(Part one of five in David Roseberry’s Suddenly Surging series on church growth.) What is Going On? I first read a series of tweets from church leaders citing tremendous and unexpected growth in attendance in their congregations over the last few months. They were not commenting on Easter crowds but on Easter-like trends. Since their…
10 Ways to Preach on Maundy Thursday
What is Maundy Thursday? The liturgy for Maundy Thursday begins a three-day observance of the most holy events in the Christian Liturgical calendar. Known as the Triduum, the service of Maundy Thursday, followed by Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and the Easter Vigil, cover a four-day/three-night journey into the heart of the Christian Gospel. The name…
10 Ways to Preach the Palm Sunday Sermon
In David Roseberry’s ongoing series of posts on 10 Ways to Preach, we come to Palm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Almighty and everlasting God, in your tender love for us you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon himself our nature, and to suffer death upon the Cross, giving us…
Burial at Sea on the Galilee
Ashes, Ashes Tears filled Jessie’s eyes when she took my hand one evening and said, “I brought Derrick’s ashes. Could we have a service tomorrow in one of these beautiful places around the Sea of Galilee?” I knew her well. She was with her son on our trip to the Holy Land, which her husband…
10 Ways to Preach on Ash Wednesday
In David Roseberry’s ongoing series of posts on 10 Ways to Preach Liturgical Events, we come to Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the season of Lent. If a congregation gathers to observe Ash Wednesday, it will likely include these dramatic liturgical moments: It is a deep and profound service; as you can see, it can…
The Annual Meeting: A Rookie Anglican Guide
If the Super Bowl is within sight, it is usually time for congregations to have their Annual Meeting. It is often mandated by order of the church’s bylaws or parish or diocesan tradition. Still, it does make sense to gather the faithful members of the flock once a year to review the year past, assess…
The Bishop as Grandfather
Anglican Compass is proud to publish the Rev. Canon David Roseberry’s new book, The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop. It is already getting widespread acclaim from rectors, vestry members, and bishops throughout the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Below is an excerpt from the book’s chapter “The Bishop as Grandfather.” Bishops are chiefly pastors…
The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop: A Foreword by Bob Duncan
Anglican Compass is proud to publish the Rev. Canon David Roseberry’s new book, The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop. It is already getting widespread acclaim from rectors, vestry members, and bishops throughout the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). Below is the forward to the book by none other than the founding Archbishop and…
Praise for The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop
Anglican Compass is excited to announce our publication of The Rector, the Vestry, and the Bishop by the Rev. Canon David Roseberry, now available in paperback and on Kindle. It is a second, significantly expanded edition of his book The Rector and the Vestry. The first edition has been used for teaching, training, and orientation…
Cinnamon-Scented Discipleship: Curating Art in Children’s Ministry
Known, Loved, Not Alone At Restoration Anglican Church in Arlington, VA, this distillation of the Gospel—known, loved, not alone—permeates all aspects of children’s ministry. It’s on small group leaders’ T-shirts, printed with whimsical illustrations on stickers to take home, and echoed in every lesson. Kids are repeatedly reminded: God knows you (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 139:1-4). He…
Cultivating a Robust Ministry of Deacons
As Anglicans, we have inherited a rich and robust theology of the diaconal office. We believe that deacons are essential and necessary for a healthy Church. Despite this, our stewardship of the office has not always yielded an equally rich and robust diaconal ministry. Why do we have such a disconnect between theology and practice?…
Aramaic for Kids: Teaching the Gospel from Hosanna to Lema Sabachthani
Kids love the Aramaic sayings of Jesus. At first, I was a bit nervous about teaching the topic. Though the Aramaic phrases from the gospel of Mark have always fascinated me, I did not know if kids would share my interest. But my task was to prepare five lessons for a week-long camp called “Camp…
