Una iglesia de Cuaresma y de Pascua
From The Presiding Bishop (Spanish)

Una iglesia de Cuaresma y de Pascua

A menudo escucho la siguiente frase cuando visito congregaciones o participo en reuniones: “Somos una iglesia de Pascua”. Me gusta esa idea y el razonamiento que la respalda. ¿Quién no…

What do you hear?
Living Faithfully

What do you hear?

Focal verse “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled…

The joy of alleluia
From The Presiding Bishop, Theology & Beliefs

The joy of alleluia

In his Easter message, ELCA Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry says that even though we consider ourselves to be an Easter church, we must remember that we are also a Lenten…

Gathered and sent
Theology & Beliefs

Gathered and sent

Each year we gather in our worshiping communities and exclaim with Christians around the world: “Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen, indeed. Alleluia!” Many of us set aside the…

Giving good gifts
Lectionary Blog

Giving good gifts

Lectionary for April 12, 2026 First Sunday of Easter Acts 2:14a, 22-32; Psalm 16; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 One of the great joys of being a father is witnessing…

Bearing witness: Put your body where love is needed
Theology & Beliefs

Bearing witness: Put your body where love is needed

Series editor’s note: The 2026 theme for “Deeper understandings” is faithful witness in challenging times. This year various authors will explore what it means for the ELCA, and each of…

We already know
Lectionary Blog

We already know

Lectionary for April 5, 2026 Resurrection of Our Lord Acts 10:34-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10 What’s worse than someone beating you to your punchline when you try…

The ear of a disciple
Lectionary Blog

The ear of a disciple

Lectionary for March 29, 2026 Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday Isaiah 50:4-9a; Psalm 31:9-16; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14–27:66 I’m struck every year by the sensory experience of the Passion, Holy…

A blessing for Lent
Theology & Beliefs

A blessing for Lent

I don’t remember the first time I received a blessing, nor when I first offered one myself. I only know that, looking back, the giving and receiving of blessings have…

God of resurrection
Lectionary Blog

God of resurrection

Lectionary for March 22, 2026 Fifth Sunday in Lent Ezekiel 37:1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8:6-11; John 11:1-45 A guest speaker recently talked to my class about the importance of “majoring…

God’s love sets us free
Voices of Faith

God’s love sets us free

Martin Luther’s assessment that we as God’s people are simultaneously sinners and saints has sometimes rankled. Nonetheless, the older I become, the more I acknowledge Luther’s honest insight—and my own…