Signs of Life

Thank you for your interest in the material in Signs of Life

.We hope this eight session study guide will be helpful in supporting and strengthening the ministry you have in the church. We envision many ways this book and companion study guide can be used for discussion.

Each session includes opening and closing prayers as well as a portion of scripture for reflection. Obviously, time allotted for prayer and scripture reflection can vary. But we believe that both prayer and scripture are essential to the kind of conversation outlined in this guide.

Sunday Adult Education: If your church has formation programs on Sunday mornings, either before or after or in between liturgies, this study guide can help.

Small Group Programs: If people in your church meet for study groups during the week, this study guide could provide a helpful eight-week program. This material may well be a good way to start such a group if it doesn?t already exist.

Lenten Programs: Lent is a season for spiritual growth and formation, so the material in the book and study guide would fit well within that season. Feel free to combine chapters based on your timeline.

Weekend Parish Retreat: If it is your custom in your community to have a parish retreat, either onsite or at some other location, the material in this book and study guide could provide great content for your time together.

Vestry Retreat: If you?re looking for content for your lay leadership, Signs of Life may help you think about how you want to guide your congregation in days ahead.

You may want to focus on only one or a few of these best practice principles. If that?s most helpful for your church, identify the particular chapters that pertain to your context.

Above all, we hope this material will help you and your community to grow spiritually.