An affirmation of faith
Faith in Action

An affirmation of faith

Confirmation came a little late for my daughter. My husband and I were deployed to serve as missionaries in Jerusalem, which interrupted her final year of confirmation class. It took…

How do we select songs for all seasons?
Mission & Ministry

How do we select songs for all seasons?

Editor’s note: Martin Luther famously said, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 53). The ELCA still holds tightly to Luther’s understanding. In…

“I know I am welcome”
Mission & Ministry

“I know I am welcome”

At St. Andrew’s United Church of Cairo, worship happens on Fridays. The holy day in Islam and a day off for most Egyptians, Friday draws Christians of many tongues to…

Led by the Spirit
Faith in Action

Led by the Spirit

In a changing world, the ELCA is now focusing on congregational vitality, which the ELCA Conference of Bishops described by saying vitality is found in communities of Jesus that nurture…

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Faith in Action

Beyond happy

Recently I overheard a mom say of her son, “I just want him to be happy and healthy.” As I listened, I started thinking of how many other parents—including me—have…

Grace and God’s welcome
Mission & Ministry

Grace and God’s welcome

Editor’s note: As Lutherans, grace is at the heart of our faith understanding. But what does it look like to actually live out grace? In this three-part series, we will…

“Everyone belongs in God’s family”
Faith in Action

“Everyone belongs in God’s family”

In November, I attended the 2018 Leadership Summit at Carol Joy Holling Camp in Ashland, Neb., with support from ELCA Disability Ministries. Here are some of my highlights from the…

All in God’s image
Faith in Action

All in God’s image

“You have a yellow tooth.” Occasionally, a child notices the discoloration on my front left tooth and states this. For a while, I marveled that only children commented on this….

Redeeming “Waldsee”
Mission & Ministry

Redeeming “Waldsee”

One of the gifts of the Information Age is that news and stories from around the world are immediately accessible to almost anyone. But the challenge is what to do…