A shared experience
Mission & Ministry

A shared experience

When Chad Fothergill arrived on the Valparaiso (Ind.) University campus as a student of the Lutheran Summer Music (LSM) Academy & Festival in 2000, he had no inclination of his…
Mother’s Day: It’s complicated
Living Faithfully

Mother’s Day: It’s complicated

Every year on the second Sunday of May, people across the U.S. honor the sacrificial love of mothers. It’s a time for family and festivities. Many celebrate by buying flowers,…
The enduring love for church cookbooks
Living Faithfully

The enduring love for church cookbooks

With numerous online recipes at any cook’s fingertips, people might think that church cookbooks are a thing of the past. But in Lutheran congregations, with their long history of congregational…
The joy of not-knowing
Living Faithfully

The joy of not-knowing

One of my favorite unexpected joys of parenthood is how much I learn from reading children’s books. My older son has been fascinated with a book called Turtles and Snails…
Easter’s surprise
Living Faithfully

Easter’s surprise

Focal verse “But I will hope continually, and will praise you yet more and more” (Psalm 71:14). Reflection Our children currently love the Elephant & Piggie books by Mo Willems….
An Easter Vigil at home
Living Faithfully

An Easter Vigil at home

My son is in high school, and he and I were talking about our Holy Week plans. I shared that our congregation wasn’t having an Easter Vigil due to the…
Singing our faith
Living Faithfully

Singing our faith

Focal verse “O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth” (Psalm 96:1). Reflection Last year, like many children across the country, my daughter…
Searching for the Spirit
Living Faithfully

Searching for the Spirit

It’s Sunday afternoon, and my son, Jack, and I have arrived at the woods for what I call “nature church.” Once a month, we put on hiking shoes and visit…