CONCORDIA PUBLISHING LAUNCHES NEW VBS WEB SITE,
INVITES LCMS CONGREGATIONS TO “USE CPH”

Saint Louis, MO—“If an LCMS congregation is sponsoring a VBS program in the summer of 2009, we want it to be a CPH VBS,” says Gretchen Jameson, Manager for Public Relations and Corporate Communications at Concordia Publishing House. Jameson shares that this is “a bold invitation,” adding, “We know some use programs offered by other Christian publishers. We want every LCMS congregation to give CPH a fresh look in 2009; they won’t be disappointed.” Concordia Publishing House is the publisher of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The 2009 VBS program includes, “new music, a focus on living out faith, and options for both large and small VBS programs.”

The 2009 program, Gadget’s Garage Web site is now online at www.cph.org/vbs. The site includes a wealth of new features designed to assist those planning to host VBS programs in the summer of 2009.

 “We’ve really expanded our Web site,” says Vacation Bible School Marketing Manager Terri Simon. “VBS directors can find the basics about the program and easily place orders. They can also download media, preview music, participate in community, and starting this winter, create a congregational VBS Web page using our site.”

Beefing up the content and improving the features of the VBS Web site is “a great way to get volunteers, parents, and students involved and excited long before VBS begins.”

Web site features include:

• Blogs, forums, and even a Facebook connection for discussion, and posting photos (January, 2009).
• A “Leader Toolbox” with tips for large and small VBS programs, FAQs on the benefits of site rotation (a style of VBS programming), and new and improved recruitment kit ideas.
• The Nuts & Bolts of Gadget’s Garage, which offers an overview of the program and details about the all new CPH Starter Kits and the featured 2009 VBS mission project.

Vacation Bible School Editor Cindy Wheeler shares, “At Gadget’s Garage VBS, kids learn about Jesus, their Savior, and respond by putting their faith in motion, using their hands, minds, ears, eyes, and hearts to serve Jesus and live as His people.” The Web site “helps customers better connect with the important message that CPH VBS is all about Jesus, every day in every way.”

Two Starter Kits are available for the 2009 VBS. The traditional Starter Kit includes all leader resources—CDs, guides, and Skit DVD. The new Small VBS Starter Kit is ideal for Vacation Bible School programs with fewer than 50 students, fewer volunteers, or limited space.

Now through December 31, 2008, Concordia Publishing House is offering free shipping on Starter Kit orders. Pre-order at www.cph.org/vbs or call 1-800-325-3040 and mention code VSM. Kits will be shipped December 2008.

CHILDREN’S BULLETIN CONNECTS KIDS AND FAMILIES TO WORSHIP

A new resource from Concordia Publishing House provides interactive, engaging weekly children’s bulletins for use by children and their families. Growing in Worship involves children more fully in worship and the life of the church.  The Commission on Worship of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has endorsed the new resource saying, “Growing in Worship engages children with Christ as He is encountered each week in Word and Sacrament, and sends them home with Christ–centered ideas and suggestions for the week ahead. Every congregation should get Growing in Worship. It is truly a wonderful resource for our children!”

The new four–page weekly children’s worship folder highlights the theme and message of the day and teaches children about the Church Year and special festivals. Each bulletin includes:

• PRAY: Child–friendly format that highlights the prayer of the day (Collect)
• SEE: Activity that focuses children on what they will see in worship
• HEAR: Clear instructions help children follow the Gospel reading
• DO: Engaging activity unpacks the message of the Gospel reading

Definitions of words used in the context of worship, intriguing facts, and brief ideas for daily family faith-activity and discussion throughout the week are also included in each children’s bulletin. The all-new children’s worship resource is ideal for children ages 5–10.

Now through December 31, 2008, Concordia Publishing House is offering 20% off the first quarter of subscription. Call 1-800-325-3040 and mention code WGW. The promotion offer is not available through the Web site.

 For more details, including a sample, and complete pricing and subscription details, visit www.cph.org/worshipresources and click on “Every Sunday Bulletins.”

CPH BOOKSTORE PROVIDES ‘PREMIER RESOURCES’
WITH CAMPUS BOOKSTORES
            Saint Louis, MO—Concordia Publishing House (CPH) has added operation of the bookstore on the campus of Concordia University Ann Arbor to the range of services it provides to Lutherans across the LCMS. CPH currently operates Concordia University System campus bookstores in St. Louis, MO; Fort Wayne, IN; Chicago, IL and Ann Arbor, MI. In addition to providing services for students and faculty, local customers are able to purchase CPH products directly from the stores, making the stores more than “just a campus service, but a resource center for the larger LCMS community where they operate,” says CPH President & CEO, Bruce G. Kintz. 
“All of our campus stores function as satellite CPH stores,” shares Larry Padgett, Executive Director for Sales and Marketing. “Stores feature our most recent products so that customers can see resources firsthand and purchase them directly, as if shopping at the CPH store in Saint Louis or online. Sunday School, VBS, curriculum, books, and all other CPH products are available.” Professional discounts and CPH house charges are also accepted at Concordia campus bookstores.
Ann Arbor marks the newest franchise for Concordia Publishing House. “We are always looking for ways to provide better services for our students,” said Executive Vice President of Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Charles A. Winterstein. “CPH partnered with us with the intention of marketing the bookstore to all the Lutheran churches in the region,” said Winterstein.
            “Providing operations support for campus bookstores is one more way that Concordia Publishing House serves the congregations, students, church workers, and families of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod,” Kintz adds. “CPH exists to strengthen the ministry of the LCMS, and providing access to premier, Lutheran resources through our Concordia University System bookstores is one way we do that.”
            Questions about Concordia bookstores may be directed to Peter Frank, manager of CPH Bookstore Operations, (314) 268-1114.

NEW, COMPREHENSIVE PRAYER RESOURCE FROM CPH

Saint Louis, MO—Concordia Publishing House (CPH) announces the launch of the most comprehensive Lutheran prayer resource ever published. At an impressive 1600 pages, the Lutheran publisher's Treasury of Daily Prayer is described by the company as an "all-in-one resource for daily devotions for individuals, families, and small groups."  The new resource contributes a "distinctively Lutheran offering" into the Christian book market.

A promotional Web site, www.cph.org/prayer, provides an extensive opportunity to explore the prayer resource, read testimonials, and post comments. Potential readers can even participate in a related Facebook community focused on discussion of the resource and its uses. Concordia Publishing House is providing a download of Treasury's complete readings for the month of September as a "free sample" at the Web site. Pre-sale is now available. The prayer resource is scheduled to release on October 23, 2008.

Treasury of Daily Prayer is a well-timed release into the American religious landscape. According to a current comparison study from the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 69% of Protestants claim to pray once a day or more. Among Lutherans, 55% say they pray once a day or more, while 23% indicate praying once or a few times each week (U.S. Religious Landscape Survey, http://religions.pewforum.org/comparisons). "Clearly, the importance of prayer  as part of the Christian life cannot be overemphasized, and in today's culture daily prayer among mainline Christians is hovering around 50%" shares Rev. Paul T. McCain, Executive Director for Editorial . "More than ever, Concordia Publishing House wants to support and encourage the personal and family practice of prayer. Treasury is our contribution to guide and support an ordered prayer life for Lutherans and for all Christian people."

Treasury of Daily Prayer can be found online at www.cph.org/prayer.

American Teen
Jake. Megan. Hannah. Colin. Mitch. If you haven't heard about these five students yet, you soon will. And so will your students, thanks to a highly coordinated, social media-driven publicity campaign direct from Hollywood.

These are the five high school seniors from Warsaw, Indiana, and they are coming to a multiplex screen near you as the very real, very Midwest stars of American Teen.

American Teen is a documentary from director Nanette Burstein that follows the lives of five students and their classmates from the first day of school through graduation. The result is what some have called the Breakfast Club of the new millennium. First released at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year, American Teen has gathered critical acclaim from many sectors. Its extremely well-orchestrated media campaign has already attracted the attention of thousands of teenagers via Facebook, and the flood of interest will only increase.

On the surface, the film's five stars embody the stereotypical high school roles of jock, princess, rebel, geek, and heartthrob; but in reality, their lives are much more complicated. The students navigate a constantly changing landscape of friends, family, and personal issues. They are searching (either with awareness or with a disturbing lack of clarity) for something better in life. And the film is their unscripted story.

Christian viewers can expect to be uncomfortable with the film's un-editorialized portrayal of teen language, sexual behavior, and alcohol use. The director does not prescribe how audiences should receive or respond to the content of the film, which makes it a bit of a moral morass for immature viewers. But adults will quickly realize that, like it or not, and good or bad, the scenario of American Teen is not too far removed from the average teen landscape of today's culture.

The question, for those of us who care about kids and recognize that something is very wrong with today's student experience, is: what do we want to do with the themes of this film as we engage youth with the message of God's Word?

Concordia Publishing House is offering a free downloadable discussion guide to assist you in uncovering and discussing the ideas and themes found in American Teen with your students. Consider using it with the youth of your church following a viewing of American Teen, or use the guide to prepare yourself to discuss the film with students who come to youth group discussing what they have seen.