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ANGER -- January/February
Due date: 5/15/00
We live in an age of road rage, hate crimes, and
threats to "make my day." Anger is a basic human
emotion, yet it is frequently expressed
inappropriately. When turned outward, it can
result in violent acts that hurt others. When
turned inward, it can manifest itself as
depression or self-destructive behaviors. How
can we use anger as a tool rather than a weapon?
In what ways have you attempted to resolve
anger-your own or others'? How did Jesus use his
anger? respond to angry opponents? How do you
understand God's anger?
FASTING (LENT/EASTER) -- March/April
Due date: 7/15/00
Traditionally, the spiritual discipline of
fasting has served as an act of repentance and
has freed those who practiced it to receive
other gifts. While fasting from food may be
deeply meaningful for some, others may find it
impossible for health reasons. But there are
ways to fast other than abstaining from food.
Isaiah 58 records God's preference for a fast
from injustice and hypocrisy. Rueben Job and
Marjorie Thompson suggest in Together in Christ
that the most meaningful fasts are ones in which
we abstain from those things that fill our lives
to the point of crowding out God. What has
threatened to crowd God out of your life? How
has a fast opened you to the grace of God? In
this Lenten issue, we will explore Jesus' fast
in the wilderness, the tradition of fasting
during Lent, and the joy of breaking a fast at
Easter.
AVAILABILITY (PENTECOST) -- May/June
Due date: 9/15/00
For people of faith in the Bible and throughout
the history of the Church, availability is a
primary characteristic. Availability involves
opening ourselves to God's guidance and
attempting to follow God's direction in our
lives. As Christians, we are also called to make
ourselves available to others. In this issue, we
will look at the ways the first Christians made
themselves available to God following Pentecost.
How do you seek to make yourself available? How
do you struggle with competing claims on your
availability? Where have you gained wisdom about
living as a Christian who is available to God
and others?
WORSHIP -- July/August
Due date: 11/15/00
The Westminster Shorter Catechism states that
the chief end of humankind is to glorify God and
enjoy God forever. In this issue we will explore
how we glorify God through the movements of the
worship service: preparation and gathering,
praise and prayer, confession and pardon,
proclamation and response, sacraments, and
sending forth. When have you experienced the
power of these acts? In what ways do they
glorify God? How do the movements of worship
shape us as people of faith? How do they provide
a structure for living all our lives to the
glory of God?
MONEY -- September/October
Due date: 1/15/00
"Money makes the world go around," sing the
characters in the musical Cabaret. While we
might argue the truth of this claim, money or a
means of exchange is a basic prerequisite on
which a society is built. As Christians, do we
view money as sinful, a necessary evil, a
blessing from God, or a means toward doing good?
How do you struggle with the way you earn, save,
spend, or give away money? How do you keep from
becoming obsessed with money, possessions, and
other people having more than you do? What
witness is the Church called to offer in the
midst of society that appears to believe that
money makes the world go around? Is there such a
thing as Christian economics?
PREPARE THE WAY (ADVENT/CHRISTMAS) -- November/December
Due date: 3/15/00
"Prepare the way of the Lord," proclaims John
the Baptist, echoing the words of Isaiah 40.
Advent is a time to prepare for Christ's birth
anew in our lives, yet often this preparation is
overtaken by the busyness of holiday activities.
What does it mean to prepare the way and how
does this relate to hope, peace, joy, and love?
In what ways do you seek to prepare yourself?
How does this manifest itself in acts of love
and justice in the world? What would the world
look like if it were truly ready for the
Messiah's arrival?
You are welcome to submit stories, poems,
scripture-based meditations, and prayers. We
also invite suggestions for reprints (please
send copies of the original source and the
copyright page). Be sure to have your name,
address, social security number, and intended
theme on each page of material you send. Unused
material will be returned if you include a SASE
(please include separate SASE for each theme).
We pay a modest honorarium upon publication. We
are a small staff and do not have time to
critique material. We reserve the right to
change themes as necessary. Please see our
Writers' Guidelines for our mailing address and
for more details.
Our Mission
Alive Now is a devotional magazine that supports
the spiritual lives of small groups as well as
individuals. The magazine invites readers to
enter an ever-deepening relationship with God,
helps them reflect on contemporary issues from a
faith perspective, and supports them in acting
on these issues.
General Guidelines
Each issue of this bimonthly, 64-page magazine
focuses on a contemporary topic that impacts the
faith life. Divided into eight sections that
move readers through exploration and reflection
on the theme, the magazine may be used weekly by
individuals or members of small groups. The
sections contain scripture, prayers,
meditations, stories, poetry, reflection aids,
photographs, and art. Seasonal material, both
theological and liturgical, is appropriate.
Readership
Alive Now is ecumenical, including both lay
persons and church professionals. Our readers
are primarily adults -- from young adults to
older adults -- and include persons of many
cultures and ethnic backgrounds.
Style and Format
Your submissions should invite readers to seek
God in the midst of daily life by exploring how
contemporary issues impact their faith lives. We
do not pretend to have the final answer to
life's dilemmas. But we hope that the magazine
will provide a glimpse of the life of faith to
which we all are called.
Submit for a theme. We make selections
based on a list of upcoming themes. Manuscripts
which do not fit a theme will be returned. To
receive a current themes list by mail, please
send your request to us with a self-addressed,
stamped envelope. We place manuscripts on
long-term hold for specific issues. Authors are
free to request that their manuscripts be
returned to them at any time during the
long-term hold.
Meditations and stories should be 250 to 500
words. Send your best work. Use language that is
inclusive. Material that contains sexist
language and imagery is difficult to use.
Manuscript Preparation
Contributions should be typed, double-spaced, on
8 1/2" x 11" paper and should be accompanied by
a self-addressed, stamped envelope for return.
If you are submitting material for more than one
theme, send an SASE for each theme represented.
On each page you submit, include your name,
address, social security number, and the theme
for which the piece is being sent.
Notification and Payment
Payment will be made at the time of acceptance
for publication. We will notify contributors of
manuscript status when we make final decisions
for a theme, three months before the issue date.
Unusable material will be returned if an SASE
was sent with the manuscript. We purchase
newspaper, periodical, and electronic rights so
that we can respond to requests for reprints
from local church publications and other
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the World Wide Web. We may purchase one-time
use.
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