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Living Faithfully

Fred’s Gifts: a mission tradition

Sales support the ELCA while bringing joy to others $1 at a time. 
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Living Faithfully

A season of difficult waiting

I knew that this particular Advent was going to be difficult.
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Living Faithfully

Well, what would Jesus do?

The test applies to our treatment by others and our treatment of others.
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Living Faithfully

A starry Advent night

A Michigan congregation continues its tradition of Advent decorating.
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Living Faithfully

The Lazarus effect and AIDS

Thanks to new treatments, AIDS no longer has to lead to death.
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Living Faithfully

Congregations respond to gun violence

It seems almost routine. A lone gunman enters a school, mall or movie theater resulting in death, injury and community trauma. In cities, gun violence is a daily occurrence and…
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Living Faithfully

Dolls with missing limbs comfort recipients

What does a toddler with no arms do when her mom gives her a doll? She hugs it lovingly with her legs, of course. Especially this doll: a doll withno…
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Living Faithfully

Simply Christmas

In Tom Taylor’s house growing up, the Christmas tree went up the day after Thanksgiving and came down only when it was so dry the needles fell off. As a…
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Living Faithfully

New life for children with disabilities in Tanzania

When Betsy Buschkemper arrived at the Building a Caring Community (BCC) center in Moshi, Tanzania, 5-year-old Brian took her hand and tugged her inside to see his toys. This lively,…
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Mission & Ministry

Two Noahs with a common cause

The name Noah brings to mind pairs of animals boarding the ark. At Central Lutheran Church, Portland, Ore., the name Noah also conjures images of pairs — though in this…
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Living Faithfully

‘Fred’s Gifts’ a Christmas mission tradition

One Advent about 20 years ago, Fred Boettcher sold hundreds of wrapped gifts for $1 each in the narthex of Calmar (Iowa) Lutheran Church. Known as “Fred’s Gifts,” Boettcher supplied…
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Living Faithfully

Adoption changed their lives

Natalia Parker, 36, was 7 days old when she was adopted. Since her youth, she has known she wanted to adopt children. After Parker and her husband, Ron, had two…