Four Seasons of Ministry: Gathering a Harvest of Righteousness
Bruce G. Epperly, Katherine Gould Epperly
Ministers often find themselves caught in the day-to-day pressures of leading a congregation and yearn to experience the unfolding of their professional lives from a larger perspective. Four Seasons of Ministry serves as a guide for what you will find on your ministerial journey and gives meaning to the routine and repetitive tasks of ministry. Authors Bruce G. and Katherine Gould Epperly, each of whom has over 25 years of experience in various pastoral roles, invite clergy to see their ministries in the present as part of a life-long adventure in companionship with God, their loved ones, and their congregations.
There is a time and a season to every ministry. Healthy and vital pastors look for the signs of the times and the gifts of each swiftly passing season, but they also take responsibility for engaging the creative opportunities of each season of ministry. Those who listen well to the gentle rhythm of God moving through their lives and the responsibilities and challenges that attend the passing of the years, vocationally as well as chronologically, will be amazed at the beauty and truth that shapes and characterizes the development of their ministries.
Praise for the Book
“This is wisdom literature! Drawing on the experience of scores of students and colleagues as well as their own, Bruce and Katherine Epperly have given us a book full of spiritual and emotional insight for every minister, no matter the season in which they are living now.” —Richard L. Hamm, Executive Administrator of Christian Churches Together in the USA and author of Recreating the Church: Leadership fo rhte Postmodern Age
“Ministers at whatever age or stage of life will find many things in this book to encourage and to challenge them. Whether you need to refine your spiritual practice, develop new gifts for new times, or learn to take Sabbath, Four Seasons of Ministry will serve as a companion on your journey.” —Marja Coons-Torn, Penn Central Conference Minister, United Church of Christ
“The Epperlys ask: ‘Can a life devoted to ministry continue to bring beauty to God, our congregations, our families, and ourselves?’ The answer is yes.” —David McAllister-Wilson, President, Wesley Theological Seminary
“Pastors can’t read Four Seasons of Ministry too soon. Reflection on their spirituality, ministerial excellence, and wholeness needs to be done sooner rather than later, and periodically. The Epperlys’ paradigm of the ministerial life cycle and suggestions for cultivation and growth leading to a harvest of righteousness are words of wisdom from seminary days to retirement.” —Mary Anne Parrott, President, Disciples Seminary Foundation, Claremont and Berkeley, California
About the Authors
Bruce G. Epperly serves as Director of Continuing Education and Professor of Practical Theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary and is ordained in the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Katherine Gould Epperly is also an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ. Together, Bruce and Kate serve as co-pastors of Disciples United Community Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
ISBN# 978-1-56699-366-1
Alban No. AL366
paper, 193 pages
2008
In stock
$18.00
($14.40 for members)
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