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…
One of my favorite parts of Advent and Christmas are the songs. I especially like “We Three Kings” because it describes Jesus’ life, death and resurrection from the point of…
I was dreading Christmas. As a pastoral intern serving across the country from my family, I didn’t have the money or time to make it home for the holiday. My…
Lectionary blog for Dec. 9, 2018 The Second Sunday of Advent Malachi 3:1-4; Luke 1:68-79; Philippians 1:3-11; Luke 3:1-6 I can still hear my father and uncle arguing around the…
Christmas comes at a descending time. The old year is coming to an end, the new year is not yet here. It is too late to accomplish goals set on…
Lectionary blog for Dec. 2, 2018 First Sunday of Advent Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:1-9; 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13; Luke 21:25-36 My friend spent a semester at Cambridge University in England. During his time there, he…
Editor’s note: This is the fourth post in a four-part series on objects from church that shed light on the spiritual practice of waiting this Advent. “Ask, and it will…
Culturally it’s easy to treat Advent as a countdown to Christmas—a swirl of parties, sparkle and lights. But liturgically it’s a season of anguished waiting. For many years, it seemed…
Lectionary blog for Dec. 24 Fourth Sunday of Advent 2 Samuel 7:1-11; Luke 1:46-55 or Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38 A few years ago, I saw a little…
Editor’s note: This is the third post in a four-part series on objects from church that shed light on the spiritual practice of waiting this Advent. I am weary…
There is a tragic irony to having a national conversation about sexual misconduct during the feast of Advent. We are waiting for the coming of Jesus, an impossibility first witnessed…
Well, it’s almost here. The signs of it are everywhere: It’s in the stores; it’s on TV; it’s online. This is a time of anticipation and waiting and hope. Countless…
You have attempted to access a feature of this website that is only available to members of livinglutheran.org.
A free membership gives you a customized dashboard for curated content based on your interest, the ability to like and save articles, an optional subscription to a weekly email digest “LL Stories”, and more.
Already have an account? log in
If you are a subscriber to the LL Stories email digest from before the introduction of the new website in December 2025, your account is intact, but your password will need to be reset unless you have a login for another ELCA website.
If you have a login for another ELCA website like community.elca.org, directory.elca.org or others you can use the password associated with that login.
Logout
