Deeper understandings: Hermeneutics
Voices of Faith

Deeper understandings: Hermeneutics

“Hermeneutics” is one of those words that you might have heard your pastor use. The English word comes from the Greek ermēneuein, meaning simply to translate or interpret. In short,…

Lectionary blog: Fishing for people
Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Fishing for people

Lectionary blog for Jan. 22 The third Sunday after the Epiphany Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 4-9; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23 Every time I read this section of Paul’s letter…

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Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: A light to be shared

Lectionary blog for Jan. 15 The Second Sunday after the Epiphany Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-11; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-42 His name was David. His last name was something decidedly…

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Voices of Faith

Directionally challenged

Remember the last time you lost your way? Writer Natalie Angier told this story in an article she wrote for The New York Times, perhaps one we can all relate…

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Voices of Faith

Grounded in grace

It had been a rugged December day at church. We were writing the 2016 budget. A charter member had died unexpectedly. And, in the span of 15 minutes, two of…

A challenge in the Holy Land
Voices of Faith

A challenge in the Holy Land

Finding a photo for our family Christmas card should have been easy this year, after all, we are living, walking and breathing in the place where it all began—where Jesus…

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Lectionary Blog

Lectionary blog: Is it now ‘back to normal’?

Lectionary blog for Jan. 1 The First Sunday of Christmas/Holy Innocents Isaiah 63:7-9; Psalm 148; Hebrews 2:10-18; Matthew 2:13-23 When my boys were little, they loved Richard Scarry’s Christmas Book….

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Voices of Faith

At the intersection of theater and church

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…

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Voices of Faith

Fear and love

In my Lutheran grade school we were assigned a memory verse every week. Friday morning, before lessons began, our ability to write these verses on our lips was tested. Normally…

The Reformation: 499 years and counting
Theology & Beliefs

The Reformation: 499 years and counting

In 2017, Lutherans, other Protestants and even Roman Catholics will mark the 500th anniversary of the German Reformation, when Martin Luther, a relatively unknown theology professor in Wittenberg, penned 95…

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Voices of Faith

Grounded in grace

I just downloaded the Small Catechism app for my iPhone. The moment I did I thought, ironically, “What does this mean?” What does it mean for me to invest space,…