Illumination
Voices of Faith

Illumination

Alleluia. We have observed his star at its rising, and have come to worship him. Alleluia. —Gospel acclamation for Epiphany (Year A), from Matthew 2:2   When I left the…
Search the darkness
Voices of Faith

Search the darkness

Where is God? If you ask some children and many adults, they will point to the sky. And they might be right—at night. The Gospel readings that frame January locate…
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Voices of Faith

An unforgettable Christmas Eve

I’ve had many wonderful Christmas celebrations over the years. The most memorable one was more than 60 years ago, before I was ordained. I was attending Luther Seminary in St….
My take: Mary as a figure of power
Voices of Faith

My take: Mary as a figure of power

I have always loved Mary, the mother of our Lord, and each year she becomes more important to me. But my love for Mary does not come from admiration of…
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Voices of Faith

Truly human

Every December, I take somewhat dark delight in viewing (Google it for grins) a 1926 painting by German artist Max Ernst titled “The Blessed Virgin Chastising the Infant Jesus before…
Invited into the wilderness
Voices of Faith

Invited into the wilderness

Our Advent lectionary readings this year are a rich tapestry. In Matthew’s Gospel, we are swept up together in the comforting but challenging reality of the “already” and the “not…
Mister Rogers and the practice of silence
Voices of Faith

Mister Rogers and the practice of silence

When Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), the Esquire magazine reporter who serves as protagonist and audience surrogate in the new drama A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, meets Joanne Rogers (Maryann…
From hype to hope
Voices of Faith

From hype to hope

Anticipation and excitement make the jump to hyperspeed as we approach the big day in late December: the release of the new “Star Wars” movie, the final chapter in the…
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Voices of Faith

Perspective: A thank-filled Thanksgiving

My mom loves thank-you cards. She sends them on a whim, joyfully, breathlessly. She keeps a stack in her house for any occasion that requires giving thanks, such as when…
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Voices of Faith

Sports, award shows and God

The sight is familiar. The artist walks up to the microphone, triumphant music playing, and the host invites them to speak. The artist looks at the trophy and says, “Wow….
The (eventual) resurrection of the rural church
Voices of Faith

The (eventual) resurrection of the rural church

Squatting stubbornly just outside downtown Le Mars, Iowa, is a wide brick building that used to be the high school but now serves as the Plymouth County Historical Museum. The…