Come and rest
Faith in Action

Come and rest

Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while (Mark 6:31). My mother recently said she needed some rest. I didn’t exactly understand why—she’s retired and…
Camp for kids like them
Faith in Action

Camp for kids like them

In September 2020, Amelia Siewert was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (T1-D). She was 6-1/2 years old. In the first couple weeks after her diagnosis, the child asked her mother…
A “mission” to the future
Faith in Action

A “mission” to the future

After moving from Lebanon to the United States to complete his theological studies, Charbel Zgheib was presented with a life-changing opportunity: to serve as mission developer for a new congregation…
A summer of faithful play
Faith in Action

A summer of faithful play

Focal verse: You show me the path of life. In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore (Psalm 16:11). Reflection My children never…
The search for a church
Faith in Action

The search for a church

I recently started my search for a new church. It was daunting. I posted about my experience to an ELCA Facebook group and got over 300 responses. It appears the…
Gather Network
Faith in Action

Gather Network

Where do Gather communities meet? You can find meeting spaces by using the map on our website. How do I start a Gather community in my location? If you are…
Our medieval hymns: “Come, Creator Spirit”
Mission & Ministry

Our medieval hymns: “Come, Creator Spirit”

Author’s note: Lutherans and other hymn lovers may be surprised to learn how many of their favorite hymns come from medieval texts. Can anything good come out of the “Dark…
“God will make a way”
Mission & Ministry

“God will make a way”

In January the ordination of Sally Azar as the first female pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) was celebrated worldwide. This historic moment…
A motherless Mother’s Day
Faith in Action

A motherless Mother’s Day

I stopped going to Mother’s Day services after my mom died. When that second Sunday in May pops up on my calendar, I find something else to do, anything that…
100 years of men in mission
Mission & Ministry

100 years of men in mission

Passing the Sunday-morning offering plate has traditionally been a visible role for church men. But it was the passing of a much bigger offering plate that cemented the legacy of…
Outside the box
Faith in Action

Outside the box

Located in the town of Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UP Wild Church is among the newest ministries in the growing movement of “wild” outdoor worship communities. The church holds…