Keeping watch
Voices of Faith

Keeping watch

Between our house and the nearby middle school is a small stream. It flows under the road through a large culvert and empties into a small pool, rising and falling…
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Voices of Faith

Expecting this Advent, desperately seeking light

As we dwell in these final days of Advent, perhaps we, like the expectant mother of Jesus, feel weary. So. Very. Weary. Perhaps we are tired of all the commercial…
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Voices of Faith

Deeper understandings: Christmas—God “deep in the flesh”

Thus it is rightly and truly said: God is born, was nursed or suckled, lay in the crib, felt cold, walked, stood, fell, wandered, ate, drank, suffered, died, etc. (Martin…
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Voices of Faith

Immaculate reconception

When I was young and turning the corner into the teenage world, I started to burn old pictures of myself. If I found one of myself in an awkward stage…
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Voices of Faith

At the intersection of theater and church

The comparisons between church and theater are easy to make. Simply substitute the words parishioners for audiences, hymns for songs and sermons for monologues. Both present a message that the…
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Voices of Faith

Advent is waiting for us

What are you waiting for? It’s the quintessential Advent question. Everyone seems to be waiting for something. Or someone. Are you waiting for the new year? For less stress and…
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Voices of Faith

Keep awake, stay woke

“Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.” This verse from Matthew 24, the first Gospel reading of Advent, focuses the reader on the…
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Voices of Faith

I’m a Lutheran: Greta Grosch

“I’m a Lutheran” is a monthly profile featuring ELCA members around the world. The profiles showcase ELCA members in all their diversity, connecting one another through individual faith stories as…
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Voices of Faith

Grace puts an end to HIV and AIDS

Editor’s note:  This Dec. 1, the ELCA joins brothers and sisters across the world in observing World AIDS Day. Read reflections from three individuals who attended the 21st International AIDS Conference this summer in Durbin,…
Deeper understandings: How the Lutheran Confessions unite us
Voices of Faith

Deeper understandings: How the Lutheran Confessions unite us

Series editor’s note: We continue in the yearlong study of Reformation and Martin Luther studies themes, grateful that this month two church historians share their perspectives on the continuing relevance…
Prayer as a mother
Voices of Faith

Prayer as a mother

In an ever-changing world, I think that our prayer life is constantly in flux. We all wrestle and grow with our faith. We move forward in contemplation only to fall backward again…