Advent

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…

From The Presiding Bishop

Midnight stillness

On Christmas Eve, there always comes a time when everything is finally still. Once all the preparations and decorations, extra choir rehearsals and Christmas pageants, shopping and holiday parties have…

Prayer Ventures

Prayer ventures: Dec. 2

Every day, Living Lutheran offers a prayer for the day from the ELCA resource Prayer Ventures, which can be downloaded here. These petitions are offered as a guide for your own prayer life…

Prayer Ventures

Prayer ventures: Dec. 1

Every day, Living Lutheran offers a prayer for the day from the ELCA resource Prayer Ventures, which can be downloaded here. These petitions are offered as a guide for your own prayer life…

Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Uncertain calendars

Lectionary blog for Dec 1, 2019 First Sunday of Advent Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 24:36-44 There is something deeply comforting about the fixedness of the liturgical calendar….

Voices of Faith

Uplifting gifts (part two)

Editor’s note: This collection of reflections is an online addition to our December 2018 cover story, “Uplifting Christmas gifts.” Ingredients for love Our daughter, Kristen, and her friends spent several growing-up…

Voices of Faith

Uplifting Christmas gifts

Earlier this year, Living Lutheran invited readers and writers to submit personal stories of gifts that illuminated the true meaning of Christmas for them. From a kind note to beloved…

Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Let us sing

Lectionary blog for Dec. 23 The Fourth Sunday of Advent Micah 5:2-5a; Psalm 80:1-7; Hebrews 10:5-10; Luke 1:39-55 The world’s celebration of Advent and Christmas is surrounded by song. Almost…

Faith in Action

The Christmas story comes to life

Greg Tvrdik fondly recalls playing a magi as a teen in the living nativity at First Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Minn. Now, 25 years later, as the church’s director of church…

Voices of Faith

Waiting in Jerusalem

At 15 and 13 years old, my children still wait and expect the gifts they requested for Christmas. With each passing year, they are almost sure they’ll get what they…

Mission & Ministry

Drawing near to the darkness at Advent

Editor’s note: Martin Luther famously said, “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise” (Luther’s Works, Vol. 53). The ELCA still holds tightly to Luther’s understanding. In this series, we’re exploring…

Faith in Action

Christmas story, song and spirit

Now that our son Jack is nearly 2 and communicating using words and phrases, my husband and I have been pondering how we’ll teach him about Advent and Christmas. Last…