A letter to my children this Christmas
Hi there. I know this letter won’t mean much to you now, because words are not as meaningful as they used to be, but maybe in 30 years or so when…
Hi there. I know this letter won’t mean much to you now, because words are not as meaningful as they used to be, but maybe in 30 years or so when…
Between our house and the nearby middle school is a small stream. It flows under the road through a large culvert and empties into a small pool, rising and falling…
An ELCA delegation, led by ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth A. Eaton, participated in the Conference of National Black Churches annual gathering in Charleston, S.C., Dec. 13-15. The conference represents eight…
Have you ever cried so hard, been so upset, that you couldn’t catch your breath? Have you been so overwhelmed by life—violence … inequality … death … brokenness—that you couldn’t…
As we dwell in these final days of Advent, perhaps we, like the expectant mother of Jesus, feel weary. So. Very. Weary. Perhaps we are tired of all the commercial…
Thus it is rightly and truly said: God is born, was nursed or suckled, lay in the crib, felt cold, walked, stood, fell, wandered, ate, drank, suffered, died, etc. (Martin…
When I was young and turning the corner into the teenage world, I started to burn old pictures of myself. If I found one of myself in an awkward stage…
A popular trend in philanthropy is the practice of providing live animals—goats, chickens, cows—to people in developing countries. The idea is that people in these countries use animals for food…
In part one of our “Beyond the Steeple” series, we travel to Seattle to highlight the ministry of Church of the Apostles. Watch this video for a look into the…
One of the best presents at Christmas is often taken for granted—the gift of music. Unlike other churches that rely on cantors, choirs or singers to lead worship music, Lutherans…
The comparisons between church and theater are easy to make. Simply substitute the words parishioners for audiences, hymns for songs and sermons for monologues. Both present a message that the…
Here is the church and here is the steeple. Open the door and see all the people. This well-known nursery rhyme, complete with hand motions, has likely been taught in…
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