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Mission & Ministry

Hope behind closed doors

On March 13, as the threat of COVID-19 began spreading across the United States, Kris Erickson got news he never expected: he had to ban everyone but staff members from…

Empty pew perks
Faith in Action

Empty pew perks

As Matthew 18:20 reads: “For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Lutheran congregations around the country found new meaning in this passage…

Prayers for the new school year
Faith in Action

Prayers for the new school year

Focal verse “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray” (Proverbs 22:6). Reflection Next to bookshelves in our living room lies a pile of items:…

A rite of “Passage”
Mission & Ministry

A rite of “Passage”

Grace Hoening, like most 2020 high school seniors, ended her secondary education career in an unprecedented way: isolated from her peers, missing out on a “normal” graduation ceremony and trying…

Camp during a pandemic
Mission & Ministry

Camp during a pandemic

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, some Lutheran outdoor ministry organizations in the United States have canceled their summer camps for the first time in 100 years. “This was heartbreaking for…

Congregations go green
Faith in Action

Congregations go green

From West Coast to East Coast, ELCA congregations are establishing green ministries and making changes to reduce their carbon footprints and become better stewards of God’s creation. These efforts, many…