“No, we don’t answer the phone or text during meals; we are present to each other.” “Yes, we are still going to pray before meals when friends are over.” “No,…
Strewn across our bed were the remnants of our toddler’s Christmas haul—stacks of new outfits, empty cardboard boxes, a tower of books, a stuffed reindeer. I turned to my husband…
One of my 4-year-old son’s favorite pastimes is putting together his jumbo jigsaw puzzle depicting a dramatic NFL touchdown. On any given day, you’ll likely find him splayed out on…
Sometimes it seems like all we do is shush them, or maneuver snacks to avert a meltdown during worship, send “the look” or a pointed finger at them during a…
Editor’s note: Todd Buegler, an ELCA pastor and the executive director of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network, offers suggestions for congregations as they consider Vacation Bible School curricula. Last month,…
Here’s a familiar Sunday scene: Before worship begins, a baby wearing a white gown is passed around between parents, grandparents and godparents. Noticing the baptismal party, parishioners check the bulletin…
Years ago, I experienced adverse reactions to various foods I’d eaten. My doctor took months to pinpoint the issue, and I lost a good amount of weight in the process….
There are so many parenting books available—but as people of faith, we want to be intentional about the messages we espouse. Cindy Wang Brandt writes from her home in Taiwan…
As the school year winds down and Memorial Day approaches, families with kids adjust to major shifts in weather, activities and schedules. In many congregations, children’s ministry also downshifts. But…
As assistant cross-country coach Anna Sorenson pounds the pavement with her team of runners, conversation helps the miles pass more quickly. Between her words of encouragement, Sorenson hears about the…
Six years ago, on Easter Sunday, my mother died. She had been living in Puerto Rico; I was miles away in New Jersey. As I grappled with grief, my family,…
As a mom of two little ones, I’ve discovered that every season of parenting brings a different need for the best place to sit in worship. In the early days,…
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