist with a transition of that project to the ELCA servers. themselves. Grant funds will help pay for planning meetings to design a database structure, features, roles, and transition plan for the site. Some grant funds will be used for programmer time to design and test the new system. The goal would be to have a new version of it up and running on ELCA servers in time for introduction at Lutheran Days at the ERCG. The hope-for design would be that RCs would be able to upload materials themselves for inclusion in the site, and a (possibly rotating) administrator would "approve" submissions before they become available to the public. There would also be some staff support from here in Communication Services to help with the digitizing of submissions from sources that don't have the resources to prepare materials Thanks so much for your partnership in this effort to help congregations throughout the ELCA share their locally-produced materials in an efficient and effective way. Your efforts in starting this project and now your contributions to ensure it's future, are a great example of our interdependence in the ELCA and the tangible ways in which we can work together to build up the body of Christ. ERCG information 2006 Below is a chart/article that Paul Edison-Swift put together when we were at Chicago in October for our comparison to this year and previous year s expenses for ERCG. As you can see, the site picked for November 10-14, 2006 is Westin City Center Hotel, Dallas, Texas: Montreat Asilomar Tempe Dallas Year 2000 2002 2004 2006 Early Bird reg. $150 $170 $170 $185 Late reg. $165 $185 $185 Single room $529-$648 $633 $690 Double room $347-$391 $433 $480 Cost rationale for 2006. The registration fee has been $170 since 2002. Costs for running the gathering have increased, so we felt the $15 increase in the registration fee was reasonable. Housing costs have increased over the two previous gatherings. A single room in Dallas will be $42 more than a standard single at Asilomar. A Dallas single will be $57 more than a single in Tempe, and a double room will be $47 more. The total cost increase for a typical attendee will be $62 over the costs they had in Tempe. A quick check of sample airfares showed a potential overall savings, for Dallas (e.g. EAU to PHX was $326, EAU to DFW was $188; MSP to PHX is $250; MSP to DFW is $123; Tampa to PHX $222, Tampa to DFW $218). In the Eau Claire example, attendance in Dallas will cost $76 less than Tempe. The choice of an urban setting for this gathering was intentional. We have wonderful members on the planning committee who know Dallas well and have arranged for many learning and entertainment opportunities that will help us explore what it means to be In the City for Good. We don t have to increase registration fees more than $15 by making heavy use of talented local resource people. We are steadily making our way East, and fully intend to continue that direction for future gatherings. Dallas is due South for Midwesterners, a location we assume people appreciate in November. Page 6
Dialog with Darlene A song of thanks arises in our hearts, and we pour out our praise for all of God's gifts: Nourishment to empower our bodies, Hope to enlarge our vision, Love to link our lives, Laughter to soften our wounds, Passion to shape our maybes, Community to face our fears. As I think back a few weeks and remember fondly the gathering of Resource Center Directors in Chicago I smile! It was so much fun to celebrate the wonderful partnerships we have with Augsburg Fortress and the Program Units of the ELCA, the many gifts of such talented RC Directors, the shared memories of past gatherings & retired directors, the personal "catch-up" of our busy lives, and the wondrous joy in welcoming new directors to our "family"! For those of you who could not attend, we missed you and I hope you try to attend future gatherings. It was a filled few days, but as Karen Kaufman stated a "priceless event"! I want to take this opportunity as my last newsletter article as President of the ALRC to say thank you to all of you who have made my four years of serving as your leader a joy. The Board Members I served with: Greg Kaufmann, Vice President; Susan Schlitter, Secretary; Craig Boehlke, Treasurer, and Pam Drenner, Membership, were not just a board, but a "Team". Combine this group with the talents of Julie Aageson, ELCA Coordinator for RC Ministry and Bonnie Weber, Editor of Loaves & Fishes and it just all got better!! I will truly miss my daily "ALRC Board Meeting" fix on ecunet where most of our business took place! To Irene Flynn who was elected as your new ALRC President, and the other elected Board Members: Craig Boehlke, Karen Kaufman, Carol Hughes and Noreen Stevens, I say Welcome. I know you will discover the joy that I have felt serving in this capacity and I look forward to the visions and directions your new "team" will take us as we continue to "Build up the Body of Christ" Our construction site was closed down in Chicago as we concluded our conference, but the door was opened to many new opportunities, dreams and visions for the future! I look forward to continuing our walk together! May your Thanksgiving Day and the little Blessings that fill each day be filled with songs of gratitude! Darlene Okay, all you Chicago attendees, see if you can go through the Picture Album on pages 8-10 and name everyone in the pictures! Put a letter on each picture, then name everyone in the picture on a separate sheet of paper with the corresponding letter. Send them to me: Bonnie Weber, 1005 Oxford Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54703 - earliest postmark with the most correct names, WINS! You will be recognized and awarded a prize at the ERCG. Good luck, everyone! Page 7
ALRC Gathering in Chicago Oct. 2005 Hospitality, Fun, Sharing, Food......A good time was had by all! Page 8
Photo Gallery Continued... Together In Ministry Page 9
More Photo thoughts Gallery from Continued... President Irene Page 10