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Mission & Ministry

Innovations in rural ministry

Innovation is in bloom across the rural reaches of the ELCA, and perhaps nothing exemplifies that better than a new food ministry in Iowa. The Western Iowa Synod calls it…

Mission & Ministry

Putting the putz in Pennsylvania Christmastime

A tiny baby Jesus, watched over by Mary and Joseph, would be easily identifiable to members of St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hilltown, Pa., as a nativity scene celebrating…

Voices of Faith

Be the blessing

My daughters are 2, 4 and 6 years old, so bedtime is still a full-contact sport for me most nights. Between begging them to eat dinner, washing three squirming bodies and finally dressing them in their beloved pajamas, I am more tired by bedtime than they are. Yet somehow the last two…

Mission & Ministry

A cycle of care

The ELCA was first introduced to Elida Senzenina Panjaitan (who goes by “Angel”) a decade ago, when she was 7 years old. Angel, who lives in Indonesia, was born with…

Mission & Ministry

God’s love knows no bounds

Editor’s note: This reflection is part of a series by chaplains in the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) about the ways in which God is at work on NECU campuses. Benedict Owusu and I met at…

Voices of Faith

My take: We are called as Lutherans

For some Americans, it may be easy to think that the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump in July, will…

Voices of Faith

Lessons from A Charlie Brown Christmas

We all know the story of the angel appearing to shepherds on the night Jesus was born. In church, we’ll hear Matthew’s version this year, but many will think of…

Voices of Faith

Perspective: Strengthened connections

This fall, I had the privilege of attending the ELCA Multicultural Young Adult Event in New Orleans. Organized by the churchwide organization’s Ministries of Diverse Cultures and Communities, the gathering…

Mission & Ministry, Faith in Action

News from ELCA advocacy

Green Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) polo shirts could be spotted under blazers as about 70 LDR members from 26 states strode into offices on Capitol Hill to speak with their…

Voices of Faith

Following new paths

Despite the fact that Lucille “CeCee” Mills preached her first sermon at age 9, she didn’t always plan on pursuing ordained ministry. Like Yehiel Curry, presiding bishop of the ELCA,…

Faith in Action

The promised land

Editor’s note: The ELCA has a long and meaningful history of ministry in rural areas. This story is the first in a new series highlighting innovative rural ministries by ELCA…

Faith in Action

Labor of love and service

As we take Labor Day to pause and honor the dignity of work, we also reflect on 12 years of faithful service through “God’s Work. Our Hands.” —a day when congregations…