Love comes down
Living Faithfully

Love comes down

And the cows said, “Moo!” The sheep said, “Baa!” The chickens said, “Cluck!” My daughter, Charlotte, could have chimed in with the cows shouting, “Moo!” But that’s where her animal…
My take: What keeps us safe?
Voices of Faith

My take: What keeps us safe?

I’m sitting at my neighborhood coffee shop, thousands of miles away from the ostensibly dangerous Central American migrants threatening to cross the U.S. border. Miles, even, from the more murderous…
What chronic illness taught me about grace
Voices of Faith

What chronic illness taught me about grace

If you’d asked me a decade ago what grace meant to me, I’m not sure I could have answered. Or I would have said something like “the gifts of God…
The Christmas story comes to life
Living Faithfully

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…
I’m a Lutheran: Don Knuth
Voices of Faith

I’m a Lutheran: Don Knuth

First Lutheran Church, Palo Alto, Calif. Retired college professor My faith has been a source of inspiration because I believe God is pleased when people create innovations that make our…
Waiting in Jerusalem
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…
Drawing near to the darkness at Advent
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…
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Mission & Ministry

Finals week solace

From soup to puppies, Lutheran campus ministries are being creative when it comes to finals week stress relief. At the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, it’s “Finals Week Hospitality”; at Indiana…
Christmas story, song and spirit
Living Faithfully

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…
The story behind “Unexpected and Mysterious”
Mission & Ministry

The story behind “Unexpected and Mysterious”

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…