Focal verse “Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power” (Ephesians 6:10). Reflection Just before my 9-year-old daughter read in church for the first time, she turned to me and said, “I’m nervous.” Once a month our congregation invites children to read the lessons and psalm. As my daughter continues to […]
Focal verse “Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray’” (Matthew 26:36). Reflection From my spot in the kitchen while prepping dinner, I can tell there’s been some mishap. I hear a thud. Cue the tears and screams. […]
Focal verse “We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the encourager, in encouragement; the giver, in sincerity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6-8). Reflection I enter the elementary gym to the sound of kids’ […]
Focal verse “’I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). Reflection When the new year rolls in, I’m all for making plans and dreaming dreams. Goal-making or coming up with a word of the year brings me joy. […]
Focal verse “To you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:11-12). Reflection We found the cat in our garage one morning. […]
Focal verse “The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time on and forevermore” (Psalm 121:8). Reflection I remember that, as an elementary school student about to embark on a cross-country move, I waited for the school bus at the top of our driveway and debated whether I could pull […]
Nearly 800 women from around the world gathered in Phoenix to attend the Women of the ELCA (WELCA) triennial gathering Sept. 21-24, under the theme “Just Love.” The body’s Twelfth Triennial Convention was held there the preceding week, Sept. 18-21. With six years having passed since WELCA’s last in-person gathering, there was much to celebrate […]
Focal verse “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). Reflection Last Halloween our family joined friends to go trick-or-treating. In our small town we dressed in costumes, loaded onto a hay-lined trailer bed and rode down the streets. At every stop the kids jumped off and […]
Focal verse “He has told you, O mortal, what is good, and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8). Reflection At our elementary school open house, students and parents were greeted with signs and decorations throughout the building. […]
